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Five Things To Do / Know This Week:
1.) Good news! The ad space reservation deadline for the next issue of MBEX Blueprint has been extended through February 13. Don't wait; set your business up for success and contact Innovative today to reserve your print or digital magazine real estate.
2.) MBEX member H2I Group is celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2024, marking a century of innovation, growth and unwavering dedication to excellence. Established in 1924, H2I Group has transformed from a model supply company in Minnesota to a leading nationwide entity, offering a wide array of solutions across various industries. Congratulations, H2I!
3.) Highway and street projects are flush with cash, but high interest rates, labor shortages, and regulatory delays are weighing on commercial projects. It's a tale of two markets: publicly funded nonresidential activity jumped 1.4% in December, while spending on private projects dropped 0.2%.
4.) Friday (2/9) is National Pizza Day. Celebrate by hosting a Mentorship Mixer over (what else?) pizza. Pair senior team members with newer hires to encourage mentorship and knowledge sharing. This can help bridge the generation gap in the industry and provide valuable insights to younger team members.
5.) Test Your Knowledge:
The U.S. Mint is rolling out five new quarters featuring the faces of impactful American women in 2024.
These featured women include Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor; Celia Cruz, a Cuban-American singer known as the "Queen of Salsa;" Rep. Patsy Takemoto Mink (D - Hawaii), the first woman of color to serve in Congress; and Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray, cofounder of the National Organization for Women.
Who is the fifth woman being featured?
A.) Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts
B.) Zitkala-Ša, a Native American writer, composer, educator and political activist
C.) Sally Ride, first American woman in space
D.) Maria Tallchief, American's first prima ballerina
See the Answer
Whenever we see a finished chimney, we can't help but say it's top-notch.
IN BRIEF:
• Join Us: MBEX is hitting the road and coming to a city near you
• Davis-Bacon Act: How changes to DRBA might cost contractors
• Tips & Tricks: Issues logging in? Try clearing your browser's cache and cookies
• Congratulations: Top Women in Construction finalists announced
• Minority Notices: Morcon Construction seeks TGB Subcontractors and Suppliers
• Corrections to Minnesota's Prevailing-Wage Rates, AI Use Builds in Construction, and Robotic Inspections of Infrastructure: Five construction headlines, and a possible data center or industrial park project in Rosemount
• Member Benefit: Set up a 401(k) MEP with BLD Connection
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MBEX is Coming to a City Near You | |
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MBEX will be hitting the road and coming in the cities of Mankato, St. Cloud, Fargo, Duluth, and Virginia for a casual get-together with our members for networking and connection building.
Come socialize with your fellow members and industry peers, and MBEX will provide drinks and appetizers for all to enjoy. Learn what MBEX is up to, and share your thoughts on how we can better serve you.
Here's when we'll be passing through:
• February 27 - The Pub 500 - Mankato, Minn. from 3:00pm-5:00pm - Register Here
• February 28 - Granite City - St. Cloud, Minn. from 3:00pm-5:00pm - Register Here
• February 29 - Jasper Hotel - Fargo, N.D. from 3:00pm-5:00pm - Register Here
• March 6 - Mr. D's Bar & Grill - Duluth, Minn. from 3:00pm-5:00pm - Register Here
• March 7 - Sawmill Saloon - Virginia, Minn. from 3:00pm-5:00pm - Register Here
While these events are offered free of charge to our membership, we do request that attendees register so we have an accurate head count for food and drink orders.
Invite colleagues, members and non-members alike, to learn how MBEX serves the commercial construction sector, what membership entails, and meet staff.
It's events like these that showcase the one of the biggest values of MBEX membership by fostering strong industry connections and helping our members grow their businesses.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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7 Ways That Davis-Bacon Changes Could Cost Constructors | |
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Significant changes to the Davis-Bacon Act and Related Acts (DBRA) will play a critical role as federal contractors consider and prepare for construction projects in 2024, affecting labor and administrative costs as well as how projects are managed.
The DBRA governs wage payment for contractors and subcontractors working on federal and federally assisted construction projects. The changes came at a time when the Department of Labor (DOL) was projecting a significant increase in the number of industry workers due to sizeable investments in federally funded construction projects made possible by legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
DBRA applies to certain federal government / Washington D.C. contracts where the contract is for more than $2,000 and is for the construction, alteration, and / or repair of public buildings or public works.
Covered contractors should expect major economic impact from the new changes. These include:
1.) Expansion of site of the work;
2.) Additional job coverage and monitoring;
3.) Prevailing wage standard;
4.) Recordkeeping;
5.) Green sector;
6.) Fringe benefits; and
7.) Enhanced enforcement, increased damages or costs.
