Peckar & Abramson, P.C. Grows National Construction Practice with Opening of Boston office
Peckar & Abramson, P.C. Grows National Construction Practice with Opening of Boston office and Addition of Top Litigation Team Boston, MA – September 13, 2021 – Peckar & Abramson, P.C. (P&A) is pleased to announce the opening of its newest location at 28 State Street, Suite 1802 in Boston, and the arrival of accomplished construction and commercial litigation partners, Richard E. Briansky and Amy B. Hackett, to the firm. “For nearly 44 years, P&A has provided industry leading legal services to
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Elaine Construction Promotes Tony Leonard
Elaine Construction Company announced the promotion of Tony Leonard to VP of Operations. Tony joined Elaine Construction in early 2019 as Project Executive, and was quickly promoted to Director of Project Management. His understanding of client challenges, LEAN operational principles, and employee development, bring the expertise necessary for the advancement of our team and expansion of the business. This insight, coupled with his natural desire to coach and mentor, make him a superior fit for his new
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Wage Theft Legislation Passes in New York
The New York State Assembly recently passed anti-wage theft legislation similar to bills currently before the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development at the Massachusetts State House. Five other states including California, Nevada, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia have also passed similar legislation.This is why the AGC MA has been working with the North Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters to forge a compromise to the wage theft language currently at the State House.The original
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Millionaire’s Tax Likely to Be on Ballot for 2022
After a technical oversight by progressive activists derailed the original ballot question on the millionaire’s tax, business groups face long odds in defeating this question the second time around.In 2018, the ballot question appeared to be headed to voters until the MA Supreme Judicial Court sided with business groups who said the question was unconstitutional. Under the rules for Ballot Initiatives, the questions must have subjects that are related or mutually dependent. The original question levied a
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Clarity on Boston Mayoral Candidates Backers
A little more than halfway through the Boston Mayoral and some front runners are beginning to finally emerge. This comes as some interest groups begin to press candidates on their positions on certain topics. The Carpenters Union and two Developers have formed the Responsible Development Coalition to push the candidates to take a pledge to support development. In addition the Boston Chamber of Commerce recently published a breakdown of the candidates’ views on various issues including development. However
AGC MA - Mask Mandate Information
The Associated General Contractors of MA (AGC MA) has received a substantial number of inquiries regarding the upcoming ending of the statewide mask mandate. Construction employers are facing the difficult question of balancing the elimination of mask mandates with issues of liability. For instance, employers are trying to decide if they will continue to require masks, require proof of vaccination, and/or allow employees to work as they choose. On May 29, 2021 the Commonwealth’s face-covering order will
Haywood Vo Joins Engineering Team at The Marr Companies
Haywood Vo has joined The Marr Companies’ Engineering Team as an Associate Engineer. His responsibilities include assisting the sales staff in the design and preparation of project drawings tailored to customer specifications; visiting projects to scope job requirements and find the most efficient, economical, and safe solutions; and troubleshooting jobsite problems to rectify them appropriately. Haywood will report directly to Engineering Manager Charles Pham. Haywood comes to Marr with prior industry
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AGC MA Appoints John Ferrante as New CEO
The Board of Directors of AGC MA is pleased to announce John Ferrante as the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer. John succeeds Bob Petrucelli who served as CEO for the past 34 years. Bob stated, "I have had the opportunity to collaborate with John on several legislative and industry initiatives over the past 5 years during his time at BTEA. In fact, we have already spoken several times and are planning for a smooth transition....John will make a terrific CEO." For the last 5 years, John has been
Ridge Olsen Joins Safety Department at The Marr Companies
Ridge Olsen has joined The Marr Companies as Associate Safety Representative. He will be responsible for implementing and providing support for the Marr Safety Program and ensuring that all policies and procedures are being enforced on each job site and work location. He will assist in the continued establishment and communication of said policies and procedures to enhance Marr’s current program. Ridge will report directly to Vice President, Safety and Training, Eric Stalmon. Ridge comes to Marr with a
SD.172: Addressing Massachusetts Tax on Forgiven PPP Income
Thank you to all of you who contacted your state legislators to encourage them to enact SD.172 as soon as possible. Through your efforts, over half of the Senate and a quarter of the House were contacted directly by their constituents. There is growing momentum to pass the bill as legislators across the political spectrum continue to sign on as co-sponsors. We do not know when a vote on the legislation will take place, but we do know that our advocacy has kept the pressure on Beacon Hill to act. If
Bob Petrucelli Announces Retirement
