West Texas AGC News & Resources
Safety Tip: Trenching & Excavation Safety
Digging Deeper: Unearthing the Risks of Trenching & Excavation
In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with construction professionals, Phillippe Falkner of Ed Bell Construction Company, and Perry Silvey from BT Construction who are true champions of trenching and excavation safety. Discover the critical importance of safeguarding lives and preventing injuries in the construction industry. Gain valuable insights and practical tips to ensure every project is built on a foundation of safety first. Join us as we unearth the secrets to saving lives below ground.
Announcing Retirement of Cassie Hughes, West Texas AGC, Executive Director
After embarking on a plan for my replacement and search for our new director since January of this year, the Recruitment Committee and Board of Directors for West Texas AGC selected Scott Hughes as the new Executive Director. The chapter will reach new horizons under Scott's leadership and expertise.

I will retire with over 15 years with West Texas AGC and over 46 years in the construction industry. It has been extremely rewarding and allowed me to meet outstanding individuals in our area and across the country. As I reflect back, the relationships developed, and support shown will be cherished and remembered.

I will continue as existing Executive Director until December 31, 2023, at which time, Scott Hughes will transition from the incoming Executive Director to the Executive Director for West Texas AGC. Please stop by or give me a call when you can during these final workdays.

Best to all,
Cassie Hughes
Message From the Incoming Executive Director
Greetings,

First off, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our Board of Directors, the Search Committee, and the current Executive Director for the opportunity to join the West Texas Chapter of the AGC. I officially came onboard on Monday, October 9th and it has been full of learning the day-to-day operations of the Chapter administration. There will be several more weeks of on-the-job training from our Current Executive Director Cassie Hughes, as we are fortunate to have her with us through the end of the year.
To tell you all a bit about myself, I grew up in West Texas, graduating from both Cooper High School and Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. After I graduated from HSU, I was fortunate to be offered a job as a Project Manager with Waldrop Construction and managed projects in the Midland/Odessa areas and the Brownwood area. After a couple of years, I moved to Fort Worth and spent the next 10 years working primarily for BTC and Imperial Construction building schools throughout the State. I hope that my background working as a Contractors and with Subcontractors and Suppliers will allow me to have insight into how our Chapter can help each of your companies.
After the first of the year, I will begin looking to each of you for feedback and assistance on some new initiatives I want to explore.
Some examples are:
  • Better ways to attract young people to the construction industry.
  • Involvement with construction and engineering programs at local universities. If these programs are not offered, we can reach out to students in other departments, such as business.
  • Acknowledgement of Young Professionals – nominated quarterly and awarded to a person/s within our Chapter who shows a dedication to service both in our industry and in the community.
  • Quarterly gatherings throughout the Chapter areas for training or to simply to get to know each other a little better.
We will continue to have our annual Golf Tournament each year and may look to add additional events to the calendar.
Once again, I am grateful to have the opportunity to represent each Member in our Chapter and hope that I am able to continue the great work Cassie championed during her time as Executive Director. I look forward to meeting you all and working to provide a bright future for the West Texas Chapter AGC.

Scott Hughes
Get Ready to Retire
Wednesday | October 25, 2023 | 10:00 AM
While the transition to retirement can be complex, it can also be rewarding. Whatever your retirement dreams, we are here to help you pursue them.


Webinar: Wednesday October 25th
10:00 AM

Join us for an informational webinar to learn about strategies for transitioning into retirement, and the questions you should be asking now to prepare.
Specific topics to be addressed include: 
• Lifestyle
• Income
• Investments
• Health Care
• Legacy Planning
AGC Economist, Ken Simonson provides US Construction Outlook:
Lively, Level or Lackluster?
Economic Impact of Construction:
  • U.S. gross domestic product (GDP)—the value of all goods and services produced in the country—totaled $26.5 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate in the 1st quarter of 2023; construction contributed $1.1 trillion (4.0%).
  • In Texas, construction contributed $106 billion (4.4%) of the state’s GDP of $2.4 trillion.
  • There were 919,000 construction establishments in the U.S. in the 1st quarter of 2023, including 61,700 in Texas. (An establishment is a fixed business location; about 99% of construction firms have only one establishment.)
Construction Lost as Much as $40B on Poor Productivity in 2022
  • U.S. contractors wasted between $30 billion and $40 billion in 2022 due to labor inefficiencies, and it appears to be getting worse, according to a new survey from FMI Corp.
  • FMI, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based consulting and investment banking firm with clients in the built environment, said that high-performing companies can increase productivity through intense planning, reliable budgeting and documentation and buy-in from all stakeholders. These also happen to be many of the principles championed by lean construction methods.
  • Learn more about LEAN offered by AGC at the Virtual Edge Training Below.
Training and Professional Development is a Benefit of your West Texas AGC Membership
Webinar: Managing Risks and Opportunities: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Construction Industry - October 26, 2023 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
 