These updates by the DOL aim to "provide greater clarity and enhance their usefulness in the modern economy."
The updates to the DBRA went into effect on October 23, 2023, serving as the first major update to the law in four decades.
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TIPS & TRICKS: Clear your Browser's Cache and Cookies | |
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Yes, we included this Online Plan Room tip last week, but it seems to be a common issue for our members, so we're sharing the quick-fix again.
If you've tried logging in to the Online Plan Room (and are 100% sure you're using the correct user ID and password) only to be shown an error message or remain on the log-in screen, you probably need to clear your internet browser's cache and cookies.
This happens from time to time, and fortunately, the fix is a simple one:
How do I clear my cache and cookies?
The process of clearing your browser's cache and cookies may differ slightly depending on the browser being used, such as Chrome (recommended by MBEX), Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Generally, the steps are similar.
To clear your cache and cookies on a Windows PC:
1.) Open your browser and click the menu icon (typically three dots or lines) in the top right corner.
2.) Select "Settings" or "Options" from the drop-down menu, then find the section labeled "Privacy and Security" or "History".
3.) Click on "Clear Browsing Data," "Clear History," or "Manage Data" and choose the desired time range like "Last Hour," "Last Day," "Last Week," or "All Time."
4.) Finally, check the boxes for "Cached Images and Files" and "Cookies and Other Site Data" before clicking "Clear Data," "Clear Now," or "Delete."
Learn more about caches and browser cookies here.
If you continue to run into issues, please give us a call so we can help troubleshoot the problem: (612) 381-2620.
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Top Women in Construction Finalists Announced | |
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Finance & Commerce announced the finalists for the fourth annual Top Women in Construction awards on January 31, 2024.
The following women are well respected in Minnesota's construction industry whether on the job site or behind the scenes.
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Companies to Watch:
Creations Cabinets
LBR Partners LLC
Element Commercial Real Estate
Spec 7 Group*
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Outstanding Service to the Industry:
Heather Gay
Dunwoody College of Technology*
Nicole Ricks
GAF
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Outstanding Project Management / Estimating:
Marlee Benson
Oppidan Investment Company
Mary Mittelstaedt
Country Cabinets Custom Cabinetry
Tatiana Murphy
RJM Construction
Cori Prokopowicz
APi Construction Company
Alice Torvinen
The Jamar Company*
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Industry Leadership:
Mariah M. Dean
Eden Resources
Carolyn Johnson
Satoree Kitchen & Bath
Julie Stanke
Fresh Paint Inc
Angie Stanton
C&S Blacktopping Inc
Kelly Veit
Veit*
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Outstanding Tradesperson / Craftswoman:
Rosey Grab
Kraemer North America
Jaelynn Larson
Adolfson & Peterson Construction*
Kate Weber
PCL Construction*
Tanya Wheeler
Knutson Construction*
Jessica Woodhull
Kraemer North America
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Professional Services:
Anna Anderson
Art Unlimited
Andrea Blair
Kraus-Anderson*
Janine Loetscher
Bassford Remele
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Unsung Hero:
Mallory Carey
Anderson-CC
Steph Ekeren
Knutson Construction*
Maria Gutierrez
Kraus-Anderson*
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Michelle O'Rourke
Loeffler Construction & Consulting*
Jeanna Sunbom
The Jamar Company*
Rondalynn Thompson
Ryan Companies US Inc
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Category winners and an overall Top Woman in Construction will be announced at the conclusion of Women in Construction Week during a Saturday, March 9, gala at Quincy Hall in Minneapolis, and featured in a special Finance & Commerce publication.
Congratulations to all these well-deserving finalists!
MBEX member companies are noted with an asterisk (*) behind the company name.
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Did you know...a valuable benefit of membership with MBEX automatically makes every employee of a member company a member, meaning you are welcome to attend any and all MBEX events.
