“If you are going to throw a club, it is important to throw it ahead of you, down the fairway, so you don’t have to waste energy going back to pick it up.” ~ Professional golfer Tommy Bolt

If you take a minute to reflect on those insightful words, you could be thinking, when was the last time a profes-sional golfer was angry enough to throw their club? Tiger Woods at Bay Hill comes to mind. Or perhaps you thought about Pat Perez and his awkward temper tantrum at the expense of the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach in 2002.

By the looks of AGC members at Salina Country Club, it appeared everyone was having a great time and no clubs were thrown. Clear skies and sea-sonal temperatures were in order for the 56th edition of the AGC of Kansas Golf Outing which brought nearly 100 golfers to central Kansas.

With a gross score of 58, the team of Andy England, Salina Building Sys-tems, Mark Skidmore, Sunflower Insurance, David Snodgrass, Snodgrass & Sons Construction, and Scott Post, IMA of Kansas won first place.

THE BUILDINGBRIEF

Building a Better Kansas Since 1946 • www.agcks.org

May • June 2009

In this Issue

President’s Report. 2

Safety Corner. 3

Capitol Club GolfClassic. 6

Workforce Development Update. 7

Legislative Update. 8

National News. 9

Industry News. 10

HR Corner. 12

Young Constructors Forum. 13

Welcome New Members. 14

Continued on page 4

AGC Members Visit Salina for 56th Annual AGC of Kansas Golf Outing

Brett Burton, IMA of Kansas, prepares for his round on the putting green.

A filling lunch greeted members at the conclusion of their round.

Golfers load their bags and catch up with one another before the start of the AGC of Kansas Golf Outing.

Page 2 Page 3

president’s report

Bev SauerweinPresident, AGC of KansasSauerwein Construction, Wichita

“A lone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”- Helen Keller

The heat is on and that is definitely true as the summer rolls forward. With this warm weather AGC has many opportunities in the sunshine to get together and enjoy the company of fellow contractors/suppliers with the Salina Golf outing in late May and the opportunity to raise funds for our PAC with the Capitol Club fundraiser at Flint Hills National on July 16. A second golf outing for our PAC will be held on Friday, October 9 at Sand Creek Station in Newton. The opportunities are there if you want to participate and I hope you will take advantage. None of this happens without the organizing efforts of our dedicated staff in the Topeka office. Please don’t forget to thank them at every opportunity.

A short seminar was held Thursday afternoon before the board meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, for all board members and their spouses about Social Media. It was definitely an eye-opening seminar for me. By using Facebook, LinkedIn, company websites or Twitter, visibility of your company and networking opportunities are endless. To enhance the networking and marketing for our AGC of Kansas Chapter, we now are on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check it out. If you have trouble trying to figure out how, ask one of your grandchildren!

Business was on the agenda for our quarterly Board meeting, items discussed included Operation Opening Doors, KC3 as a self supporting foundation, Construction Learning Center at the State Fair and feasibility for an electronic plan room. I person-ally want to thank everyone who made the trip. Board retreats are geared toward a fun, relaxing time for members to interact outside of business parameters. Jim and Carolyn Grier were given congratulations on the Churchill Downs’ electronic board in honor of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulation to the Grier’s from everyone in the AGC of Kansas family.

The planning of the final details for the Construction Learning Center at the Kansas State Fair are underway. Changing up the activities for this Learning Center is critical for the continued success of this exhibit. Our clever planning group has several new activities for this year. One is to build two playhouses during the week of the Fair. One playhouse will be raffled off and one will be donated. The lucky recipient for the donation is being searched for as we speak. Approximately 150 volunteers will be needed to fully staff this exhibit. It is our hope to have volunteers returning from last year and we will whole-heartedly wel-come any new volunteers. Saturday, Sept. 19 is our sponsorship day, more volunteers will be needed that day. Sign up early to get the time slot most convenient for you!

Don’t forget to check out the new AGC Verizon discount program. This is an easy way to lower your cell phone expenses and give our Association a resource for non-dues revenue. AGC of Kansas should be receiving its first check any day.

The Wichita Area Steak Fry is going to be resurrected on September 29 and dates are being set for our Southwest Kansas golf outing and a Meet & Greet in the Hays area. Pay close attention to the weekly E-News sent out by our very efficient staff for these announcements.

I look forward to getting out and meeting with many of you this summer and fall. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to call if you have questions, comments or concerns regarding our industry or association matters.

