Board Elections, New Chairman Named for Construction Industry Round Table

CLEAN, Va.  – The Construction Industry Round Table has elected Wayne A. Drinkward as chairman of the organization for a term of one year. He succeeds H. Ralph Hawkins, FAIA, chairman emeritus of HKS, Inc. Drinkward was elected during CIRT’s annual spring meeting, which occurred during Infrastructure Week last month and which also welcomed new directors. Wayne Drinkward, chairman Drinkward is chairman & CEO of Hoffman Corporation. Founded in Portland, Oregon in 1922, Hoffman Construction Company is a privately held, employee-owned general contractor and construction manager. Hoffman works in a wide range of markets, from urban high-rise towers and cultural […]

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Field Notes: Staying Safe on Sites

By Andy Peters Safety is a top priority in the construction industry. Although many general contractors have made good progress to ensure the safety of all workers at every stage of a project, there are still instances where accidents happen. The Construction Industry Institute’s latest report, “Improving Site Safety Performance through Operational Excellence,” indicates the rate of improvement among industry leaders has slowed down. The Total Recordable Incident Rate for the construction industry shows as flat between 2010 and 2013 (range 4.0-3.8). The CII member companies (a subset of the whole construction industry), has also been essentially flat at .43 […]

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Making the Grade: Top 10 Tips for Keeping Summer School Construction Projects on Track

By Joe Lipski Nearly 10 years ago, when the Great Recession clobbered the country, construction was one of the industries that took it the hardest. New building developments all but stopped, and many additions and deferred maintenance projects were put on hold. The slowdown also forced companies to freeze hiring and lay off staff. But, our country is resilient and, today, the construction industry tells a different story. New construction, renovations and upgrades are soaring, putting pressure on building companies to staff and complete projects on time and on budget. There are many reasons why projects may face a time […]

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Best Practices: How to Promote, Maintain a Healthy Work Culture

By Todd Sachse As construction professionals, we spend a lot of time on the process–the technical, logistical and operational details that keep a project moving smoothly and lead to successful outcomes. One piece of the puzzle often overlooked is culture. A healthy work culture can improve communication, increase job satisfaction, boost efficiencies, minimize downtime and, ultimately, make your jobsites safer, more collaborative and more productive. It’s important to recognize that culture isn’t an abstract notion, but a practical, tangible and meaningful piece of the professional lifestyle. There is a direct connection between a positive and productive work culture and a […]

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A Chat with Mike King, Senior Project Superintendent at Kitchell

Strong leadership, communication keys to success By Chris Maday Schmidt Mike King, ASHE, CHC, senior project superintendent, has invested three decades of his professional life at Kitchell Contractors where he’s managed some of the Southwest’s most iconic projects, including many of Arizona’s most high-profile healthcare projects. From Tucson to Flagstaff and around Greater Phoenix, King’s footprint can be found at a patient tower for Phoenix Children’s Hospital and at an emergency department tower at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, as well as the Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. In Southern California, King managed the University of California San Diego Jacobs […]

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