Safety Forum 2025 Recap: Insights & Innovations in Workplace Safety

Our recent Safety Forum 2025 brought together industry experts and safety professionals for an insightful discussion on critical safety updates and innovative solutions.

Larry Davidson with National Safety Consulting provided a comprehensive overview of the upcoming OSHA 2025 updates. Their presentation highlighted key regulatory changes and offered valuable guidance on maintaining compliance in the year ahead.

In the second half of the forum, Mike Ortiz from Site 20/20 introduced cutting-edge solutions designed to improve work zone safety. Attendees learned about the Guardian Smartflagger, an advanced Automated Flagger Assistance Device (AFAD), as well as the Guardian Cone, a smart traffic control tool aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities in work zones.

We extend our gratitude to our knowledgeable speakers for sharing their expertise and to all the attendees who joined us. Your dedication to improving workplace safety is vital, and we’re proud to support your efforts.



Stay tuned for our Fall Safety Forum in September!

Present to Impress: Key Takeaways from Our Powerful Session with Amy Lemire

Did you know that public speaking is one of the top five biggest fears people have? It’s no surprise when you consider the common concerns: focusing too much on ourselves, fear of disapproval, and anxiety over rejection.

At our recent Present to Impress seminar, renowned speaker Amy Lemire delivered an incredible presentation packed with valuable insights on how to overcome those fears and become a stronger, more impactful communicator.

Key Takeaways from Amy's Presentation



✅ Preparation is everything. The key to confidence is practice, rehearsal, and more practice. The better prepared you are, the more natural you'll feel.

✅ Master the art of body language. While only 7% of communication comes from our words, 38% is conveyed through tone, and a staggering 55% is all about body language. Eye contact, posture, and presence make a huge impact.

✅ Stay grounded and calm. Anticipate questions and objections in advance, and be prepared to answer them thoughtfully.

✅ Embrace the power of the pause. Forget the filler words — a purposeful pause is far more powerful and allows your audience time to absorb your message.

✅ Ask for feedback. Growth comes from learning, and asking others for their perspective is invaluable in refining your speaking skills.

Amy's dynamic energy and expertise left our audience inspired and equipped with practical tools to improve their presentation skills — whether in front of a large crowd, a small team, or even one-on-one conversations.

A huge thank you to Amy Lemire for sharing her invaluable knowledge with us! Connect with Amy on LinkedIn and see how she can help your teams! If you missed this incredible session, stay tuned for future opportunities to sharpen your skills and elevate your impact.

Avison Young Establishes National Investments Sales Platform Focusing On Multifamily, Office, Retail And Development Sectors

Firm appoints James Nelson to Head of U.S. Investment Sales

Avison Young, a global real estate advisory firm, today announces the establishment of its U.S. Investment Sales platform (USIS) which will focus on assets in key U.S. markets across multifamily, office, retail and development sectors. To lead this effort, James Nelson will be expanding his current role as leader of Investment Sales in the New York Tristate area to Head of U.S. Investment Sales.

“As the doors of recovery continue to open, we recognize there is a strategic opportunity to position Avison Young as the premier investment sales brokerage firm. The establishment of our USIS platform fortifies our business development efforts and supports our continued goal of creating value for our clients and our markets,” said Harry Klaff, Avison Young Principal and U.S. President. “James is a nationally recognized investment sales expert, and his deep relationships and experience creating brand identity will magnify exposure of Avison Young’s U.S. Investment Sales platform.”

As part of this USIS enhancement to drive integration and growth, Avison Young has promoted two additional team members into roles to help lead and support the firm’s national investment sales platform. Erik Edeen will serve as Senior Director and Principal of U.S. Investment Sales, focusing on both internal and external efforts. He will work alongside Nelson on national business development opportunities, leveraging his 15 years of transaction experience. In addition, he will be responsible for creating consistency of our processes and tools, resourcing, and reporting. Traci Bidinger has been promoted to Director of Marketing, Capital Markets, concentrating on the elevation of Avison Young’s marketing at both the client and asset levels.

The Avison Young USIS leadership team will operate within the framework of the firm’s overall Capital Markets business both in partnership and oversight with Marion Jones, Principal and Executive Managing Director of U.S. Capital Markets. She joined the firm earlier this year to lead its capital markets strategy and expand its capital markets footprint across the U.S.

“Amplifying Avison Young’s capital markets footprint is a top priority, and this strategic leadership enhancement of our USIS team will drive growth and market share for the firm’s capital markets business line and best serve our clients,” said Jones.

“We see tremendous opportunity and momentum especially in office, retail, multifamily and development transactions across major U.S. cities,” added Nelson. “Our U.S. Investment Sales team is well-positioned to expand our client relationships and identify new business opportunities for Avison Young on a cohesive national scale.”

“I am thrilled with the launch of Avison Young’s national platform for Investment Sales headed by James Nelson. This fulfills a major initiative for the firm - connecting and streamlining our investment sales effort in the U.S. will better serve our clients and continue to elevate our brand,” said Michael Fay, Chair, Avison Young U.S. Capital Markets Executive Committee, Principal and Managing Director, Miami.

Member Highlight: The Lawrence Group - Steven & Susan Lipstein BJC Institute of Health at Washington University School of Medicine Vertical Expansion

The project includes the addition of 6 stories to the existing north tower, including a new elevator shaft at the northwest corner of the building.