** indicates a newly added event
February 15 - MBEX Online Plan Room Demo
From navigating the Deskpad, setting up filters, understanding project information, and bidders lists, this free, one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room. There will be time at the end for questions and answers. Register Here
February 20 - Introduction to Upcoming Bluebeam Courses
Don't miss this opportunity to see an introduction to each upcoming Bluebeam Revu course in March and their learning objectives. Get your questions answered to assure you're in the appropriate courses for your skillset and workflow. Register Here
**February 27 - Member Road Show: Mankato
Join MBEX for a casual gathering with food, drinks, and networking with great company at The Pub 500. Register Here
**February 28 - Member Road Show: St. Cloud
Join MBEX for a casual gathering with food, drinks, and networking with great company at Granite City. Register Here
**February 29 - Member Road Show: Fargo
Join MBEX for a casual gathering with food, drinks, and networking with great company at the Jasper Hotel. Register Here
March 3-9 - Women in Construction Week
Women in Construction (WIC) Week celebrates and promotes the role of women throughout the construction industry. Learn More
March 5 - Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics
Whether opening Bluebeam Revu for the first time or you've used it for years, this class will ensure a higher baseline knowledge. Register Here
March 6 - Baseline 2: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Basic)
With Revu's intuitive measurement tools and customizable interface, turn your highlighters into data-rich takeoff tools. Register Here
**March 6 - Member Road Show: Duluth
Join MBEX for a casual gathering with food, drinks, and networking with great company at Mr. D's Bar & Grill. Register Here
March 7 - Bluebeam 3: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Advanced)
After finishing the Bluebeam 2 course, students will move into creating custom columns, embedding formulas, and information organization. Register Here
**March 7 - Member Road Show: The Iron Range
Join MBEX for a casual gathering with food, drinks, and networking with great company at the Sawmill Saloon in Virginia. Register Here
March 8 - Bluebeam 4: Document Management & Best Practices
This course will not only improve consistency and accuracy in document management, but it will eliminate all the time wasted navigating through drawing sets and wondering who has the latest drawings. Register Here
March 12 - Bluebeam 5: Collecting Field Data
Learn to create and place custom punch symbols, quickly embed images or videos, and create summary reports. Register Here
March 13 - Bluebeam 6: Administrative Professionals
Administrative teams have unique document workflows that demand a different set of tools compared to design and construction teams. Register Here
March 14 - Bluebeam 7: Civil Workflows
Yes, there are tools in Bluebeam Revu for Civil Designers and Engineers! Not only will students learn navigation and markups, but also work flows like Calibrating Plan & Profile drawings with different X-Y scales, ideas for Cut & Fill calculations, combining several PDFs into one large area map, and adding images. Register Here
March 20 & 21 - Reading Construction Documents
Designed to quickly familiarize students with the basics of reading and understanding construction documents, this two-part online program is perfect for apprentices, entry-level tradespersons, project coordinators, assistant project managers, new project managers, estimators, specialty sales representatives, entry-level architectural or engineering designers, or anyone in career transition looking for a refresher. Register Here
**March 27 - Q1 Construction Economic Update & Forecast
Crafted with commercial contractors in mind, Anirban Basu’s presentation will offer up-to-the-minute economic data, including the cost of labor and materials, top market sectors and regions and the Fed’s ongoing efforts to engineer a soft landing for a tumultuous economy. Basu will also provide his thoughts as to if and/or when we’ll actually see a recession and how that may affect construction. Register Here
**March 28 - DOT Hazardous Material & Hazardous Waste Management Training Seminar
Join Safety-Kleen for their offered Compliance Training covering DOT Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Training (8:00am-11:15am) and Hazardous Waste Management (RCRA) Training (11:30am-12:30pm). All training materials will be provided, and at the completion of the training, participants will receive their certificate of completion for 3-years of RCRA training. Email Michael Fisher with Safety-Kleen to enroll.