Sincerely,Bev SauerweinSauerwein ConstructionAGC of Kansas President

Page 3

safety cornerBy Dan PabstAGC Safety Committee ChairmanSafety Consulting, Inc.(316) 250-7070dpabst@safetyconsultinginc.com

Did You Know? Exposed Rebar Protectionthis protection, chances are they could still be impaled. This type of protection is basically designed to prevent someone from being scratched by the rebar as they work near it. Do not rely on this protection in the event of a fall onto the rebar.

There really are about three options for pro-tecting rebar and they are; 1) bend the rebar over so it’s not exposed, 2) use a rebar cap that is designed to protect workers falling onto them, and 3) build/use a wooden trough over the rebar.

Take a moment and look around your jobsites during your next visit and observe the rebar protection in use. Then think, if you were to be the one exposed to falling on the rebar, what type of protection you would want in place.

As always, if you have a safety related questions, I can be reached at 316.250.7070 or via email at DPabst@Safety-ConsultingInc.com.

Have A Safe Summer!

Of course, if you think about it, you understand exposed rebar is a hazard. But just how much of a hazard is it, and what can be done to reduce the haz-ard? OSHA’s regulation on rebar can be found at 1926.701(b) in the Construction Standard.

The standard simply states: “… All protruding reinforcing steel, onto and into which employees could fall, shall be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement.”

“Onto and into,” when does rebar not present this type of exposure? Workers are constantly working in the vicinity of exposed rebar, so if they could fall onto or trip and fall into rebar, it must be protected. But how do you protect it.

For years, the protection of choice has been the orange

“mushroom” shaped caps. I’m sure you all have seen them, and have seen them with the rebar protruding out of the top of them. If someone was to fall onto/into rebar with

The minimum wage established by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) increased from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009.

The increase is the final phase of a three-part phase-in mandated by legislation enacted in 2007. The first phase took effect on July 24, 2007, increasing the hourly rate from $5.15 to $5.85. The sec-ond phase took effect on July 24, 2008, increasing the hourly rate from $5.85 to the current rate of $6.55.

Many states have established a minimum wage rate higher than the federal rate. Where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two wage rates.

Minimum Wage Increase Effective July 24Every employer of employees subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage provisions must post a notice explaining the Act in a conspicuous place at all work sites. Employers can down-load a poster satisfying the requirement from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Web site. Employers can also purchase printed and laminated Consolidated Federal Employment Laws posters from AGC of Kansas, with a discount for members. The poster satisfies the posting requirements of 10 different federal labor and employ-ment laws, including the FLSA.

For more information on the FLSA, visit the Labor & HR Topical Resources page of the AGC of America web site. Select the cat-egory “Compensation” and the subcategory “Fair Labor Standards Act.”

Page 4 Page 5

salina golf outing

Hole-in-One Sponsors Crossland Construction Lockton Companies Breakfast Sponsor RSC Equipment Rental Specialty Hole Sponsor Sauerwein Construction Hole Sponsors Carney Construction Central Air Conditioning Claco Supply Cretcher Heartland Dondlinger & Sons ConstructionGeotechnical Services IMA of Kansas Kilian Electrical Service

Lafarge Asphalt’s Paving Monarch Cement Murray & Sons Construction Salina Planing Mill Salisbury Supply Snodgrass Construction The Law Company The Waldinger Corporation Travelers Prize Sponsors Interstate Electrical Lafarge Asphalt Sunflower Insurance

AGC would like to recognize the following sponsors for their support of the 56th Annual Salina Golf Outing

Dont Miss The AGC-PAC Fundraiser at Sand Creek Station- Oct. 9!Join AGC members in Newton, KS at the beautiful Sand Creek Station Golf Course for the AGC-PAC Fundraiser on Friday, October 9.

1st hole at Sand Creek Station Golf Course

Pictured above: AGC Vice President Dennis Kerschen, The Law Company, gives opening remarks at the Salina Golf Outing.

Lower Right: Salina Coun-try Club staff adds scores to the master list as teams arrive.

Page 5

1st Place Gross

2nd Place Net

4th Place Net 5th Place Net

Specialty Hole Winners

Mark Skidmore, Sunflower Insurance; David Snodgrass, Snodgrass & Sons Construction; Scott Post, IMA of Kansas; Andy England, Salina Building Systems.

1st Place Net

Scott Branscum, Central Air Conditioning; Joe Samia, Central Air Conditioning; Kent Hawkins, Foley Rental; Larry Cummings, Foley Rental.