It is with mixed emotions that we announce AGC MA President & CEO, Bob Petrucelli, is retiring on April 30, 2021. Bob announced his decision in a letter to the Board of Directors this week that stated: "As you know, COVID has certainly brought things into a new focus and provided an opportunity to reflect on my priorities. As such, after much recent deliberation, I have decided to retire on April 30 after 34 terrific years with AGC...there is no ideal time for this kind of change, but this is a great
New Wentworth CM Professor Seeks Summer Residency
Professor Hariharan Naganathan, a professor of Construction Technology at the University of Central Missouri, recently moved to Boston and is now on the faculty at Wentworth. He also is a recent recipient of a Scholarship/Grant from the AGC of America Education and Research Foundation to help underwrite a portion of his salary for a “Summer Residency” program with a local CM. Each year, the AGC Education and Research Foundation conducts an Industry Residency program for Professors, which allows them to
The Massachusetts Prompt Pay Statute: A Cautionary Tale for Those Who Don't Read the Fine Print
In a recent decision likely to have a significant impact upon the way private construction projects in Massachusetts are managed, the Superior Court recently construed the Massachusetts Prompt Pay Statute in the way the Statute (Statute) was meant to be enforced, but contrary to most current construction practice.In Tocci Building Corp. v. IRIV Partners, LLC, Boston Harbor Industrial Development, LLC and Hudson Insurance Co., (November 19, 2020, Sup.Ct. 19-405), the Court strictly construed the Statute’s
Northeast AGC Chapters Issue Joint Letter on Regional Cooperation on COVID Protections for Members
To our valued Associated General Contractors (AGC) Chapter Members:As you may know, a group of AGC Chapters in the Northeast Region have been working together to keep abreast of COVID-19 regulations and trends so we can share timely information, best practices, and ideas with our member companies. While our states have employed slightly different approaches, our collective goal has been to keep construction an “essential” industry during this crisis and ensure our members have the information and resources
Letter From Fran Colantonio to US Congressman Jim McGovern
“I am writing you today to strongly encourage you to include in any year-end, must-pass legislation language that will allow millions of small business owners a tax deduction for expenses paid with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgiven loans. Bills have been introduced in the Senate (S.3612 sponsored by Senator Cornyn (R-TX)) and in the House (H.R. 6821 sponsored by Representative Holding (R-NC) or H.R. 6754 sponsored by Representative Fletcher (D-TX)) that would ensure that PPP loan recipients are
AGC MA 2020-2022 Board Announced
AGC MA is pleased to announce Francis Colantonio, Chair & CEO, Colantonio, Inc. has been named 2020-2022 Board Chair of the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA). Fran previously served as 2018-2020 Vice Chair of the Board.AGC MA is an 85-year old not-for-profit trade association, comprised of 200 CM/GC’s, Subcontractors and Service Providers who perform a majority of the commercial, institutional, and public vertical building in the Commonwealth.“We look forward to Fran’s new term as
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction
Join in OSHA’s National Fall Stand down Event which Region 1 OSHA will be hosting on September 18th at 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time. This event will include many fall related topics and you can logon for the entire session or just the specific topics of interest. Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 320 of the 1,008 construction fatalities recorded in 2018 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The
Commodore Builders and the Herren Project Announce Expansion of Unique Industry Substance-Use
One-of-a-kind program offers free services to all employees, subcontractors and tradespeople working on Commodore construction sitesSouth Boston, MA – August 5, 2020 - Commodore Builders, a $400M veteran-owned Construction Management firm that builds some of Greater Boston’s most high-profile projects, and the Herren Project, a national nonprofit organization providing free resources for the treatment, recovery and prevention of substance use disorder, are proud to announce a major expansion of their
Building Construction Technology Program with UMass Amherst
We are happy to announce the Build-it-Better Sustainability Seminar Series (BIB), a dynamic new pilot representing a unique collaboration between AGC and BCT (Building Construction Technology), a program in the Department of Environmental Conservation, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The BIB Seminar Series provides an overview of emergent building certification and smart growth systems and is designed to help prepare today’s leaders, industry professionals, support staff and the next
Reflecting Reality: 4 Major Modifications in the AIA A133-2019 Update Lexie Rae Pereira, J.D./M.B.A
"It is no secret that the construction industry is sometimes slow to adopting technological advances; however, some contractors are quick to embrace change. By swiftly adapting to updates to the American Institute of Architects ("AIA"), some contractors have the ability to reap the benefits of embracing change. One of the most recent AIA updates involves the AIA A133-2019, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Constructor where the basis of payment is the Cost of the Work Plus
BEST PRACTICES FOR REDUCING RISK IN DESIGN-BUILD DELIVERY | Jason Theberge, Commodore Builders
As design-build becomes a more common method for delivering construction projects, it is critical to understand the best way to ensure project success and reduce risk. In choosing the design-build project delivery method, an Owner benefits by having a single point of contact and responsibility for a project. Design-build is also attractive to an Owner because it allows early input and collaboration between the construction team and design team, which leads to improvements on costs and schedule.