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MINNESOTA PREVAILING-WAGE RATES
💵 Notice of Correction to Prevailing-Wage Rates: Affects Highway and Heavy and Commercial Rates
The commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) certified prevailing-wage rates for highway and heavy construction projects in all 10 regions on November 20, 2023, and prevailing-wage rates for commercial construction projects in 87 counties on December 26, 2023. This notice regards a correction to highway and heavy wage rates, and commercial wage rates. These corrections are for all public works contracts advertised for bid on or after this date. (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry press release)
1.) Region 9 (Job Code Group 306);
2.) Pipelayer (Job Code 107) and Underground and open ditch laborers (Job Code 109) for Aitken County;
3.) Electricians (Job Code 707) in Morrison County;
4.) Glaziers (Job Code 709) in the following counties: Clay and Itasca;
5.) Roofers (Job Code 720) in the following counties: Dodge, Mower, Olmsted, Steele and Wabasha;
6.) Sprinkler Fitters (Job Code 722) in Ramsey County;
7.) Wiring Systems Technician (Job Code 727) in Cass County; and
8.) Wiring Systems Installer (Job Code 728) in Swift County.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
🤖 AI Use Builds in the Construction Industry
Over the last year, artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly evolved from a tantalizing technical novelty like ChatGPT into a credible and valued asset for all industries, including the once-Luddite construction industry. Proptech and contech experts are in full agreement that rapidly iterating AI technology is now in great demand by users and investors alike. (Commercial Observer)
INFRASTRUCTURE
🔎 Drexel Researchers Propose AI-Guided System for Robotic Inspection of Buildings, Roads, Bridges
Our built environment is aging and failing faster than we can maintain it. Recent building collapses and structural failures of roads and bridges are indicators of a problem that's likely to get worse, according to experts, because it's just not possible to inspect every crack, creak, and crumble to parse dangerous signs of failure from normal wear and tear. In hopes of playing catch-up, researchers in Drexel University's College of Engineering are trying to give robotic assistants the tools to help inspectors with the job. (Drexel News)
LABOR + WORKFORCE
👍 Construction Adds 11,000 Jobs in January
Construction employment remained on its upward trend, adding 11,000 jobs last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, with the industry recording its 10th consecutive monthly increase. Architectural, engineering and related services, which are categorized separately from construction, posted an increase of 9,900 jobs in January. (Engineering News-Record)
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
⛑️ ESFI Releases Updated Workplace Safety Statistics
Contact with or exposure to electricity continues to be one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and injuries in the United States. Between 2011 and 2022, there was a total of 1,322 workplace fatalities involving electricity, according to OSHA. During this period, 70% of fatalities occurred in non-electrically related occupations. (Construction Business Owner)
🦺 PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Rosemount Land Could House Industrial Park or Data Center
Just over a month after the Rosemount City Council unanimously approved a 750,000-square-foot data center to be built for Meta, it's possible that another data center could be coming to town following a review of an area commonly called Rich Valley East. According to public documents, an alternative urban areawide review, or AUAR, of 333-acres of agricultural land at County Road 42 and Emery Avenue East in Rosemount is happening at the request of a firm called Project Mercury LLC to determine whether the area could be for a data center or an industrial park. (Finance & Commerce)
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One development scenario for 333-acres of agricultural land at County Road 42 and Emery Avenue
East in Rosemount would feature 1.29-million-square-feet of a business park, over 645,000-square-
feet of light industrial development, and 560,000-square-feet of community commercial.
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Morcon Construction Co. will be submitting bids on the following projects and invites TGB Subcontractors and Suppliers to submit their quotations for consideration:
1.) MAC 2024 Safety & Security Center P2 (Contract # 106-3-664)
Bids close on Tuesday, February 13 at 2:00pm CST - View Full Project Notice
2.) MAC 2024 Storage Facility (Contract # 106-3-584)
Bids close on Wednesday, February 14 at 2:00pm CST - View Full Project Notice
3.) MAC 2024 Liquid Deicer Storage Facility (Contract # 106-3-669)
Bids close on Thursday, February 15 at 2:00pm CST - View Full Project Notice
Bids for all projects can be emailed to bids@morcon.com.
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Morcon Construction
5151 Industrial Blvd NE
Fridley, MN 55421
PH: (763) 546-6066
FAX: (763) 546-3129
www.morcon.com
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer
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For information regarding any of Morcon Construction's current projects, please contact their main office or visit their plan room.
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Electronically Submitting Injury and Illness Data
Presented by U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA
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DATE: Wednesday, February 7
TIME: 12:00pm-1:00pm CST
LOCATION: Online
COST: Free!
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The U.S. DOL's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is hosting a webinar on electronically submitting workplace injury and illness data using the Injury Tracking Application.
Establishments that meet certain size and industry criteria are required to electronically submit injury and illness data from their OSHA 300A, 300 and 301 (or equivalent forms) annually to OSHA no later than March 2.
To determine whether you are required to submit this data, visit the ITA Coverage Application. This application only applies to establishments located in states under Federal OSHA jurisdiction. If your establishment is located in a State Plan State, please contact their OSH plan for guidance.
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Mastering QuickBooks - 205 Accounting with QuickBooks
Presented by MnDOT's DBE Business Academy
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DATE: Tuesday, February 13
TIME: 8:30am - 12:30pm
LOCATION: Online - link provided when you register
COST: Free!
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Gain a basic understanding of QuickBooks and how to create your financials. Learn how to conduct sales, accounts receivables and accounts payable.