Jarrod Willich, Hi-Tech Interiors; Marcus Meeker, Hi-Tech Interiors; Steve Carney, Carney Construction; Norman Scheele, Carney Construction.

3rd Place Net

Team YCF- Eric Stafford, AGC of Kansas; Brett Conley, Davin Electric; Michael Swift, Thomas McGee; Shawn Byrne, Travelers.

Brad Heinisch, RSC Equipment Rental; Mike Avery, RSC Equipment Rental; Brad Harterstein, RSC Equipment Rental; John Lonker, RSC Equipment Rental.

Back row: Dan Beal, McElroy’s- closest to pin #13; Steve Carney, Carney Construction- closest to pin #4- John Garrison, Becker Bros. Htg & Air- clos-est to pin #7; Tony Young, Foley Rental- closest to pin #15. Front Row: Shawn Byrne, Travelers- longest drive #3; Scott Post, IMA of Kansas- longest drive #18. Not pictured: Rudy Sauerwein, Sauerwein Construction- longest putt #5; Don King, Midwest Drywall Co.- longest putt #10.

Mike Killian, Killian Electric; Eric Richardson, R-Quip Equipment Rental; Zack Siegrist, Key Construction; Marc Nuessen, IMA of Kansas.

Salina Golf Results

Page 6 Page 7

capitol clubgolf classic

Third Annual Capitol Club Golf Classic Raises Thousands for AGC-PAC with Support from Member CompaniesInspired by the news Thursday morning of Tom Watson’s open-ing round of 65 at the British Open, AGC members took the tee box at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, KS.

Ranked 63rd in the Nation by Golf Digest magazine, Flint Hills National offers golfers a challenging round with punishing rough and super-quick greens. Club staff always treats guests with top-notch service making it a truly remarkable day from the moment you step foot on the property.

At $1,000 per person, those in attendance recognize the importance of the AGC-PAC. Last year, the AGC-PAC ranked 16th in total contributions to Kansas Legislative candidates, the first time AGC has reached the top 20.

With their contribution to the PAC, each golfer was treated to a gift certificate to the pro shop, Pro V1 golf balls, lunch, snacks, beverages, and a wonderful dinner at one of the lodges follow-ing the round.

The Capitol Club fundraiser started in 2007 as a way to offer a memorable experience for members and their guests while raising a significant amount of money for the PAC through this one event. This year’s event is expected to bring in over $8,000 for the AGC-PAC.

With the success of a larger PAC comes a continued need for support. Issues arise each year at the statehouse and AGC will need to continue to support candidates who have shown a favorable understanding of issues affecting businesses in Kansas. For information on contributing to the PAC or to join the AGC Capitol Club, contact AGC at (785) 266-4015.

AGC would like to recognize the 2009 Capitol Club Ad Astra Donors for their support of the AGC-PAC

BHS Construction Central Air Conditioning Crossland ConstructionFerrell Construction of TopekaHutton ConstructionLockton Companies Martin K. Eby ConstructionThe Law Company

Pictured left to right: Sid Regnier, retired; Ben Hutton, Hutton Construction; Doug Kirkland, Commercial Mechanical, Inc.; Kyle Loyd, Crossland Construction.

Pictured left to right: Pat Crossland, Crossland Construction; Danny Langerot, Crossland Construction; Wayne Sloan, BHS Construction; Tim Browder, Ferrell Construction of Topeka.

Pictured left to right: Joe Levens, Martin K. Eby Construc-tion; Joe Samia, Central Air Conditioning; Jody O’Malley, Crossland Constr.; Wes Kuechler, Lockton Companies.

Page 7

Are you Taking Advantage of the AGC Member Discount Programs?

workforce developmentWard NippertDirector of Workforce DevelopmentAGC of KansasPhone: (316) 634-6391wnippert@agcks.org

Golden Opportunity for Members in Workforce Development EffortsAGC staff along with AGC member companies have been very involved in helping to align the secondary and post secondary construction programs across the state. A lot of progress has been made especially at the postsecondary level. The State of Kansas Tech-nical Education Authority under the Board of Regents has accepted the recommendation of Business and Industry Committee, which re-quires almost all construction crafts to use the NCCER Curriculum for the entry level classes. This is significant in the fact that use of the NCCER curriculum requires the institution to have an industry sponsor whose job is to assist the instructors and to make sure that the course is taught as designed by the NCCER. To date, approxi-mately 40 instructors have completed the required training needed to teach the NCCER curriculum. Though there are no requirements at the high school level to use the NCCER materials there are some high schools currently doing so and more will introduce it into their programs this fall.

