VOL. 62 ISSUE7 JULY2021 • GUAM CONTRACTORSʼ ASSOCIATION
Association for Career & Technical Education
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
12
18
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
JULY
2021 8
S.A.M.E. UPDATE
10
SMALL BUSINESS NOTES
12
FEATURE STORY
18
CONSTRUCTION HEADLINE
20
MEMBER BENEFITS
22
NEWSLINE
24
REPORTS/ INFORMATION
NOW ACCEPTING ONLINE PAYMENTS VIA PAYPAL
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO 2 | JULY2021
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Used Equip. Used Equip. GCA GCA.pdf A.pdf
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EDITORIALS
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
THEDIRECTORS
THEEDITORIALS
THETEAM
PRESIDENT James Martinez Guam Contractors’ Association
Guam Contractor’s Association (GCA) in conjunction with Adztech and Public Relations, Inc. publishes the Construction News Bulletin (CNB) monthly. Reproduction of materials appearing in this publication is strictly forbidden without written permission by GCA.
PUBLISHER: James Martinez
CHAIRMAN Bill Beery Tutujan Hill Group VICE CHAIRMAN Grace Jacot SET Pacific
While we always strive for accuracy, we will from time to time overlook mistakes. In order to help us improve the quality and accuracy of this publication, we ask that you take the time to look at the information provided and notify GCA or Adztech of any corrections as needed. Opinions and editorial content of this publication may not necessarily be those of the publisher, production team, staff, GCA members, GCA Board of Directors and advertisers.
SECRETARY/TREASURER John Sage Pacific Rim Constructors Inc. PAST CHAIRMAN Peter Errett Hawaiian Rock Products CONTRACTOR DIRECTORS: Don McCann Black Construction Corporation
For more information about advertising in the GCA Construction News Bulletin contact the advertising department at (671) 477-1239/2239 or email at adztech@teleguam.net.
Lucia Wood APTIM Joe Roberto East Island Tinting
Distributed to GCA members or can be obtained by stopping by the Guam Contractors’ Association office located at 506 Mariner Ave., Barrigada, Guam 96913
Hunter Groom Hensel Phelps Albert Smith SmithBridge Guam ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: Jose Garcia First Hawaiian Bank
To find out more about how you can become a GCA member contact Guam Contractors’ Association at Tel: (671) 647-4840/41 Fax: (671) 647-4866 or Email: gca@teleguam.net. www.guamcontractors.org
Mark Cruz MidPac Far East Bill Bernardo Conwood
Postmaster. Send address changes to Guam Contractors’ Association, located at 506 Mariner Ave., Barrigada, Guam 96913
Camilo Lorenzo Matson Navigation
GCA
PRODUCTION TEAM LEAD: Geri Leon Guerrero AD SALES: Jaceth Duenas PRODUCTION: Jason Davis Geri Leon Guerrero Christopher “Taco” Rowland PHOTOGRAPHY: GCA Trades Christopher “Taco” Rowland EDITOR: Adztech CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Pete Diaz Gerardine Mendiola R.D. Gibson Rodney “RJ” Ricarte Rebecca Gale GCA STAFF: Desiree Lizama Elaine Gogue Francine Taitague Trevor Cruz COVER: Richard Paulino is teaching GCA Trades DOE Summer Camp high school students how to measure, square up, and set screws for a door frame.
