University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's (UWM) CLC Chapter kicked-off their first meeting of the Fall Semester with our CLC sponsored, bi-annual Construction Speaker Series! CLC Vice President, Christina Sladky (Hunzinger Construction Company), did a great job detailing her duties as a project manager, highlighting high-profile projects she's been a part of and gave great advice on how to get more involved in the industry.

The UWM CLC chapter is only two years old, but has already seen a tremendous amount of student participation.  Here at AGC, we love to see this interest in the industry from students and our Education and Research (E&R) Foundation ensures that these students have the resources and tools to pursue their interest in construction.

One example of how the E&R foundation invests in educational resources is the first-of-its-kind Hologram Table they recently purchased for UWM. The Hologram Table is the center piece of a new VRI Lab, in the heart of UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science and contains data from actual construction projects, providing students the opportunity to run augmented reality simulations.

Learn more about the CLC and the E&R Foundation.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) recently released its Wisconsin Economic Outlook, forecasting continued growth, “despite some uncertainties clouding the forecast.” Other highlights include forecasted modest GDP growth, historic unemployment rates and strong personal income growth.

The Report at a glance:

• The U.S. and Wisconsin economies continue growing in 2019, despite some uncertainties clouding the forecast. Personal consumption growth continues to be strong, helped by tight job markets, low interest rates, and low inflation.
• U.S. real GDP grew 2.9% in 2018, pushed by the one-time stimulus of the tax cuts and jobs act (TCJA). The forecast was revised down to incorporate the negative impact of new tariffs and is now showing 2.3% growth in 2019 and 2.1% in 2020.
• Wisconsin's unemployment rate remains below the national rate, while both stay near historical lows.
• Wisconsin employment grew 0.8% in 2018 and 0.7% in 2017. The forecast calls for similar growth between 2019 and 2021.
• Wisconsin personal income grew 4.0% in 2018. It is expected to increase 4.6% in 2019 and 4.2% in 2020. Revised state wages and personal income data for 2018 will be released by the end of September

Read the full report here.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a final rule updating the earnings thresholds necessary to exempt executive, administrative, or professional employees from the FLSA's minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, as well as allowing employers to count a portion of certain bonuses (and commissions) towards meeting the salary level. The new thresholds account for growth in employee earnings since the currently enforced thresholds were set in 2004.

In the final rule, the Department is:

• Raising the "standard salary level" from the currently enforced level of $455 to $684 per week (equivalent to $35,568 per year for a full-year worker);
• Raising the total annual compensation level for "highly compensated employees (HCE)" from the currently-enforced level of $100,000 to $107,432 per year;
• Allowing employers to use nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments (including commissions) that are paid at least annually to satisfy up to 10 percent of the standard salary level, in recognition of evolving pay practices; and
• Revising the special salary levels for workers in U.S. territories and in the motion picture industry.

The final rule will be effective on January 1, 2020.

A 2016 final rule to change the overtime thresholds was enjoined by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on November 22, 2016, and was subsequently invalidated by that court. As of November 6, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has held the appeal in abeyance pending further rule making regarding a revised salary threshold.

More information about the final rule is available here.
For more information, contact Claiborne Guy at claiborne.guy@agc.org

Construction Supervisory Fundamentals (CSF)
October 7th, 9th, 14th, 16th, 21st & 28th
4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Corp. GC/CM - $295, Associate - $395, CBA’s - $450,
Non-Affiliated IAP - $550
Kevin Higgs – Langer Roofing and Sheet Metal

Construction Supervision Fundamentals (CSF) is designed specifically for entry level positions throughout the construction industry. Developed, updated, and field tested by contractors for contractors, this course focuses on the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for effective construction Leadership. It is especially appropriate for those who are new supervisors or newly promoted foremen, or for anyone who seeks career advancement in
leading and directing construction activities.

Why CSF?
The CSF course is designed for aspiring front line leaders who are looking to learn the entry level management skills to lead construction activities

Session Topics
Session 1 - Team Management
Session 2 - Project and Team Leadership
Session 3 - Communication Skills
Session 4 - Time Management and Project Scheduling
Session 5 - Risk Management
Session 6 - Construction Law and Contract Documents
Session 7 - Problem Resolution
Session 8 - Productivity and Cost Control
Session 9 - Skills Development

OSHA 30-Hour for Construction
October 8th, 15th, 22th & 29th
7:00 am to 3:30 pm
Corp. GC/CM - $320, Associate - $400, *CBA’s - $450,
Non-Affiliated IAP - $700
Dan Burazin, AGC of Greater Milwaukee

The OSHA 30-Hour training is designed for construction workers or managers with safety and health responsibilities. Students learn to identify common hazards found on construction sites, and develop strategies to prevent injuries. Although OSHA standards are discussed, this training emphasizes hazard identification, avoidance, control and prevention. Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive and OSHA 30-Hour card as proof of compliance with OSHA mandates.

Intended Audience: This course is intended for anyone within the industry who has a stake in jobsite safety, especially field crews.

Qualified Crane Signalperson Training
October 15th
4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Corp. GC/CM - $35, Associate - $50, *CBA’s - $60, Non-Affiliated IAP - $100
Dan Burazin, AGC of Greater Milwaukee

OSHA requires you to meet new requirements under the New Crane Standard for Construction Operations – Subpart CC. Effective November of 2010, anyone performing crane signals on a construction site has
to be “qualified.” For your employees to fit into this category, they must: be competent in the application of the types of signals used, have a basic understanding of crane operations and the limitations, know and understand the new crane standard as it applies to signaling, and demonstrate all of the above through testing. This new course will help contractors meet their obligations under this newly revised standard.

Crane Rigging Training
October 17th
4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Corp. GC/CM - $70 plus $20 for materials, Associate - $85 plus $20 for materials, *CBA’s - $100 plus $30 for materials,
Non-Affiliated IAP - $160 plus $40 for materials.
Dan Burazin, AGC of Greater Milwaukee

In addition to qualified signalpersons and certified operators, the new OSHA crane standard requires employees who perform rigging operations to be “qualified.” This course has been developed by the Crosby Group to assist employers in qualifying their personnel as a “Qualified Riggers” as required in the new crane standards. The standard also requires an experience component which is not provided in this course. Note: This course is four hours in length. To receive a card verifying their attendance in this class, attendees must be present the entire four hours.

First Aid/CPR/AED Training
October 23rd & 24th (Must attend both nights)
4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Corp. GC/CM - $60, Associate - $70, *CBA’s - $95, Non-Affiliated IAP - $150
Gert Grohmann, AGC of Greater Milwaukee

Medic First Aid, CPR and AED training is designed specifically for the occupational first aid provider. This extremely valuable program will help employers comply with OSHA and other federal and state regulatory requirements for training employees on how to respond and care for medical emergencies at work. Two-year certification cards are issued upon completion of this course.

Since Foxconn Technology Group announced plans to build a $10 billion manufacturing campus in Mount Pleasant in 2017, southeastern Wisconsin has been anticipating what local leaders call “the Foxconn effect.”

With more jobs, more people and more infrastructure in the area, the region prepared for both the positives and negatives that the change could bring to the southeastern Wisconsin.In the last two years, the company has modified its plans and is starting with a smart manufacturing center and LCD screen fabrication plant, bringing in an expected 1,300 workers.

Finally, the region is seeing buildings going vertical, said Dave Blank, president of Real Racine.
“Things are happening,” he said. “Some of the hotels are starting to see some of the Foxconn effect.”Jim Barry, president of the The Barry Co., said that much of what Foxconn has been doing up until this point has been very self-contained to...Read full article here.