The Kansas Association of Career & Technical Education (KACTE) holds a workshop each August. The membership of the association consists of instructors of technical programs at both the secondary and post secondary levels. This year the workshop will be held on August 3 & 4 in Wichita. The committee which organizes the event accepted a proposal by the AGC that one of the sessions be “BEST Practices for teaching NCCER Curriculum”. A side benefit of the session is that the instructors will be made aware that association member companies are there to assist them as needed.

On Tuesday August 4 at 6 p.m., the KC3 will host a dinner for NC-CER Certified Instructors. The approximate 40 instructors referred to earlier will receive invitations to the event which is intended to be a time for the instructors to have a chance to network with repre-sentatives from the construction industry. This is a GOLDEN OP-PORTUNITY to show industry support for their programs and develop important relationships. All companies should have received an invitation to attend this recognition dinner.

Never before has the Construction Industry of Kansas had as good of an opportunity to make sure that essential skills the industry needs are being taught in schools. To take advantage of this oppor-tunity it will take companies who see value in Workforce Develop-ment working together.

For information on how to become an NCCER Sponsor for high school and postsecondary programs, contact Ward Nippert at (316) 634-6391.

Be sure to take advantage of the many discount programs available to AGC members. For more information visit agcks.org/member-benefits.asp.

Interested in Sponsoring the Inaugural Con-struction Industry Appreciate Night? Contact Ward Nippert at (316) 634-6391.

Page 8 Page 9

legislative update

Work Continues on Lien Notification, Retention Legislation in Preparation for 2010 Session

In March when Senate Judiciary Chairman Tim Owens asked parties to get together and find a compromise on SB 292 (lien notification bill), AGC didn’t waste any time getting everyone to the table.

To refresh your memory, SB 292 required publication of a Notice of Commencement from general contractors and a Notice of Furnish-ing from suppliers on commercial building projects. If a second-tier subcontractor/supplier did not file the Notice of Furnishing, their lien rights would be suspended until that notice was filed. If the general contractor did not file a Notice of Commencement, second-tier sub-contractors/suppliers were not obligated to file a Notice of Furnish-ing and lien rights would exist as they do today. The purpose of this legislation is to add fairness and visibility to the process by letting the general contractor know which suppliers (or remote claimants as re-ferred to in the bill) have provided goods or services on the project.

One week after the committee decided to take no further action on the bill, AGC organized a meeting with the opponents to see if there is any common ground where the two sides could agree. Come to find out, the two sides were a lot closer than originally thought. Supplier groups were ok with the notice requirements; they just didn’t agree with the delivery requirements through the use of certi-fied mail as required in SB 292. Representatives from the supplier associations asked for AGC to look into the State of Utah’s State Construction Registry, a website built as clearinghouse for Notice of Commencement and Notice of Furnishing statewide.

Utah’s SCR was built by Utah.gov which is a sister-site to Kansas.gov both owned and operated by a company out of Olathe, KS, NIC. AGC along with representatives from the Aggregate Producers and Ready Mixed Concrete Associations have had several meetings with Kansas.gov staff about establishing a similar website in Kansas. The second step is to get a state agency to serve as the sponsoring agency of the site. In early July, AGC met with the Sec-retary of State’s office to inquire about the possibility of the registry being under the arm of the Secretary of State.

Other details are still being discussed on the bill. Suppliers would like to see this bill expanded to include residential construction and also feel first-tier subcontractors should be required to submit a Notice of Furnishing to the general contractor.

The second issue carried over from the 2009 session is the topic of retention. HB 2238, introduced by ASA, Kansas City Chapter was heard in House Commerce and Labor in February. Again, the com-mittee asked for parties to get together during the summer months to see if an agreement can be made on any of the language. HB 2238 amends the private and public prompt pay statutes to set retainage at

5% for the entire contract or 10% for the first 50% of the contract. Additionally, no retention could be held if a 100% payment perfor-mance bond is in place. The bill also allows for alternate securities in lieu of retainage.

Representing both general contractors and subcontractors, AGC has held a series of meetings over the past few months with GC and Specialty members in an attempt to work out an agreement on HB 2238. A task group is currently working on language to take to the board of directors.

Once a formal position, if any, is adopted AGC will notify membership of those changes. If you would like to offer input on either the lien notification or retention legislation, contact AGC at (785) 266-4015.

