Join us March 17-20 in Orlando for AGC's 91st Annual Convention and Pavilion. As the construction industry continues to battle tough economic conditions and legislative challenges, AGC's Annual Convention provides the only opportunity for contractors to get all the latest information on economic forecasts, rules and regulations, and best practices, and to hear first-hand from others on what they are doing to survive and thrive in this challenging environment.

Over 30+ sessions (detailed at convention.agc.org and in this attachment) will offer a variety of continuing education credits at this year’s Convention. If you need credits, then you won’t want to miss AGC’s Convention.

• Contractors and Engineers – earn CEUs and CPDs for your state license renewal, certification or career development.
• Architects and design professionals – earn LUs toward your mandatory continuing education requirements. Several sessions will qualify for HSW (Health, safety & welfare) and SD (Sustainable design) credits.
• Attorneys – earn CLE credits through the American Bar Association (ABA) at select sessions.
• Accountants – earn CPE credits through the National Association for State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) at select sessions.
• Marketing Professionals – earn CEUs from the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) for certification maintenance.

View AGC’s State-by-State Listing of Continuing Education Requirements to find your state requirements and contact information. For more information on continuing education credits at Convention, contact Allison Brotman at brotmana@agc.org or (703) 837-5355.

Planning is under way for two of AGC’s most sought-after annual conferences, the Training & Development Conference and the HR Professionals Conference.  For 2010, the conferences will be co-located in Scottsdale, Arizona, October 18-20, with separate tracks for each conference. 

The conferences offer unique opportunities for HR, training, and workforce development professionals in the construction industry.  The Training and Development Conference (T&D) will offer sessions related to the most cutting-edge techniques currently in the industry and envisioned for the future.  Offering a combination of roundtable sessions and expert speakers, the HR Professionals Conference will help HR professionals remain up to date and compliant with employment laws and best practices.

Last year, the conferences were held concurrently with many overlapping sessions.  This year, the conferences will have one full day of sessions each, plus one joint plenary session, along with several opportunities for participants at both conferences to network socially.  This adjustment will allow participants to attend each or both conferences, without having to choose between HR and T&D sessions.  As many budgets are still financially strained, a discount will be available for those who choose to attend both conferences.

Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more details.  We look forward to seeing you in Scottsdale!

March 24, 2010 from 2:00 – 3:30 ET

Top construction attorneys will discuss many of the differences between ConsensusDOCS and AIA standard form construction contract documents, and conduct a Q&A session.  Using real-world examples, the experts will discuss key issues, including:

• Owner Financial Information
• Substantial Completion
• Dispute Resolution
• Indemnification
• Means and Methods
• Order of Precedence
• Submittal Schedule
• Insurance
• Change Orders
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Retainage
• Liquidated Damages

AGC Members:  $20
Non-members: $49

Register today. Sponsored by AGC of America and HinckleyAllenSnyder LLP.

The fifth module of AGC’s Project Manager Development Program, Leadership, is coming to San Antonio, Texas, on April 8-9, 2010. PMDP provides the essential skills that early-career project managers and those looking to move into such a role need to advance their careers.

Following completion of this course you will be able to:

          • Identify the difference between leading and managing
          • Recognize the importance of communication in effective leadership
          • Develop techniques for motivating others and negotiating solutions to conflicts
          • Broaden awareness of ethical standards and professional responsibilities
          • Recognize the importance of teamwork
          • Understand the basics of leadership tasks
          • Review the role of the human resource function
          • Explore coaching and mentoring opportunities
          • Recognize how to effectively manage change 
          • Learn how to achieve a healthy balance between work and family

Learn more about PMDP and find other scheduled courses across the country here or by contacting curriculum@agc.org.

Modules 1-4 were offered in San Antonio in 2009 and early 2010. Modules do not need to be taken sequentially.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides owners the information needed to make impactful decisions that improve construction project performance and speed project completion. BIM combines the latest in design and collaboration technologies to provide owners with real-time information on all elements of a project, through all the phases of construction.

The joint Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) webinar, BIM 101 for Owners, will provide owners a condensed 90-minute version of AGC’s BIM 101: An Introduction to Building Information Modeling course, part of AGC’s BIM Education Program.

The webinar will cover essential BIM terminology, concepts and use cases, designed specifically to provide owners with practical information on how BIM can be used. Following the webinar, attendees will have the ability to:

     • 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

Registration for this program includes a free copy of AGC’s BIM 101 Participant’s Manual.

Facilitated by: Michael Tardif, Grunley Construction, Assoc. AIA, CSI, Hon. SDA, LEED®AP

Registration: $150 for AGC and COAA members

Please click here to register. For questions on registration please contact meetings@agc.org. For content-related questions please contact curriculum@agc.org.

