Spring is time of growth. The warming weather and longer days often lend to more pleasant work environments, an increase in networking events and a surge in new projects, career development opportunities and available jobs!  Do you have the skilled talent needed to accomplish your goals? Contact us to learn more about how we can help your business experience its most successful Spring yet!
 
Best wishes in all of your endeavors! 

Sincerely,
  
Katy Cook, CSP
Marketing Coordinator
 
What's New at RealStreet
March Madness!
Feeling lucky? Participate in RealStreet's March Madness bracket contest for a chance to win 3 awesome prizes! 

The RealStreet March Madness Bracket: 
  • URL: http://realstreet.mayhem.cbssports.com
  • Group password: realstreet
  • The bracket will become available on Sunday, March 12, 2017
  • Bracket Submission Deadline: 11:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 16, 2017
  • Prizes: tune in next week to find out!
Prize specifics and additional contest details will be provided early next week. Keep an eye on your inbox (or any of our social media pages) to get in on the action!
Examples of Recent Placements
RealStreet Recently Hired...
  • Project Coordinators
  • Writer/Editor/ Notetakers
  • Project Coordinators  / Administrative Assistants
  • Document Control Technician
  • Mechanical Designer/Engineer
  • Assistant Project Manager
  • Architectural Historian
  • Architectural CAD Operator
  • Project Coordinator
  • Payroll Clerk
  • Project Manager
  • Millwork Estimator 
  • Construction Estimator
  • Accounting Manager
  • Payroll Clerk
  • Project Manager
Do you have an open position?  Contact us  to learn how we can help!
Interesting Industry Information
How is the Overall Workforce?
The U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a "M onthly Jobs Report"  soon after the beginning of each month. Each report describes the previous month's employment situation, based on data such as the number of jobs that were added to the economy and the unemployment rate. The US economy added 227,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.8%. For more information, check out the  BLS' interactive graphs.
 
The results are promising. In fact, a recent Builder article - reviewing the ADP & Moody's Analytics monthly employment report - quoted Moody's Analytics C hief Economist Mark Zandi saying "2017 got off to a strong start in the job market." Furthermore, "job growth is solid across most industries and company sizes."
 
According to a recent AGC of America article, Construction employment totaled 6,809,000 in January, 2.6% increase over 2016. While the data and results are promising, they do not show the full demand for employees. According to Ken Simonson, the AGA's chief economist, "employment gains would be even larger if there were enough workers with the right skills available to hire."
Is the Construction Industry Going Green?
Is it true that it's not easy being green? In the AEC industry, it would seem as though that is becoming less and less the case.  As mentioned in a recent  Construction Junkie article , the US Green Building Council (USGBC) predicted that green buildings will make up 1/3 of all of construction projects by the year 2018.

What is green building? Accordin g to the  USGBC , "it is generally accepted as the planning, design, construction, and operations of buildings with several central, foremost considerations: energy use, water use, indoor environmental quality, material section and the building's effects on its site."  The USGBC also highlights many benefits of green building , such as:   
As shown in the aforementioned  Construction Junkie article, some of the eye-catching green products from 2016 included: 
  • Living walls (that cover scaffolding)
  • Recycled plastic roads
  • Solar roadways
  • Bricks that grow like plants
There are a number of sustainable construction product and building design options, and more are being developed each day. It will be interesting to see where we are this time next year!
Cyber Security:
Controlled Unclassified Information 
in the AEC Community
The federal government has updated the requirements regarding the handling of sensitive and controlled data. This program, known as Executive Order 13556 Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), will impact businesses throughout the United States, including those in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) communities. 
 
As stated on the Key Elements of the CUI Program page of the National Archives and Records Administration website, CUI "establishes a program for managing all unclassified information in the Executive branch that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls pursuant to and consistent with applicable law, regulations, and government-wide policies." Information can be classified as basic or specified. Basic information must follow NIST guidelines. Within the federal-focused AEC community, there are three "specified" categories:
  • DOD's Controlled Technical Information (CTI)
  • GSA's Critical Infrastructure 
  • Homeland Security's Critical Infrastructure - Protected Critical Infrastructure Information
According to the publication: Controlled Unclassified Information - Will it Blindside the A/E/C Community? written by Anne C. Juran, PE., LEED AP BD+C, CxA, M.SAME and published in the January - February 2017 issue of The Military Engineer, "the requirements could be significant in time and cost, depending on how your firm's current cyber systems are assembled." Now is the time to take a closer look at internal systems and procedures to avoid any compliance issues once the rules become effective. 
 
How to avoid getting blindsided: 
  • Make sure your fee proposals and contracts clearly designate CUI requirements and make sure your subcontracts include the same requirements.
  • Make sure any information that you are provided is consistent with the CUI requirements, or lack thereof, identified in your contract.
  • Do not accept information (such as CDs) with markings that differ from your contract or that use legacy markings.
  • Watch for adjustments over the next year to agency procedures, such as DoD Manual 5200.01, Navy FC 1-300-09N, and GSA PBS P-100.
  • Evaluate your systems / facility for compliance with the CUI Basic controls that are identified in NIST Special Publication 800-171.
  • Educate your staff on the upcoming changes.
  • Look for how changes to the FAR and DFARS will be received throughout 2017.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171 laid the ground work for CUI by establishing minimum safeguarding requirements. Moving forward, it will be important for businesses to know both the NIST controls and CUI requirements. Begin learning more with the following resources: 
  • Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC) - the CSRC is the primary gateway for gaining access to NIST computer security publications, standards, and guidelines plus other useful security-related information.
  • National Initiative for CyberSecurity Education - the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), led by NIST, is a partnership between government, academia, and the private sector focused on cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development.
  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework - a variety of news, information, events, programs, etc. addressing current and future computer and information security challenges.
  • CUI Training - computer-based training on CUI, designed for a widespread audience at multiple levels within the government and beyond.
Featured News Post
How to Decrease Distractions and 
Get The Highest Level Output
Employees are paid to do a job. When your employees step foot in the office each morning, you expect them to get to work immediately and give 100% to their work. Unfortunately, there are a myriad of distractions that can divert the attention of even the hardest working and most loyal employees. 

If you frequently wonder what your team does all day, you are not alone. One in five employers believe their staffers are productive less than five hours per day, according to a 2016 CareerBuilder  survey. Reduce uncertainties regarding your team's performance by reducing workplace distractions.

Read the full article for five ways to reduce distractions and boost productivity in your office! 

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