Legislation to Monitor into 2010• SB 152 - Tools of the Trade Exemption - AGC antici-pates a rejuvenated effort by the KCC to push for the passage of SB 152, either in its existing form, which AGC remains neutral on, or in its original form, which AGC would oppose.

• SB 271 - County Exemption from Bidding Statutes in Cases of an Emergency - Last spring, AGC requested an Attorney General’s Opinion on whether the definition of construction in the alternative delivery statutes applies to 19-214 which states that counties must put a project out for bid if it is in excess of $25,000. The AG Opinion indirectly answered the question, stating that 19-214 does in fact include maintenance and repair. AGC expects Riley County to push for this exemption next year, a move AGC will oppose.

• State Aid for School District Capital Improve-ments - As the budget outlook worsens, look for stronger attempts for the legislators to take away state aid for K-12 Capital Improvements. AGC opposed HB 2280 this past session, sending a strong message that eliminating this state aid will have a detrimental impact on the commercial build-ing construction industry.

Page 9

nationalnews

As reported in the July 22 E-News, AGC of America has joined the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Health Care. Be-low is a press release detailing provisions in the bill and how they could impact your business.

Additionally, AGC of Kansas has signed onto a letter from this coalition expressing the need for effective reform that results in affordable healthcare. To read the letter, visit http://news-manager.commpartners.com/agcmmq/issues/2009-07-20/4.html.

Small Business Healthcare in the NewsHouse Healthcare Bill a Poison Pill for Small Business

The following statement was released today on behalf of the Small Business Coalition For Affordable Healthcare on the House's "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009:" Despite what the bill's name may be, this legislation levies new burdens during trying economic times, harmful penalties on the firms that can least afford them, and new taxes on busi-nesses struggling to create and maintain jobs. As small business groups committed to seeking affordable healthcare reform options, the Small Business Coalition for Af-fordable Healthcare is disappointed with a number of reforms in this health reform bill, including the following:

• Mandate - It levies a destructive employer mandate combined with a punitive payroll tax of up to 8 percent. Payroll taxes are an especially onerous tax, because employers pay it whether or not their business is having a profitable year. The proposal in the House's bill makes a bad tax even worse. The taxes punish wage and job growth since the tax increases as payroll increas-es. Simply put, this is a tax on job growth. • Surtax - The proposed tax increase to pay for this reform is also a great concern, since it will be an additional burden on small businesses. The surtax imposes an additional tax on some businesses reducing after tax profits at a time when small businesses are struggling to find capital. Because 75 percent of small businesses are structured as pass through entities, they pay their business taxes at the individual level. More than one-third of small businesses who employ 20-250 employees would face the tax. The businesses most likely to face this tax employ 33.5 million American workers, more than one-quarter of the American workforce.

Health Care Reform Can Mean Trouble for Your Business

In recent weeks, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun fulfilling its promise of investigating employers who hire illegal workers by initiating two major steps: conducting audits of employers' I-9 forms and preparing for increased monitoring of the E-Verify System.

As mentioned in a previous AGC article, DHS to Focus on Pros-ecuting Employers Who Hire Illegal Workers, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division of DHS (ICE) has notified several hundred companies of the intent to audit their I-9 forms. Employers chosen for the administrative audit received a Notice of Inspection (NOI) with instructions to present all original I-9 forms and supporting documents within three days, along with the company's hiring records. According to a July 1 press release, ICE issued these notices to 652 businesses nationwide, compared to 503 notices issued in all of 2008. In the press release, ICE identi-fied the 652 employers as those resulting from "leads and informa-tion obtained through other investigative means." Review AGC's Seven Critical Steps for Surviving an I-9 Audit for guidance once an NOI is received.

As immigration enforcement and monitoring becomes a more pressing concern for companies across the country, it is important for employers to become aggressive in developing and executing Best Practices for staying compliant with current immigration laws.

Federal Government Makes Employers Subject of Immigration Enforcement with I-9 Audits and E-Verify Monitoring

• Public Plan - We have voiced our opposition to the public plan option throughout this debate. It simply is not feasible that the government can be both regulator and participant in the healthcare system. In order for us to truly address costs we need to start with a reformed insurance market and a level playing field - a government-funded option does not accom-plish either.• Exchange - The legislation actually shuts many small firms out of the exchanges that small businesses were hoping could provide them an easier and more efficient way to shop for insurance. The legislation only provides small businesses with 20 or fewer employees guaranteed access into the exchange. The small group market is typically 50 and under, so leaving out these businesses is further denying them the ability to find more options and solutions and leaves them in a market plagued with unsustainable cost increases.