TRADES ACADEMY B u i l d i n g
S k i l l s
F o r
A
L i f e t i m e
Guam Contractors Association
4 | JULY2021
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PRESIDENT’S LETTER
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
PRESIDENT’S LETTER Hafa Adai! GCA Members: GCA is hosting its first face-to-face, in-person general membership luncheon meeting this month at the Westin Resort Guam. The COVID 19 protocols will still be in place as far as social distancing and wearing masks. The venue is also limiting the number of guests that we can accommodate to no more than 100 pax, this is to ensure that table are arranged to meet the social distancing requirements set by the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS). We hope this is the beginning of opening up the island and returning to as close to normal as possible. Although we will probably never go back to how we once operated. Our featured speaker is Sam Mabini Young, PhD who will be presenting on a relatively new organization on Guam called the Guam Association of Career and Technical Education or Guam ACTE. She will be talking about their mission and how they can assist in filling the skills gaps, not only in our industry, but other industries that require some kind of career and technical education program or what we refer to as CTE. In working with the Guam ACTE, GCA hopes to bring more awareness on the career opportunities in construction and reaching out to the education community to better prepare our students for the “real-life” work environment. It’s never been more important than now that we sharpen our focus in developing our local workforce. With an aging workforce in construction, we need to replenish these workers with younger workers to keep our industry and economy healthy and prosperous. Along the lines of Career and Technical Education (CTE), in this month’s CNB feature article, we talk about the different programs offered at the Guam Community College and the GCA Trades Academy. GCC has set up several “Boot Camps” for different industries as part of their program to prepare and have these participants get employed in those corresponding industries. The one program highlighted in the article speaks on the National Summer Transportation Institute which focuses on building awareness and interests in students in the middle and high schools on the career opportunities in the transportation industry. GCC plans on holding several programs, boot camps, similar to this in telecommunications, media, healthcare, construction, and other industries. The GCA Trades Academy in collaboration with the Guam Department of Education (GDOE)has just completed their summer program which is aimed at students needing credits to graduate from high school and opened to all students who may be interested in pursuing a career in the craft trades. GCA supports these efforts as this provides more people to get into a career in the trades. As we look to enhance our industry with a new breed of workers, GCA is joining the rest of the nation in proclaiming the month of October as “Careers n Construction Month”. These relationships with the Guam ACTE, Guam Community College, GCA Trades Academy, Guam Department of Education, Guam Department of Labor, and organizations like NAWIC, GHRA, Guam Chamber of Commerce and Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce and others share the common goal of empowering our residents to consider careers in the CTE fields. While we are a construction industry association, we focus on the careers in construction, but there are a lot of other career opportunities in the skilled trades like culinary arts, nursing, graphic design, automotive technicians, telecommunications, and the like. Seventy percent (70%) of the jobs that will be available by the time a high school or college student graduates will require a high school diploma and some kind of industry certification and training. In the U.S. alone, Michael Bellaman, President and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported that the construction industry needs 400,000 workers this year alone and upwards of a million workers in the next two years. In Guam, the military has projected about 8,000 additional workers to complete the vast number of military and civilian projects in Guam. As of the end of June 2021, according to GDOL Alien Labor report, Guam has 1,587 H2B workers currently working here with 99 percent of those workers in construction. Have a great rest of the summer! Dångkulu na si Yu’us ma’åse’ James A. Martinez President Guam Contractors Association
Guam Contractors Association
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YOUR COMPLETE TIRE SOURCE
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S.A.M.E. UPDATE
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Society of
NEWSLETTER JULY 2021
American Military Engineers
ANNOUNCMENTS
2021 SAME GUAM POST
AWARDS PRESENTATION
Guam Post Annual Elections are now complete. If you are interested getting involved with the Board of Direction or any committee, please let Scott Thompson (scott.thompson@coffman.com) or Noel Enriquez (nenriquez@macdonaldbedford.com) know.
POST OUTSTANDING SUPPORT AWARD
To recognize significant and faithful support to the SAME Guam Post. LTJG Ken Wheeler, CEC, USN 2019-2021 Guam Post Secretary Committees: Young Professionals, Student Chapter Post Mentor, STEM Camp Squad Leader, Centennial Planning
• •
SAVE THE DATE 27-31 JUL 2021 ChST Virtual Facilities Management Workshop For more info, see: www.fmworkshop.org 09-11 AUG 2021 (ChST) Virtual Post Leaders Workshop 1300 - 1700 29 SEP 2021 (ChST) Indo-Pacific Industry Forum Hosted by the SAME Honolulu Post 11-13 NOV 2021 (TENTATIVE) Charlie Corn Scholarship Golf Tournament To benefit students studying engineering or architecture. Venue: STARTS Guam Golf Resort For more info, contact John Paul Dierking, (jpdierking@gmail.com) Upcoming June Meeting
MAIN PRESENTATION Defense and Community Engagement Presented by: Vera Topasna, Executive Director Community Defense Liaison Office Office of the Governor of Guam 15 JUN 2021
POST SERVICE AWARD
To recognize significant and faithful service to the SAME Guam Post.
• • •
Bob Shambach, PG Joined the Post in 2008 Served on the Board as Director and Vice-President Committees: Budget, Streamers, Investment, K-12 Outreach, (STEM Camp, E-week), Centennial Planning
• • • •
Al Sampson Joined the Post in 2012 Served on the Board as Director Committees: Small Business. Awards Promoted small businesses and represented SAME at partner organizations and events Wayne Cornell, PE, CEC, USN (Ret) • Life Member, joined SAME in 1983 • 2014-2015 Past President • 2015 SAME Fellow • Served on the Board of Directors • Committees: Charlie Corn Scholarship Golf Tournament, Audit
POST LEADERSHIP AWARD
To recognize outstanding SAME Guam Post leadership and accomplishment. Scott Thompson • 2019-2021 SAME Guam Post President • Committees: Programs, K-12 Outreach (E-week) • Major Events: Guam Industry Forum, Centennial Event, Joint Indo-Pacific Industry Forum
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S.A.M.E. UPDATE
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
SAME GUAM POST 2021-2022 CHARLIE CORN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS YSSABELLE VALENCIA
ANDREA GUTIERREZ
• California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• University of Guam • Major: Civil Engineering • $3,000
$2,500
CHRISTIAN MARIANO
HARSHITA GOGINENI
• Recent Father Duenas High School graduate.
