THE VOICE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
See what delivers results and keep up to date with important news topics within our industry.
New Membership Directory
News
Informational Meeting for I-70 Bridge Project
Below is a link to the WVDOH’s I-70 Project webpage, where you will find a variety of project documents, including maps, a timeline, and the handout that will be provided at tomorrow’s public meeting.
Pathways to Prosperity: Today’s Vocational Schools Bust
As high schools specifically aimed at training students in work skills, they’re in position to prepare students to meet the demands of a changing economy and set students up for strong salaries. Read More...
Harrison County, WV, BOE selects McKinley & Associates for Facilities Plan
Following a brief closed-door executive session during their regular meeting Tuesday night, members of the Harrison County Board of Education voted to hire McKinley & Associates to develop the school system’s 10-year Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan. Read More...
Payroll tax fraud believed to be spreading throughout Indiana's construction industry
The construction industry across Indiana is facing something many contractors call a growing problem -- payroll tax fraud.
Some contractors are believed to be misclassifying workers, which robs them of many of the regular benefits employees receive and robs the state and federal government of hundreds of millions in tax dollars. Read More...
Building A Career In Construction: The Challenges
A career in construction probably isn’t on your radar, but maybe it should be. The industry offers some unique opportunities for women. First of all, there’s a massive labor shortage, and secondly, there are very few women. Currently,  less than 9.1% of the workforce is made up of women , and many of these women do design or administrative work, resulting in women only holding 1.2% of construction trade jobs. Read More...
Construction Labor Woes are Wearing on Region
Ripples from a tightening supply of workers in the building trades are starting to surface in Northeast Ohio's construction market.
Doug Price, CEO of Willoughby-based apartment and office owner K&D Group, said he considers the labor shortage in the building business part of the region's construction scene.
"Contractors are clearly pressed," Price said. "They're having more trouble meeting deadlines." Read More...
The Epic Rise of Industrialized Construction
The construction industry is facing colliding forces that render our current trajectory wasteful, inefficient, and unsustainable. These include a widespread skilled labor shortage and industry productivity rates that continually fail to improve. This is the burning platform that this relatively undisrupted $8+ trillion global industry rests upon. Multiple things need to change, but there are clearly obvious wins to go after. Read More...
Innovations in voice recognition, cognitive neuroscience, and biometrics are among the trending tech topics for 2019
Some economists predict that the U.S.  economy is not going to plunge into a deep downturn this year but  global markets are expected to slow down some , leaving consumer mindsets in a state of trepidation. Watching the news doesn’t help: Trade wars with China; Brexit as a game of economic and political  ping pong;   and the shut-down of the U.S. Federal government  have all made a volatile economic landscape only more volatile. Read More...
How construction companies can use business analytics to boost margins 
Using data analytics and business intelligence to improve business outcomes is among the  hottest trends in technology.  Particularly in the world of construction, the results of using business intelligence, predictive analytics and benchmarking tools can be significant. Read More...
Amazon may sign PLA for Virginia HQ2
Amazon could be willing to enter into a project labor agreement with local unions for the construction of its Arlington, Virginia, headquarters,  ARLNow  reported. With the tech giant nixing its New York plans, Arlington officials may push harder to give local construction unions pre-hire bargaining rights. Read More...
Naylor Solutions Partnership
I want to share with you that we have proudly partnered with  Naylor Solutions , a leader in Membership Directories and Industry Resource Guides to produce a new membership directory for the Ohio Valley Construction Employers Council. So if you're receiving phone calls, emails or mail from  Naylor Solutions   on behalf of the OVCEC. I encourage you to have a conversation with them. As a member you will  STILL  have a free membership listing but our new directory will provide you with some new opportunities to market yourself and your organization. With the phenomenal growth we are witnessing in the construction industry that only promises to increase with the much-anticipated announcement of the PTT Ethane Cracker, now is the time to promote yourself and I can think of no better place to advertise and market your company than in the OVCEC's Membership Directory. We are the Voice of the Construction Industry! 

Ginny
The    NEW  OVCEC Membership Directory will be produced annually to ensure all our new members have ample opportunity to be featured. Historically the OVCEC membership guide has been the industry's 
go-to since its original printing in 1954. In our new guide, you will find contact information for general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, as well as companies that provide support services, like wealth management, insurance, and more. It's not unusual to find well-worn, dog-eared copies on the desks and in the work vehicles of building managers, project managers and superintendents. It is the #1 resource for West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania contractors!
 