Questions: sbaker@imoconsulting.com
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OSHA Construction Safety Outreach: 10-Hour Course
Presented by The Builders Group (TBG)
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DATES: Tuesday, February 27 & Wednesday, February 28
TIMES: Tuesday - 7:00am- 3:30pm with lunch provided | Wednesday - 7:00am-11:00am
LOCATION: The Builders Group (Eagan, Minn.)
COST:
$125 - TBG Members
$150 - Association Members
$275 - Non-Member of TBG
$0 - Starting in 2022 as a benefit of the TBG Safety Service Association, all members will have two free OSHA-10 registrations per year. Once those two free registrations are used, the cost to participate is then $125 per member.
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This class will provide an in-depth look at compliance and safety issues related to the OSHA training curriculum set forth for the OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety class.
Topics to include Fall Protection, Electrical Safety, Hand / Power Tools, and several more topics necessary to complete the course objectives.
Please contact Emily with questions.
Attendance is required for Day One & Day Two to complete the 10-hour requirement.
*Please note registration is only required for Day One.
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Benefit of the Week: Multiple Employer 401(k) Savings Plan (MEP) | |
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MBEX is a premiere sponsoring trade association partner of BLD Connection, who provides a 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) program, and it's available to all MBEX member companies regardless of business size.
This MEP brings together member plans into one group 401(k) managed by BLD Connection. That means you can hand over many of those responsibilities --- freeing you up to spend your time where it counts: focused on your business.
Already have a 401(k)? Considering a plan for your employees? Find out if the BLD Connection 401(k) MEP is right for your company.
Contact Dan Gardner at (612) 743-4961 or dgardner@osaicwealth.com.
You can also view BLD Connection's 401(k) informational video here.
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PROJECT INFORMATION + UPDATES | |
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• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 1/29/2024 - 2/2/2024: 124
• Total Projects Leads Reported on at MBEX from 1/29/2024 - 2/2/2024: 15
• Total Active Projects Received/Reported on at MBEX as of 2/6/2024: 448
• Total Projects in the Online Plan Room as of 2/6/2024: 565
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Click the button above to view the most recent project data from 1/31/2023-2/6/2024.
For information about the Bulletin's content, technical issues, or to place an ad (such as a Minority
Notice, Job Posting, or Event Notice), contact Ashlee, Membership + Communications Manager.
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UPCOMING MBEX EVENTS
• February 15 - Online Plan Room Demo
• February 20 - Bluebeam Course Introduction with UChapter2
• February 27 - Member Road Show: Mankato
• February 28 - Member Road Show: St. Cloud
• February 29 - Member Road Show: Fargo
• March 5 - Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics
• March 6 - Bluebeam 2: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Basic)
• March 6 - Member Road Show: Duluth
• March 7 - Bluebeam 3: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Advanced)
• March 7 - Member Road Show: Virginia
• March 8 - Bluebeam 4: Document Management & Best Practices
• March 20 & 21 - Reading Construction Documents online course with UChapter2
• March 21 - Online Plan Room Demo
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Connect with the Builders Exchange: | |
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Information within the MBEX Weekly Bulletin are obtained from sources deemed reliable. The Minnesota Builders Exchange (MBEX) does not assume responsibility for its completeness or accuracy. You are urged to check your own sources in addition to the information contained in this publication. This issue contains plans and other bidding information received prior to and including the date noted above. The project data within this newsletter is intended for member company's and their employees use only.
2024 BOARD OFFICERS: President - Mike Carlson, Max Gray Construction; Vice President - Heidi Sedlacek, Bituminous Roadways; Treasurer - Brian Kalla, St. Cloud Acoustics; Past President - Greg Grazzini, Grazzini Brothers | 2024 DIRECTORS: Allie Brady, Veit; Kevin Bohrer, Donlar Construction; David Brandt, Schadegg Mechanical; Jason DuVal, Tenet; Chuck Geisler, American Engineering Testing; Chris Niemand, Frattalone Companies; Sean Ochis, Northern Industrial Insulation; Jason Rentmeester, Kraus-Anderson Construction; and Nate Sapik, Benson Electric Company | STAFF: David Siegel - Executive Director; Julie Miller - Executive Assistant/Project Coordinator/Accounting; Jeff Boelter - Project Acquisition & IT; Ashlee Hartwig - Membership & Communications Manager; Don O'Connor - Duluth Branch Manager; Shauna Baska, Peggy Esboldt, Janet Margheim, Michelle Siegel & Ka Yang - Project Reporters
You are receiving this email because you are employed by a current member company in good standing or have indicated you wanted to receive MBEX's Weekly Bulletin. Unsubscribe from the Weekly Bulletin
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