Page 10 Page 11

industry newsNew Era for Construction Programs at Pittsburg StateThe Construction programs at Pittsburg State University will begin the Fall semester by becoming their own department. Starting July 1, a new Department of Construction Management and Construction Engineering Technologies (CMCET) was formed at PSU to house the current 4 year degrees in Construction Management and Construc-tion Engineering Technology. In addition, the new department will house a safety minor and a 2+2 Bachelor of Applied Science with an emphasis in Construction. The new contact info for the Department of CMCET is: Phone: 620.235.6555/ Fax: 620.235.6558 / website – www.pittstate/department/construction.edu

The new depart-ment was formed in response to the significant growth in majors and industry support for the pro-grams. The construc-tion programs have more than doubled in the last 10 years (Fall 2008 majors = 350). The department an-ticipates that the Fall 2009 enrollment will represent the largest enrollment ever in the CMCET programs including an increase in freshman and transfer students. This increase in enrollment is also supported by an NSF-STEM grant providing full ride scholarships for five (5) Construction Engineering Technology majors. The new de-partment of CMCET plans to add new construction emphasis areas and to convert the Safety minor into a four year degree. The depart-ment will continue to offer an online Masters degree in Engineering Technology with a Construction Management emphasis.

As a part of the move to a new department the construction faculty developed a strategic plan to incorporate green and sustainable con-struction practices into the curriculum. This strategic initiative was highlighted with five (5) of the current CMCET faculty (Bill Strenth, Seth O’Brien, Shannon Nicklaus, Justin Honey, James Otter) success-fully completing their LEED AP examination in the month of June. The next step in the strategic plan is to incorporate the Green Associate accreditation as part of the current required CMCET 691 Professional Construction Cer-tification Seminar course.

In an effort to further enhance the new CMCET department, a new 40 seat computer based estimating and construction management computer classroom is being completed. The room is funded primar-ily by student technology fees. This new classroom will facilitate the incorporation of 4D/5D BIM and 3D site modeling into the cur-riculum. The CMCET department recently added a new 250,000# universal testing machine, a hydraulic soil compactor (thanks to KCA), two (2) new robotic total stations, three (3) GPS rovers and a base station, TEKLA software, MC2 estimating software (to comple-ment our current SAGE Timberline software and OnCenter soft-ware), a plumbing/mechanical connections display (supplied by MCA and Midwest Mechanical), and a cement storage silo (donated by Tank Connections).

As part of the departmental K-12 strategic initiative, the CMCET department cosponsored a group of 29 Kauffman Scholar students for a 3 day workshop in July at PSU including a focused section in construction. This is the third summer that CMCET has participated with the Kauffman Scholars program. The workshop included activi-ties associated with basic structures, REVIT 3D modeling, estimating/scheduling exercises, material testing and each student was given an opportunity to operate a total station and a Bobcat mini-excavator. Also during the month of July the department will host two (2) five day Construct My Future workshops for local kids 8-12 years old with a similar format. The faculty in the CMCET department also participated with Crossland Construction, Columbus, Kansas and Five-Mile Camp to offer the nationally acclaimed “If I Had a Hammer” program to 5th and 6th grades in an effort to enhance math compre-hension and retention though construction activities. On May 7, the CMCET department joint ventured with Crossland Construction to host the annual Crossland Rodeo for 80+ regional high school students.

And finally, this year marks a record accomplishment for the CMCET department students. As part of the Senior Projects capstone course and the student AGC chapter, the department will have completed over $1 million in community projects in Southeast Kansas over the last 11 years. Also, the 13th PSU Construction Company Day will be held on September 23, 2009 with 60+ construction companies ex-pected to attend. Contact Bill Strenth (620.235.4361 or bstrenth@

pittstate.edu ) to get signed up.

The new CMCET department would like to thank AGC of Kansas and all the members for their continuing support of our program and their assistance in helping us become a new department.

Kauffman Scholars Student Working on Revit Model.

Kauffman Students Reviewing Soil Sieve Analysis Process.

Kauffman Student on Bobcat Mini-Excavator.

Page 11

industry news

As AGC has become more entrenched in statewide workforce development efforts, there seemed to be a gap when spreading the message about career opportunities in the industry. Students at career fairs or other venues would often ask “are you hiring?” The response has always been that AGC represents the industry and students can contact member companies if interested in a construction career.

With the approval from the board of directors at the June board meeting, AGC will now have the ability to bridge the gap between students and industry by offering a Career Center on its website. This added benefit will allow members to post job openings, and offer the opportunity for entry-level workers to post resumes.

