The day when Building Information Modeling (BIM) will be standard practice on construction job sites is coming. Studies show that BIM use among project owners, architects, and contractors has steadily increased and is projected to become even more widespread in the years ahead. So, what is BIM and why are people using it in construction? BIM 101: An Introduction to Building Information Modeling, the first course in AGC’s BIM Education Program serves to answer this question.

To be released on April 6, 2009, BIM 101 is a full-day course designed to give participants a broad overview of BIM technology, process and integration. The course material consists of a participant’s manual, instructor’s guide with accompanying presentations for easy delivery at your local AGC Chapter, company or training center.

Within the BIM 101 course participant’s will:
• Recognize the importance of BIM
• Define common BIM terminology
• Discuss how BIM can be used as a communication and collaboration tool
• Explain the benefits of BIM
• Compare examples of successful BIM usage
• Discuss issues associated with starting BIM
• Create a BIM Action Plan

More information can be found at www.agc.org/BIMEP. If you have any questions please contact Amy Fields or Stephanie Mullins at curriculum@agc.org or (703) 837-5387.

Today’s challenging climate offers many opportunities for sharp and confident project managers to succeed. Experienced project managers who attend AGC’s Construction Project Manager Course learn from industry experts while learning best practices from their peers gathered from across the country.

Date                           Location
October 4-9, 2009        Indianapolis, IN
December 6-11, 2009   Dallas, TX

Participants are eligible to receive the following continuing education credits:
• 4.2 ANSI/IACET CEUs
• 42 AIA LUs
• Continuing Professional Development (CDPs) Units from the American Institute of Constructors (AIC)

Ideal candidates for AGC’s Construction Project Manager Course are project managers with six years of experience or two years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree.

Contact education@agc.org with questions or for more information.

AGC is happy to announce that registration is now open for the next Supervisory Training Program (STP) Instructor Training Workshop; to be held June 4-5, 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Designed to enhance training results for those who host STP courses, the STP Instructor Training Workshop is a two-day event that provides the skills essential to effectively instruct STP courses—specifically how to teach adult learners, encourage interaction among STP participants and use the STP manuals to prepare for and deliver courses.

Also, participants will learn how to incorporate visual aids into the curriculum and get the most out of the instructor materials. Each workshop participant will have an opportunity to give a presentation and test newly learned skills and receive constructive feedback.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to improve your STP results! Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis—only 25 seats available! Registration deadline is May 8, 2009. Learn more and register today.

If you have questions about the STP or the Instructor Training Workshop, contact Stephanie Mullins at mullinss@agc.org or (703) 837-5387, or visit www.agc.org/STP.

Leaders are needed at every level of the construction company. AGC’s three day, dynamic Leadership in Construction Workshop explores the differences between being a leader versus a manager and how to motivate team members to achieve project goals.

Communication skills and conflict resolution techniques and tactics are strengthened through group exercises and discussing real-world experiences. Participants receive vital feedback on their leadership abilities through a CheckPoint 360 Evaluation that is administered prior to the workshop and collects input from their boss(es), peers, direct reports and a self evaluation.

Upcoming Workshops:
April 29 – May 1, 2009 in Albany, NY
May 27-29, 2009 in San Diego, CA

Special Tuition Rate:
AGC Members with hotel accommodations: $2,495
AGC Members without hotel accommodations: $1,695

Non-Members with hotel accommodations: $3,080
Non-Member without hotel accommodations: $2,285

Participants are eligible to receive the following continuing education credits:
• 2.7  ANSI/IACET CEUs
• 27  AIA LUs
• Continuing Professional Development (CDPs) Units from the American Institute of Constructors (AIC)

Contact Becky Koury, kouryr@agc.org, with any questions or for more information regarding AGC’s Leadership in Construction Workshop.

During this two day program, AGC and FMI partner to give participants the tools needed to ensure a secure future for both their company and family. Along with a detailed look at the logistics of this process,  highly experienced instructors also explore and guide participants through the emotional facets of the transition.

Specifically, participants will:
• Identify a variety of management succession options and select the one that works best for their company
• Discuss important tax issues
• Outline a real-world approach to the valuation of your company
• Examine case studies of other contractors who have successfully transferred their companies
• Map out the steps needed to implement the ownership and succession plan

The AGC-FMI Ownership Transfer Conference is open to company owners, their families and their key management team members.  The conference will be held April 23-24, 2009 at the Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa in Mesa, AZ.