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR V5 |Tom Dunn, Partner, Pierce Atwood LLP
Professional associations like the AGC are invaluable during challenging times like we have been experiencing with COVID-19. They provide community and a forum for discussion and sharing of resources. AGC MA has “hit it out of the ballpark” during the past few months with its programs and initiatives, including: The AGC MA Risk Forum highlighted by Molly Manson and Lexie Pereira. Through these bi-weekly calls, members engaged with attorneys and other professionals regarding the ever changing COVID-19
Safety Best Practices During COVID-19 | Shaun Carvalho, Vice President, Safety Shawmut Design and Construction
At Shawmut Design and Construction, the safety of our people and jobsites is our top priority. Following the first known confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S., Shawmut put protocols in place and closely followed the CDC for guidance. We created a cross-functional COVID-19 Crisis Team with a virtual command center that is constantly monitoring developments by the minute—helping to guide actions as necessary. By proactively tracking conditions, we provide constant guidance and communications to our on-site
CPPI Coverage: An Innovative Response to the Design-Build Dilemma Andy O’Brien, Construction Risk Partners
As Design-Build delivery continues to gain momentum in the construction industry, contractors are forced to reevaluate the measures they take to manage risk. Many contractors are simply unaccustomed to assuming ultimate responsibility for design-related risk on a project. Many more are surprised at how challenging it can be to adequately transfer the entirety of this risk down to the appropriate design professionals. It’s not uncommon that on even the largest projects, the prime design firms are only
Business NOT as Usual: Navigating Business Development during COVID-19 | Lisa Frisbie, AGC MA
It has been challenging for business development professionals to find ways to stay relevant and connected to clients and project management teams. In a Google search for best business development quotes, I was amazed at how many apply perfectly now. For example: “Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength.” Sigmund Freud “Every problem is a gift — without problems we would not grow.” Anthony Robbins "All progress takes place outside the comfort zone." Michael John Bobak We are certainly
Commonly Asked Employer Questions Regarding Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic
An employee calls in sick to work. Can you ask them about their symptoms?Yes, an employer may ask if an employee is experiencing COVID19 symptoms such as fever, cough or chills. All health information about an employee illness must be kept confidential. The EEOC provides the following in its flu/pandemic guidance: “If pandemic influenza is like seasonal influenza or spring/summer 2009 H1N1, these inquiries are not disability-related. If pandemic influenza becomes severe, the inquiries, even if
AGC MA Programs & Events & COVID-19 - Important Update
In light of growing concerns over the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the updated guidance about limiting or eliminating work-related travel and large events from local officials and the CDC, AGC MA is reevaluating all of its upcoming in-person events, classes, programs and meetings through June 1, 2020. We will update registered participants, meeting invitees and the AGC calendar of events webpage as we make decisions about cancelling, rescheduling, or potentially moving some programs to virtual
What You Need to Know about Force Majeure in Light of the Coronavirus
By Samuel M. Tony Starr, Kaitlyn C. Leonard, Clare Prober With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”), the disease caused by the novel coronavirus (“SARS-CoV-2”), companies across various industries are taking precautions, some of which inevitably will result in nonperformance of their contracts. For some, relief from nonperformance may be found in the contracts themselves in the form of a force majeure provision. For others, whose contracts do not contain force majeure provisions,
Coronavirus Continues to Spread: What Employers Should Be Doing
In light of the coronavirus’s continued impact on the workforce, this post reviews the CDC’s newly issued guidelines for businesses, and dives deeper into how employers can lawfully navigate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), sick time laws, and other leave laws, while keeping maintaining the safety of their workforce. Read more.