Continuing Education:Attendees of this program are eligible for 0.2 IACET Continuing Education Units and 1.5 AIA CES Learning Units.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has been approved as an Authorized Provider by The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 8405 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800, McLean, VA 22102. In obtaining this approval, AGC has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standards which are widely recognized as standards of good practice internationally. As a result of their Authorized Provider membership status, AGC is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standards. AGC will award 0.2 IACET CEUs to participants who successfully complete this program.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of completion for non-AIA members are available on request.

BIM 101 is designed specifically for construction professionals eager to learn the essential concepts of BIM and will benefit anyone in the AEC industry looking to learn more about the hottest topic in construction today.

This full-day course will give you a comprehensive overview of BIM, supported by case studies, to help you navigate what BIM is, what it can mean for your firm and how to get started with it.

Learn more and register now at www.agc.org/BIMEP/Orlando. Seats are filling fast so register today!

Please contact AGC at meetings@agc.org for registration-related questions and at curriculum@agc.org for content-related questions. Visit www.agc.org/BIMEP to learn more about the entire BIM Education Program and view listings of scheduled courses at AGC Chapters.

Continuing Education

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has been approved as an Authorized Provider by The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 8405 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800, McLean, VA 22102. In obtaining this approval, AGC has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standards which are widely recognized as standards of good practice internationally. As a result of their Authorized Provider membership status, AGC is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standards. AGC will award 0.8 IACET CEUs to participants who successfully complete this program.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of completion for non-AIA members are available on request. AGC will award 8 AIA/CES Learning Units to participants who successfully complete this program.

Participants are expected to arrive on time, attend the program from start to finish, complete the post-program evaluation. Successful completion is also determined based on contribution to in-class discussion and activities.

The average age of a worker in the construction industry rose dramatically from 38.9 in 2006 to 41.4 in 2009, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS).

The average worker’s age, which has risen steadily for years, is unlikely to decline as the enormous baby boom generation continues to age. In 2001, the average age for construction workers was 38.7, only 1.5 years older than it was in 1992 at 37.2, and just 1.2 years younger than in 2006.

According to the survey, 39.1 percent of the construction industry’s workers were under age 35 in 2006; only 33.2 percent were in the same demographic in 2009. Meanwhile, the percentage of construction workers who were at least age 45 rose from 34.3 percent in 2006 to 41.6 percent in 2009.

The CPS is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey has been conducted for more than 50 years. The CPS is the primary source of information on the labor force characteristics of the U.S. population.

AGC’s STATE LAW MATRIX™ is the most comprehensive, definitive and concise publication available regarding a wide range of state law issues that can affect your public or private construction project.  State Law Matrix is an essential resource you should use before completing any construction contract to improve compliance and enforceability under state law.

State Law Matrix is updated annually and available as a complete subscription package or by region.  The complete package includes all regions listed below:

     Northeast Region: CT, DE, DC, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, WV
     Midwest Region: IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI
     Southern Region: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, PR, SC, TN, TX, VA
     Western Region: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY

• Complete Package (All Regions): AGC Member Price: $195.00 (Retail Price: $295.00)

• Individual Region: AGC Member Price: $95.00 (Retail Price: $145.00)

Subscribers receive free upgrades.  To purchase or find more information about the AGC State Law Matrix, please visit www.AGC.org/Bookstore.

In an ongoing effort to create a more user-friendly experience, we recently redesigned the ConsensusDOCS Web site.  You will find that it is easier to navigate, contains additional information and resources, and better reflects the ConsensusDOCS branding.

In direct response to user suggestions, we have made it easier for you to download excerpted sample documents.  The old multi-step registration process was replaced with a new screen requiring just your name, company and e-mail address, and you receive instant access to the document selected.

REMINDER:
AGC members receive a 20 percent discount on all ConsensusDOCS products, but you must purchase through the AGC Bookstore to ensure proper credit.

We are always looking for ways to improve the site.  Please contact Megan McGarvey (mcgarveym@agc.org or 703-837-5369) with suggestions.

As part of AGC Campus, students will tour the renovation of Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida, on Friday, March 19. Sponsored by Clancy & Theys Construction Company, a shuttle bus will board at the Orlando World Center Marriott at 11:00 am and take students and faculty to the construction site. The Comprehensive Renovation program for Osceola High School is a three year multi-phased project that consists of 298,000 gross sq. ft. of new construction, renovations and additions.

In order to participate, students and faculty must be registered for the AGC Campus and need to RSVP to Carrie Harper by March 5.  Hard hats and other gear will be provided. Spaces are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please contact Carrie Harper at harperc@agc.org.

Click here to learn more about AGC Campus.