The expansion includes Biologic Therapy Core Facility (BTCF), which follows Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations (enforced by the Food and Drug Administration) for manufacturing cellular therapies to treat cancer; 100,000 square feet of expanded laboratory space; and about 43,000 square feet of mechanical building-support areas.

Everyday Excellence, One Habit at a Time with Jeff Koziatek

Habit #13: Pacing

Living at YOUR pace allows you to…

• align your actions to your values
• rest when you need it
• see the bigger picture
• assess and respond appropriately

The glorification of “busy and speed” steals energy, dreams, and passion.

Checklists can be all-consuming. Don’t trade the present of today for the promise of tomorrow.

Remember:

Seek to be effective rather than busy.

Performance Tips:

• When you find yourself feeling frantic, slow down and read your WHY.



• Pursuing efficiency with proper pacing will enhance productivity… and improve quality.

Leadership Is a Contact Sport: Teaching Confidence for a Safer Workplace

Author: Chuck Twellmann, MS, PE, PMP, Manager Transmission Construction Services, Ameren, Health & Safety Committee Chair

Warner Baxter, Chairman, President, and CEO of Ameren Corporation, often said, “Leadership is a contact sport.” It’s a powerful reminder that real leadership requires direct engagement—being present, building relationships, and providing guidance that people can trust.

Several years ago, in a conversation about coaching sports, with Shawn Schukar, Chairman and President of Ameren Transmission Company, he shared something that stuck with me: “Teach confidence they can make the play.” That’s what great leaders do. It’s not just about giving instructions; it’s about empowering people to step up and deliver when it matters most.

A perfect example of this principle played out during a Portland Trail Blazers playoff game on April 25, 2003. Natalie Gilbert, a 13-year-old singing the national anthem, froze and forgot the lyrics in front of thousands of fans. What happened next was a true demonstration of leadership. Coach Maurice “Mo” Cheeks walked over, put his arm around her, and started singing along. His calm, steady presence gave her the confidence to push through and finish strong...

And here’s what makes that story even better—just recently, Natalie returned to the Moda Center and delivered a flawless national anthem performance. Coach Mo Cheeks, now an assistant with the New York Knicks, was there to witness her triumphant return. The power of genuine leadership leaves a lasting impact. It’s about giving people the confidence to rise to the occasion and do their best...

Barriers That Are Hurting Your Hiring and Recruitment Efforts

To hire based on merit, companies must ensure that their hiring procedures are accessible to everyone.

Over the past decade, the construction industry has expanded its workforce by tapping into new segments of workers to find much needed talent. For example, women have seen steady employment gains in recent years. The number of women working in construction grew from 802,000 to 1.2 million between 2012 and 2020. Additionally, a record number of women worked in trades jobs in 2022.

Despite the progress, minority groups remain underrepresented in the industry. This is where the work of traditional diversity programs has mostly focused. Overcoming issues related to gender, race and ethnicity continues to be a priority, but there’s more work to be done.

As construction companies grapple with a dwindling workforce and stringent talent pool, they need to consider other types of entry, retention and advancement challenges that prospective and current workers may be facing. Understanding some of these overlooked barriers can help owners and hiring managers gain access to vital talent and keep them long-term.

Traditional hiring practices that work for most or many job candidates may create unintended barriers that dissuade underserved populations from considering trades jobs. Employers must adapt to address challenges they may not have considered, including the following.

Transport

Not every person has a driver's license or owns a car, and securing reliable transportation can be difficult. Construction jobsites might be in remote locations or inaccessible by public transit systems. Add to that, buses and metros might not even be running when workers assigned to early or late shifts need them.

To address this, companies could offer resources to help employees acquire a license, create subsidies for public transportation or ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, or invest in shuttle services to help workers reach jobsites.

Startup Costs

For some, purchasing new work clothes or personal protective equipment can be a recruitment barrier. Businesses should consider including any required clothing in their new employee onboarding kits. Hiring and/or signing bonuses can also help to break down this barrier...

Interview Dos

Finding and attracting qualified, skilled labor is one of the construction industry’s most pressing workforce challenges. Yet, field crews don’t operate on a 9-to-5 schedule like office teams do, and workers can get in trouble for having their phones on them.

Recruiters must adapt to meet the reality faced by craft workers and other in-field employees. If a candidate doesn’t answer their phone, recruiters should at the least leave a voicemail or send an email or text message that provides something tangible to respond to when the worker becomes available. Talent acquisition teams should also be flexible with interview availability to accommodate these obstacles...

Advancement Opportunities

It’s important to make upskilling and career development opportunities accessible to all employees, but it’s also crucial to accurately track each individual’s progress. An LMS can ensure training modules are available to those interested and keep tabs on what new certifications employees are acquiring.

A performance management system can also support fair promotion practices. A PMS and LMS work in tandem to capture an accurate reflection of an employee's work in a centralized database. Leveraging this information, employers can make data-informed decisions about who to promote when a position opens up.

Mentorship Programs

Mentorship programs allow employees to learn and connect with people who can help them navigate the industry's complexities. Matching mentors and mentees with similar backgrounds and experiences can be even more beneficial. For example, if a mentee is facing an issue that relates to their veteran status, their mentor may be able to provide specific advice on how to approach the situation based on their past experience...

STL Tech Week

March 31st - April 4th

STL TechWeek is 5 full days of disruptive and emerging technology at venues across the St. Louis Metro. All events are free and open to the public.

SAME Sporting Clays Event

Tuesday, April 15th

10:30 am @

St. Louis Skeet & Trap Club

18854 Franklin Rd,

Pacific, Mo 63069

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