Coronavirus and Being Prepared
ARE YOU PREPARED? As reports of the Coronavirus continue to dominate the news and there have been some confirmed cases in the United States, people should be aware of the facts regarding the virus and how you can keep yourself, your family, and your workers safe. We have included up-to-date-information from the MA Department of Public Health and tips about prevention and treatment of the virus with links to OSHA and the CDC guidelines and recommendations. MA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH As of
Lisa Frisbie, AGC MA Invited to Join AGC America's Business Development Forum & Steering Committee
Lisa Frisbie, AGC MA Director of Business Development and Marketing has recently been invited to join the AGC of America Business Development Forum & Steering Committee. The mission of the AGC Business Development Forum is to be a valuable resource for AGC member firms, from all divisions, for actionable information and tools that help improve business development programs and results. The 2 year term entails active participation in the development and implementation of the AGC Building Division strategic
Congratulations 2020 BWiC Inspire Awards Recipients!
Janet Chrisos, Deputy Director, MSCBA, Mentor of the Year Valerie Stone, Safety Dir. T.G. Gallagher, Emerging Leader Sabina Kintzer Shorey, Cost Eng.,Turner Construction, Rising StarSavy Francis, E.M. Duggan, Tradeswoman of the Year We would also like to recognize and thank our esteemed judging panel: Kristin Poulin, VP Business Development, Structure Tone, Inc.Joseph Barra, Partner, Robinson+ColePetrina Garbarini, Director, FAS Capital Projects at Harvard UniversityKathleen McNeil, Principal, MP
Wentworth CM Club Starts 2020 Strong!
On January 22nd the AGC MA Student Chapter CM Club at WIT hosted an evening of networking, refreshments and shared experiences with top women in the construction industry representing AGC MA Members from Gilbane, Bond, W.T. Rich, Lee Kennedy Co, SullyMac, Columbia, and Shawmut.Due to it’s success, the club will host a second event on February 26th. What's next for the CM Club? Vegas, baby! They're heading to AGC National Convention and ConExpo 2020 on March 9th, 2020. Stay tuned and stay in touch with AGC
Diversity & Inclusion Survey Results
In order to understand the current state of D&I in the commonwealth, The AGC MA Diversity and Inclusion Committee surveyed members in late spring 2019. The results of the survey are high-lighted in this one-page document. Next steps will include developing resources and education for every AGC MA organization looking to begin or enhance their D&I strategy. The first AGC Diversity and Inclusion Forum will be held during Women in Construction Week. Please join us on March 3rd from 8-10AM at Siena
AGC MA Celebrates 85 Years of Building Excellence
Legacy: Founded in 1935 by a group of commercial general contractors, AGC of Massachusetts was an outgrowth of the prior New England Branch of the AGC of America located for several years at 902 Park Street in Worcester, according to a 1931 Annual Report. Since then, your AGC has been a powerful voice for the commercial building industry throughout the Commonwealth. For 85 years, AGC MA has effectively promoted and protected the interests of the GC and CM at the State House, with the Building Trades,
AGC Launches Building Respect Campaign: Jan 2020
On January 9, 2020 the AGC MA BWiC and D&I Committees joined forces wth Liz Skidmore, Business Rep./Organizer at New England Regional Council of Carpenters and Mary Vogle, Executive Director, Building Pathways to discuss the challenges faced in providing a working environment that encourages mutual respect, promotes civil and collaborative relationships and is free from all forms of harassment and violence for everyone. The Building Respect Campaign, partially funded by MA Construction Advancement
AGC MA Hires Donna Scally, Director of Labor Relations & Employment Policy
We are very pleased to announce that Donna Scally will begin her duties as the next Director of Labor Relations & Employment Policy on Monday, January 27.Donna has been Director of Labor Relations for Rhode Island School of Design since 2015 where she administers and ensures compliance with nine collective bargaining agreements; plans, organizes and leads contract negotiations; is responsible for the grievance and arbitration processes; and reviews and drafts policies, contracts and settlement agreements.