For more information on the Career Center, contact Eric Stafford at (785) 266-4015 or email job openings to estafford@agcks.org.

AGC Launches Online Jobs Board for Employers and Job Seekers

Neil Fisher, vice president of KBS Constructors Inc., Topeka, was named as an honorary member in the Pi Chapter of Sigma Lambda Chi of the Kansas State University Architectural Engineering and Construction Science Society.

The honor was presented at the Kansas State University Architec-tural Engineering and Construction Science and Management Awards Banquet in May in Manhattan.

K-State Sigma Lambda Chi Chap-ter Awards Honorary Membership

Students of Sigma Lambda Chi present Neil Fisher, KBS Construc-tors, Inc., with an honorary membership into the professional society.

K-State Professor First University Faculty Member to Earn Building Design and Construction Certification

Ray Yunk, associate professor of architectural engineering and construction science at Kansas State University, recently became the first university faculty member in the world to be certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction.

While there are well over 100,000 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accredited professionals, fewer than 20 have earned the “Building Design and Construction” designation.

“Green buildings and sustainable design and construction have been a rapidly growing focus area of the industry over the last several years and it is an area that students get excited about,” Yunk said. “This certification represents a continuation of the commitment that our faculty stay current in professional practice in order to bring the latest design and construction applications into the classroom.”

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design professional credentialing program was developed to encourage green building professionals to maintain and advance their knowledge and expertise. The program provides three levels of excellence that distinguish practitioners with basic, advanced and extraordinary levels of knowledge.

The next generation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards and certifications are being phased in throughout 2009. The new programs will include updated green building rating systems and enhanced credentialing requirements.

The certification earned by Yunk provides an advanced level standard for professionals participating in the design and construction phases of high-performance, healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound commercial, institutional and high-rise residential buildings.

Yunk earned a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering and construction science from K-State in 1988, and then earned a master’s degree in architectural engineering from K-State in 2004. He has been a licensed professional engineer since 1992 and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional since 2004.

Ray Yunk, P.E., LEED AP

Page 12 Page 13

hr cornerBy Mary Legge, SPHRGroup Benefit Specialists, Inc.(316) 491-2600 ext 115mlegge@group-benefit.comwww.group-benefit.com

Nobody knew until they arrived in Louisville for the AGC Board Retreat that Saturday marked the 50th wedding anniversary for Jim and Carolyn Grier. The couple celebrated along with fellow AGC members at Churchill Downs.

“I was extremely flattered that Jim and Carolyn chose to attend the board retreat over such a memorable anniversary,” said Corey Peterson, Executive Vice President of AGC. “We wish them the best as they enter the next chapter in their lives.”

Every June, the AGC board of directors travels to a location picked by the current president. The retreat is organized to develop rela-tionships between members and spouses through seminars and social events. AGC President Bev Sauerwein picked Louisville, KY as this year’s destination.

Jim and Carolyn Grier Celebrate 50th Anniversary at AGC Board Retreat

The title of this book catches the eye of all HR leaders. Produced by the Society for Human Resource Management, it is a “compilation of credible ideas and a wide array of policies by leading HR profession-als…” The first half of this compilation contains twenty article-style contributions from over fifteen sources. The second half contains extensive examples of forms, letters, and policies pertaining to these tough economic times.

Peter Cappelli’s introduction pushes HR leaders to think beyond just conducting layoffs. We need to consider both the cost of keeping in-dividuals as well as the cost of employment reductions. He promises to “arm us with the knowledge necessary to make the right decisions concerning layoffs.”

If you are looking for validation of some of your current thoughts, or if you are looking for a new direction to push your creative mind, this collection can do that. I read it on a Sunday afternoon, skimming some of the articles that didn’t tell me anything new, and spending some substantial time on others that prompted my thoughts in differ-ent angles.

I did enjoy, if you can call it that, “The Difference between a Furlough, a Layoff, and a Reduction in Force.” We hear these terms used today interchangeably creating confusion for both us and our management teams. To minimize confusion and possible legal ramifications, it’s

important we use the correct term in each situation.

“Easing the Burden of Employees’ Debt” is another interesting con-tribution. As business leaders, we can’t ignore the fact that employ-ees are worried about their future. A large number of individuals are financially stressed. This stress manifests itself during the work day. Peter Weaver and Gina Rollins offer some ideas a company can use to help employees with education and resources to reduce their financial stress.