Webinar: Bridging the Nation: Trends and Opportunities for Civil and Infrastructure Builders - November 2, 2023 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
According to a report released in September by Procore Technologies, and the Associated General Contractors of America, 78% of civil and infrastructure construction firms expect their project backlog to increase or remain the same over the next year as new federal infrastructure funding ramps up. The report, Top Civil & Infrastructure Trends: Today's Industry Challenges and Opportunities, found that many firms are worried that labor shortages and productivity challenges could undermine their success with these projects. Get a copy of the report Here.
Construction Inclusion Week - October 16-20
Culture of Care
Mark your calendars for Construction Inclusion Week, taking place October 16-20, 2023. This week marks a crucial opportunity for us to come together and actively support diversity and inclusion in the construction industry through our Culture of CARE program.
 
Let's drive change together. https://buildculture.org/constructioninclusionweek/

#ConstructionInclusionWeek #BuildCulture

From Pledge to Progress:
 Navigating the Journey to a Culture of CARE in Construction
Procore is a proud sponsor of a four-part series, hosted by AGC, that will explore various aspects of inclusivity in the industry, and feature companies that are leading the way in DEIB. Sessions will focus on building a “culture of CARE,” fostering belonging, and the pursuit of greater diversity and inclusion.
Prepare to Vote - West Texas Chapter Area Bond Elections
October 23rd will be the start of 'Early Voting' with' and 'Election Day' on November 7th. There are 14 State Propositions on the ballot and many cities and counties will have bond elections and local items to consider.
Bond proposals before the voters in our chapter area can have a positive impact on our industry. Below are a few to consider in your area:

  • Abilene - Wylie ISD - $269,000,000 | New Elementary, Expansion of HS, MS and other improvements
  • Odessa - Ector County ISD - 436.1 M Total | Proposition A - $424,263,000, School Buildings; Proposition B - $8,096,000 - Ratcliff Stadium; Proposition C - $3,750,000 - Indoor Practice Facility
  • Lubbock - Lubbock County - $35,485,000 | New Medical Office Facility
  • Midland - Midland ISD - $1,415,400,000 | New Midland & Legacy HS, New Elementary, MS Improvements, Safety & Security
A Sample Ballot with the State Constitutional Amendments or Propositions is attached. We encourage everyone to be INFORMED and to VOTE. Remember this is not just your RIGHT but it is your RESPONSIBILITY.
Get an EDGE on Training with Virtual Training Opportunities - AGC EDGE
Building Information Modeling BIM
LEAN
Construction Supervision Fundamentals

Click on AGC EDGE Blocks below for course descriptions, times and registration!
LEAN courses have been reformatted and are new and improved. This is a great time to start or add this program to your company's professional ability to perform at the highest level.
 Benefits & Programs SAVING West Texas AGC members money & time!
AGC Members Saved Over 14.5 Million Dollars Last Year Using
AGC Member Discount Programs 
How much did you save using your membership?
Our value-added discounts provide a competitive advantage that can set your business apart from others in the industry. AGC Member Discount Programs are just one of the many benefits of being an AGC member, that aims to help our members succeed and grow.
West Texas AGC • your Chapter | AGC • your Association
Working together on your behalf,
to be the most professional and profitable company,
       in your specialized field and area of expertise
AGC of America • The Construction Association
2023 OFFICERS
PRESIDENT - JAMES BISHOP | Associated Contractors
VICE-PRESIDENT - LIZ LONNGREN | Henthorn Commercial Construction, LLC
SECRETARY/TREASURER - SAM WALDROP | Waldrop Construction
STATE AGC-TBB REPRESENTATIVE - CHAD HENTHORN | Teinert Construction, Inc.
AREA REPRESENTATIVES - SHANE DARNELL | M & F Litteken Co. & GREG DURBIN | Sandia Construction