Blackstone Valley Technical High School Graduates 2nd Class of ACE Students
Another group of Blackstone Valley Tech students have completed their ACE Mentorship Program! On Monday November 25th, juniors from the Blackstone Valley Technical High School gave individual presentations on their experience in the ACE Program and received their certificates of achievement. "They showed me a different side to construction and changed my perspective on what actually happens behind the scenes. Hearing their stories that led them to where they are, led me to the conclusion that I want to be
Lisa Frisbie attends the 2019 SMPS Pinnacle Experience Denver
Lisa Frisbie, Director of Business Development & Marketing, AGC MA attended the 2019 SMPS Pinnacle Experience on November 13th to the 15th in Denver, Colorado via an SMPS Boston scholarship. The 3 day program was packed with executive level marketing content delivered by seven highly regarded speakers addressing a variety of factors associated with setting strategic direction and leading successful firms. Lisa shared the highlights of her experience in the most recent SMPS Boston Blog which can be
Back in Blackstone - The AGC MA Building Future Leaders Program kicks off again!
AGC MA is thrilled to be back for a second year of leading the ACE mentoring program for Blackstone Valley Technical High School and ACE RI. Another great group of 20 ACE students are meeting weekly at BVT and learning about careers in architecture, construction and engineering by completing hands-on challenges and projects with the help of our tremendous team of mentors: Jeff Camusso, Shawmut Design & ConstructionAlicia Cox, ConsigliMatt Kellogg, GilbaneJonathan Nickerson, ConsigliBrett Syskmo, F.W.
AGC MA Launches 3 New Workforce Development Videos
As part of a future Workforce Development Campaign, AGC MA in partnership with AGC of America, has produced three 2 minute videos featuring the array of benefits and opportunities available in the commercial construction industry in the greater commonwealth. Thank you C.E. Floyd, Commodore Builders, Columbia Construction, BOND, Gilbane, Turner Construction, Janey Construction, NECTF, Shawmut, JMA, Colantonio, Inc., Consigli, T.G. Gallagher and Lee Kennedy for your participation and support! Watch
Congratulations to the 2019 Build New England Award Recipients!
On Thursday, October 24th more than 250 industry colleagues attended AGC's bi-annual Build New England Awards, honoring twelve projects that demonstrated Building Excellence through collaboration. AGC MA also launched the first AGC MA Member Distinction Awards recognizing individual members, Sarah Hotchkiss, Commodore Builders, Kathleen Freitas, BOND, Shaun Carvalho, Shawmut Design & Construction, Eric Stalmon, Marr Companies and Kenneth Rubinstein, Preti Flaherty who have gone above and beyond in their
AGC MA Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Holds Day of Service at Evelyn House
On Friday, October 4th more than 40 AGC members came together at Evelyn House, a Father Bill's & Mainspring emergency shelter in Stoughton for families experiencing homelessness for their annual service project. More than 20 commercial construction companies and roughly 40 volunteers performed major renovations to the property, including repairs and upgrades to two kitchens, installation of new flooring, repairs to the handicap access to the shelter, a face-lift to the common areas and bathrooms of the
Bob Petrucelli Keynotes Opioid Discussion at DC Chapter Leadership Meeting
AGC MA CEO Bob Petrucelli will be leading a discussion on Chapter Best Practices at the annual Chapter Leadership Conference in Washington DC on September 23, 2019. AGC MA has received national attention for its role in advancing industry awareness over the past year concerning the Opioid epidemic within the commercial construction industry and has been asked to highlight the outreach efforts and recent accomplishments. In 2019 AGC MA: Hosted a major construction industry Opioid Awareness Summit in
BOND's Kathy Freitas & AGC MA's Brendan Carter Featured Speakers at AGC America's Construction..
BOND's Kathy Freitas & AGC MA's Brendan Carter Featured Speakers at AGC of America's Construction HR & Training Professionals ConferenceKathy and Brendan's October 11th plenary presentation entitled, "Guidance for Substance Use Disorders in the Construction Industry", will focus on AGC MA's Human Resources Committee's Opioid Use Prevention H.R. Manual for Employers which was distributed as part of the AGC MA's successful Opioid Stand Down in June. The manual resulted from a collaboration of AGC MA H.R.