The second half of the book is filled with twenty-seven different samples of forms, notices, and such to get you started. The book has a copyright so you can’t just throw it on the copier, but it gives you the tools to get you thinking. It has everything from a WARN notice to “Take the Summer Off Policy”. They even have one on “Low Need Time” addressing temporary reduction of hours.

The resounding theme throughout the book is to think beyond simply terminating people. Steve Taylor’s Bottom Up section details how to effectively ask your employees for suggestions and Adrienne Fox’s Retain Top Talent talks about focusing on retention while you are letting people go.

Did Peter fulfill his promise? After a slow start, yes, I think he did.

Book ReviewWeathering Storms: Human Resources in Difficult TimesWith an Introduction by Peter Cappelli

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Wingnuts Game NightIt didn’t take a whole lot of arm twisting to get 27 YCF mem-bers and guests to register for the YCF game night at Lawrence Dumont Stadium in June to watch Wichita’s minor league team, the Wingnuts, play against the Sioux Falls Canaries.

With the previous day’s game cancelled due to bad weather, the Wing-nuts completed the remaining six innings before playing a short-ened second game. The YCF advisory board added the Wingnuts game night to the calendar of events to offer a purely social networking event that would allow mem-bers the chance to get to know each other outside of the work environment. The event was also used as a membership drive to promote the YCF to non-members.

YCF Chapter Challenge The busy summer continued as 10 YCF members volunteered as part of the AGC of America Chapter Challenge to volunteer in each chapters local community. As previously reported, the AGC board of directors handed this responsibility to the YCF and the Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita was selected as the project. Old Cowtown is a historical museum that relives the

pioneer days through reen-actments and use of historic structures.

Last spring, YCF members met with Cow-town repre-sentatives to tour the mu-seum, seeing first-hand the

young constructors forum

Summer Events Keep YCF Members Plenty Busy

YCF members network during a Wichita Wingnuts base-ball game in June. This was the first game night event sponsored by the YCF.

Photo by Dave Williams, Wichita Eagle Marcus Meeker, Hi-Tech Interiors, scrapes old paint off of the Empire Hall building at Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita.

extent of work needed at the museum. With many projects to choose from, the YCF settled on two; building new trash can enclosures and painting two museum structures. With the use of Key Construction’s warehouse and tools, the enclosures were quickly assembled. And with the help of R-Quip Equip-ment Rental, the higher points of the Empire Hall building was

easily reached by painters with the use of a 40 foot boom lift donated for the day.

Pat Tolin, Ferrell Construction of Topeka, and Scott Casebolt, Key Construction, served as the project managers for this event, working with the City of Wichita on specific of the projects.

Lunch and Learn The Lunch and Learn was the final event of the summer for the YCF. Gregg Oblinger, Vice President, Simpson & Associates, along with Julie Hedrick, Direc-tor of Design and Construction for USD 259, spoke to 20 AGC and YCF members about the procure-

ment details and status of upcoming bond projects for USD 259. The Lunch and Learn session provides an opportunity for YCF members to learn from industry leaders on various issues from their start in the construction industry, to how the industry has changed in recent years.

Gregg Oblinger, Simpson and Associates, Listens as Julie He-drick, USD #259 discusses plans for the upcoming bond projects in Wichita.

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welcome new members

SUBCONTRACTORS Wickham Industries, Inc.4747 N. Webb Rd.Bel Aire, KS 67226(316) 262-3403FAX (316) 262-2069Gary WickhamGreg WickhamDavid WickhamGlass and Glazing Subcontractor

Piping & Equipment Company, Inc.PO Box 10651111 East 37th St. NorthWichita KS 67201 1065(316) 838-7511FAX (316) 838-2014John C. Wadsworth, PresidentArthur H. Farnham, Vice PresidentChemical and Petro Chemical Contractor

calendar of events

PSU Scholarship Golf Tournament 8.3.09 Wichita, KS

AGC Board of Directors Meeting 9.29.09 Hutchinson, KS

Central KS Steak Fry 9.29.09 Wichita, KS

NE Kansas Steak Fry 10.1.09 Topeka, KS

YCF Clay Shoot 10.2.09 Fall River, KS

AGC PAC Fundraiser- 10.9.09 Newton, KS Sand Creek Station Golf Course

AGC Annual Convention 1.21.10- Wichita, KS 1.22.10

Do you Have News?If you have a timely article you would like to con-tribute to the AGC newsletter, email Eric Stafford at estafford@agcks.org for consideration.