More than 6,000 printed copies of this comprehensive construction industry directory are distributed each year. The  NEW  Ohio Valley Construction Employers Council Membership Directory will offer  Advertising Opportunities  available through a special classified section. List your company information today, along with goods, products and services to the construction industry. 

The    NEW  Membership Directory will also be featured in digital form on the new OVCEC website providing your company even more exposure

Contact Ken Kepler at (352) 333-6022 or kkepler@naylor.comfor more information.
Upcoming Events

NOMINATIONS DUE MARCH 1ST!
CALL OR EMAIL US IF YOU NEED A NOMINATION PACKET
Excellence in Construction Awards
Join us March 28, 2019 to Celebrate Excellence In Construction
The Project BEST Excellence in Construction Awards program is a celebration of the tri-state construction industry and everything that has been achieved over the past twelve months. The awards recognize companies teams and individuals that deliver outstanding results in the industry through collaboration and innovation. These prestigious awards provide one of the most effective platforms for leading companies to maximize their industry exposure for excelling in the Tri-State construction industry and recognition can help attract new clients, bolster existing relationships and raise overall company morale.
New Award Categories for 2019
Subcontractor of the Year Award
Supporting Business of the Year Award
Citizen of the Year Award
Project of the Year Award
General Contractor of the Year Award
Craftsman of the Year Award
Architect of the Year Award
Distinguished Service Award

Honoring the People Who Build the Tri-State Area


Help us recognize the people and the projects that embody the legendary tradition of the tri-state construction industry!
Nominate a project or outstanding employee or professional today!

Project BEST 5th Annual Construction Job & Career Fair

Project BEST will be hosting the 5th Annual Construction Job & Career Fair on May 2nd at the Wheeling Park Ice Rink in Wheeling, WV. The career fair is meant to provide opportunities for students and their parents to gain a better understanding of the construction trades careers available and the path to pursue one.

With thousands of skilled workers in the construction trades set to retire this decade, more and more opportunities are arising for today’s youth to take advantage of the future of this industry. The construction trades offers students the opportunity to develop the hands-on skills and understanding necessary to continue on to high paying careers (construction and its related trades are projected to be the fastest growing industry through 2024 for employment opportunities.) 

The career fair will run  Thursday, May 2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
OVCEC's Under Construction
Are you a OVCEC 
member and want to 
feature your company 
in the  Under
Construction magazine?

Send your press releases,
Project information,
 and photos to

Advancing the Construction Industry  
Helping you manage and grow your businesses 

Safety and Education
Did You Know?

March 2, 2019, is the deadline for employers to  electronically submit data  from OSHA Form 300A.
U.S. Department of Labor Provides Interim Compliance Guidance
for Evaluation of Crane Operators 
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued  enforcement guidance  on the requirements for evaluating crane operators that became effective February 7, 2019.
OSHA is enforcing the requirement that employers must evaluate their operators before allowing them to operate cranes independently. However, until April 15, 2019, OSHA intends to offer compliance assistance, in lieu of enforcement, for those employers who have evaluated operators in accordance with the final rule, and are making good faith efforts to comply with the new documentation requirement.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit  www.osha.gov .
2019 Under Construction Advertisers
Safety Tool Box Talk
Time Out Stretch 
Just a few minutes of targeted stretches may increase muscle flexibility, reduce risk of injury, and prevent muscle soreness.
OVCEC Bid Calendar
What Is the OVCEC Plan Room?
  • It is a conveniently located source of construction plans for the Ohio Valley area
  • It publishes a weekly Construction Report listing projects out for bid, due dates, apparent low bidders and contracts awarded
  • It provides updates on projects throughout the week by email
  • It provides online access to plans and specifications for your review and downloading
  • It provides bidders lists
  • It has staff that will get the plans you need whenever possible

Submit Plans & Specs
As an Owner or Architect of a project, placing your project plans in the OVCEC Plan Room will help to insure the success of your project.
The Plan Room will:
  • Help you publicize your project
  • Increase the quantity and quality of bids you receive for your project
  • Help you get addenda out to bidders
  • Reduce your cost of blueprint duplication by allowing electronic submission to Plan Room Online