Subcontracting Comment – Using Master Subcontracts as One Part of a Strong Partnership with Subcon | Paul James, Sr. V.P. Risk Management & General Counsel, BOND
One of the most fundamental features of operating as a general contractor or construction manager (GC/CM) involves use of a wide variety of types and formats of contract agreements needed to deliver a project. Starting with the prime agreement with the project owner there are typically many subsidiary agreements with the various parties we contract with to fulfill our obligations to the owner. These parties range from consultants and service professionals to material and equipment suppliers and various
Is Integrated Project Delivery the Right Fit for the Next Project with Your Trusted Business Partner? | Joubin Hassanein, Director, IPD & Lean Practice Shawmut Design & Construction
The ancient master builder was considered a design-build individual. The master builder was an oracle of the sciences, arts, crafts, and all things related to the build environment. In the 1900s, the master builder role split into two distinct roles: (1) the architect who was responsible for design only, possessing limited knowledge on how buildings were really built and (2) the contractor who was solely responsible for construction with very little understanding of design. Partially due to this
Daily Huddles Lead to Successful and Safe Projects | Bob Kunz, Corporate Safety Director Dimeo Construction Company
A multitude of reasons account for differences in safety, productivity, and quality in the building construction industry. Factors include schedule, complexity of design, weather, availability of an experienced, knowledgeable and skilled workforce, and the jobsite safety climate. An effective tool to manage the downstream effects of these impacts on safety, schedule, and budget is the daily huddle. The incorporation of daily huddles into the daily work tasks of field management is an effective way to
Virtual Design & Construction Practice Guide | Alicia Cox, VDC Manager, Jack Moran, LEED AP, Manager of VDC Services Consigli Construction Company
The use of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) technologies is an increasingly integral part of design and construction practices. While the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and other VDC technologies have been standard practice at Consigli for more than ten years, new technologies and applications are continuously emerging – some are good, and others are solutions looking for a problem. Companies must develop a process to research and evaluate the value of these new tools on an ongoing
Mitigating the Risk of Residential Construction | Tyler Oaks, Sr. Account Executive, Construction Risk Partners
It’s no secret that the residential sector has been one of the driving forces behind New England’s recent construction boom. The continuous urbanization movement making cities like Boston more habitable have given rise to countless apartment and condominium projects. Although all projects regardless of size and scope warrant careful risk management considerations, residential work can be particularly challenging. The insurance marketplace generally views residential risk as unfavorable driven primarily
Planning for the Future: Today’s Strategies on Improved Material Procurement Processes | Chris Karian, Project Manager, Walsh Brothers, Inc.
The person in charge of material procurement and submittals lives in the future. When I am that person, I think about steel while site work is ongoing, I worry about millwork while MEP rough is being performed, and I work to stay numerous steps ahead at all times. And, it does not end there. Once everything is released and starts arriving on site, I sometimes have flashbacks about all the hurdles I jumped through months before. Not everyone enjoys this fortune telling work. A superintendent I sometimes
Navigating the Change Order Process Through the Eyes of an OPM | Christy Murphy, Senior P.M., Compass Management Inc
We have all seen the picture of the dinghy named “Original Contract” attached to the yacht named “Change Order”. Throughout the history of construction, there are likely many instances where this has been the case, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it was unjustified or even an overly inflated change order value. The truth is that change orders are a necessity in construction contract administration and are born out of a variety of situations and reasons. As an OPM, we see it as a critical part of our
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A Message from the Editor, 2nd Edition | Tom Dunn, Construction Lawyer, Pierce Atwood, LLP
Deliberative Communication is the theme of this edition of AGC’s Building Best Practices publication. We all have our routines, specialty areas, comfort zones, and standard forms/practices, but what happens when we or our employees travel outside those lanes or when we lose even a momentary focus within them? Maintaining a spirit of continuous learning, improvement, and awareness throughout the construction process on each job we tackle helps us stay in the moment and engage with other members of the
A Message from the Editor, 1st Edition | Tom Dunn, Construction Lawyer, Pierce Atwood, LLP
I am thrilled to contribute to the AGC’s Building Best Practices and honored to write in the inaugural edition. Our goal with this quarterly newsletter is to share the best practices developed by our members and to propose new strategies or ideas to improve the construction industry in Massachusetts. Whether done through case studies, tips, articles, or sample documents, it is our intention to spark an increased dialogue about ways we can improve construction processes for AGC MA members. Our
10 Tips Construction Companies Should Know About Crisis Communications | Susan Shelby, FSMPS, CPSM, President & CEO, Rhino Public Relations
Construction firms designate time and resources to safety programs, equipment, and coordinators, yet often neglect to plan for how to handle a crisis. Even with safety precautions and good business practices, accidents happen. How would you respond to a reporter asking about a construction incident involving your company? A crisis or unexpected event that focuses media attention on your firm can be disruptive to normal business operations and have a real or perceived negative impact upon your company.