More information and registration can be found here. Contact education@agc.org with questions.

The next AGC Workforce Development Committee will be held via WebEx from 1-4 PM EDT on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.

Committee Chairman Ed Proefke Jr. decided to hold a virtual meeting in the hopes that it will allow greater participation by AGC members and chapter staff who interested in workforce development.

The agenda will include:
     • A staff report on current activities;
     • An update from our NCCER partners;
     • Updates on the Operating Engineers and Laborers JATCs;
     • Updates on construction career academies;
     • A report on the April 22-24 Construction Career Academy Workshop, to be held in Portland, OR.
     • Any other topics members would like discussed.

If you have any questions or suggestions for agenda topics, please feel free to contact Liz Elvin at elvinl@agc.org.

AGC of America and the Building Contractors Association of New Jersey are proud to present one of most current and popular Turnkey Program:  LEED®: Estimating for Green Buildings. On April 1, 2009, this program will cover the stages involved in estimating, designing and building sustainable construction. Lead by industry expert Reed Thomas, CPE participants will review the LEED Rating System and identify its impact on design, project planning and construction strategies. In addition, attendees of this course will examine the importance of integrated design and how to apply the Life Cycle Analysis to cost estimation. 

Topics covered include:
• Overview of green construction, sustainability and LEED
• The LEED point system and green strategies
• Design and preconstruction format
• Direct and indirect costs of green construction
• Sustainable sites – paved, vegetated, retention and detention ponds
• Life Cycle Analysis
• Material and resources
• Recycling and waste management

This program offers 4 AIA LUs and IACET 0.4 CEUs to participants who successfully complete each program.

To learn more about this program or to register, please contact Carrie Harper at harperc@agc.org.

The 2009 Estimating Academy presented by AGC of America and the American Society of Professional Estimators will be held on May 20-22, 2009 in Las Vegas, NV at The Harrah’s. This two and a half day course will cover current topics like LEED® - Estimating for Green Buildings, Estimating with Electronic Documents, Managing Preconstruction and Conceptual Estimating. In addition, attendees can take part in a half day of specialty instruction featuring mechanical or electrical estimating. Space is limited, please register today. The deadline for making a hotel reservation is April 29, 2009.

This program is most appropriate for junior and senior estimators. This course qualifies for 2 IACET CEUs and 19 AIA LUs for those who successfully complete this program. For more information and to register for this event, please contact Carrie Harper via email at harperc@agc.org.

AGC’s Supervisory Training Program has been the professional development resource of choice for more than 122,000 construction supervisors in the 33 years since the curriculum’s inception. At AGC’s 90th Annual Convention/Constructor Expo in San Diego, CA, the Supervisory Training Committee unveiled a new brand campaign for STP that can be viewed here.

Manuals featuring the new brand will be shipped following convention, however the great content of the manuals will be the same. Unit 6: Understanding and Managing Project Costs is the next STP unit scheduled for revision and will be released in October 2009 at AGC’s 3rd Annual Training and Development Conference.

Contact Amy Fields or Stephanie Mullins with questions at curriculum@agc.org or (703) 837-5387.

For the first time at our Annual Convention, AGC held 32 educational tracks on 6 different subjects - construction law, executive management, green construction, marketing, financial management, risk management - offering continuing education credits for each session. Following current events, the hottest topics were green construction and executive management where many of the classes were filled to standing room only. Not surprisingly, many of the more popular financial management sessions were geared to the more technical financial subjects. On an average, the classes held between 50-75 students each. 

In conjunction with Compusystems, AGC used barcode scanning to track attendance of individuals interested in earning continuing education credits. In total, 650 participants scanned for credits. Specifically, there was a lot of interest in ABA CLEs and NASBA CPEs.

AGC is proud to have offered credits from the following credentialing bodies at our 90th Annual Convention:
     International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
     Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS)
     American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA CES )
     National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, (NASBA CPE)
     American Bar Association, (ABA CLE)

AGC would like to thank all the speakers who helped make our convention a success. We look forward to working with you in the future.

If you’re interested in becoming a speaker at next year’s convention our 2010 Call For Presentations notice will be posted in the coming weeks!

Contact education@agc.org for information on speaking or credentialing information.