SNAPSHOT in TIME: The Daily Report | Jackie Falla, Director of Client Services, Elaine Construction
If you’ve ever been tasked with reading or writing a daily report, it may not rank high on your excitement meter. Perhaps, so was reading Shakespeare in high school, as it is often difficult for students to find the relevance of the ancient script to their 21st century existence. Yet, as we all eventually learn, Shakespeare’s writings contain timeless themes that have an undeniable lasting impact. So too are those of the daily reports. Not designed for their poetic delivery of information, they are no
If You Didn’t Notice It, It Can Cost You | John Sheridan, Executive Director, PMA Consultants, LLC
When a potential change on a project is discovered, reviewing the contract documents is often not the contractor’s first step. A contractor is typically inclined to focus its attention first and foremost on solving the problem. However, it is important to recognize that most contracts contain provisions requiring certain steps be taken by any contractor or subcontractor who intends to assert a claim for extra work. For example, notifying the appropriate designated representative within a specific time frame
CASE STUDY: Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Parking Garage at 110 Broad Street | Dan Connolly, Project Manager, Commodore Builders
Have you ever worked on a postage stamp of construction site?At 110 Broad this concept takes on a whole new meaning. With limited space, approximately 110,000sf to be exact, we had the challenge of building 36 luxury condo units with 3,500sf of commercial space on the ground level. The challenge came when we had to find a way to provide a parking solution to accommodate 48 spaces. It required the team to get innovated, dig deep (literally) and come up with the best and most unique solution – an automated
G4S Technology LLC v. Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation
In a case closely watched by the construction industry, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) has overturned a Superior Court’s decision barring any recovery by the general contractor G4S (the “General”) against the project Owner because the General had intentionally and falsely certified that subcontractors had been timely paid when they had not. Although the decision overturns case law going back over 100 years that strictly limited the circumstances under which a contractor can recover for
Gilbane’s Michael O’Brien Named Board Chairman of Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts
Michael O’Brien, vice president and Massachusetts operations manager of Gilbane Building Company was named 2018-2020 Board Chairman of the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) at the organization’s 82nd Annual Meeting at the Wequassett Inn on May 4. Mike previously served as 2016-2018 Vice Chairman of the Board. AGC MA is an 83-year old not-for-profit trade association, comprised of 200 CM/GC’s, Subcontractors and Service Providers who perform the majority of the commercial,
AGC MA Meets with DCAMM Leadership
A delegation from the AGC MA Chapter 149A Task Force met with DCAMM Commissioner Carol Gladstone and a number of her staff on April 6 to discuss a wide range of issues impacting CM’s and Subcontractors. At the meeting, AGC representatives were informed of key structural and staff changes at the agency. Key Topics discussed were: Status of DCAMM’s Disparity Study: Brian McPherson, new Director of Access & Opportunity reported that the draft of the Study is almost completed, but that the window for
Support AGC MA’s Legislative Efforts by Contributing to the AGC MA PAC
Over 7,000 bills are filed for each two-year election cycle on Beacon Hill by competing interest groups. The AGC/Mass PAC (Political Action Committee) was created to advance AGC’s legislative agenda to advance & protect your interests at the State House. Specifically, the AGC/Mass PAC: Enables AGC to contribute to candidates who support AGC’s legislative agenda on Beacon HillEnables AGC Staff and Lobbyist access to key legislators and their staff at political fundraisersEnables AGC to secure follow-up