• Cornell University
• University of Washington
• Major: Civil Engineering
• Major: Electrical Engineering
• $2,000
• $2,000
ETHAN GARCIA
VILIAME VUETIBAU
• University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
• University of Guam • Major: Civil Engineering
• Major: Engineering
• $2,000
• $2,000
GABRINA GARANGMAU
CHRISTIANA MARTINEZ
• Recent YAP Catholic High School graduate.
• University of California, Riverside
• Scranton University
• Major: Environmental Engineering
• Major: Engineering
• $1,500
• $1,500
EDDIE HUANG
MERRY REMETIRA
• University of California, Irvine
• University of Guam
• Major: Mechanical Engineering
• Major: Civil Engineering • $1,500
• $1,500
Repeat Charlie Corn Scholarship Recipient
ALYSSA BERSAMIN • University of Guam • Major: Civil Engineering • $1,500
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!
• Major: Aerospace Engineering
SAME Guam Post
UOG Student Chapter Member
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JULY2021 | 9
SMALL BUSINESS NOTES
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
join our SB Community! • The GCA Small Business Committee supports small business members of the association to ensure their voices are heard and needs are met within GCA capabilities. • Do you have an issue or concern that we might be able to assist with? • Do you have an idea or suggestion that may benefit our small business community?
L-R: James Martinez, Joe Roberto, Adam Baron, Bill Bernardo, Elaine Gogue, Theresa Crisostomo, Tom Roberto, Jaylene Kent, Gerardine Mendiola, Jane Ray, Philip Leddy, Ken Lujan.
HELP US HELP YOU BY JOINING US AT OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS OR CONTACT: Lucia Wood (Chair) Theresa Crisostomo (Vice-Chair)
(671) 777-8425 lucia.wood@aptim.com (671) 588-5972 theresac@jwsguam.com
GUAM PTAC FREE Live Webinars How to Get 8(a) Certified
07/27
The SBA's 8(a) Program was created to help small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the federal procurement market. The Guam PTAC will help you navigate the forms and requirements of the 8a program.
07/29
The SBA Mentor-Protege program is modeled after the 8(a) Mentor-Protege Program. The Guam PTAC will update you on the eligibility requirements and how to apply.
2021
2021
SBA Mentor-Protege Program
The Guam Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is offering FREE webinars to the public for July 2021. Webinars run from 10am-11:30am and will be conducted via Zoom. Links to the live webinar and the webinar evaluation will be emailed to all registered attendees 15 minutes before the start of the webinar. Register at: guamptac.ecenterdirect.com For more information, contact the Guam PTAC at (671) 735-2552 or visit www.guamptac.com
Guam SBDC Training Schedule GUAM: Safety in the Workplace: Post-Pandemic and Beyond Thursday, July 29, 2021 • 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 29, 2021 Are you looking to update your safety plans or programs as the pandemic continues locally and around the world? Safe workplaces are sound businesses. Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line.
10 | JULY2021
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CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
SMALL BUSINESS NOTES
Guam SBDC Independent Business Advisors Provides Assistance To Help Your Business Through the COVID-19 Pandemic! Many Small Businesses around the world have faced unforeseen circumstances from the impact of pandemic and have had to adjust and pivot quickly to deal with the crisis at hand. The economies within the Western Pacific Region are dependent upon tourism and government spending (both local and federal). Since the start of the pandemic, all local governments have imposed severe travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines. The impact from these executive orders have resulted in significant reduction of tourist visitor arrivals, shut down “non-essential” businesses, and furloughed thousands of workers.
Advisor to assist small businesses who have been impacted from the pandemic. These independent small business advisors are able to assist small businesses take advantage of federal and local government resources that are available to them, and find ways to
navigate and operate in the “new norm”. Each of the independent small business advisors specialize in different aspects of business management by offering a wide range of expertise the small business may have been affected in.
The only way for small businesses to push through during this time of crisis is to find ways and opportunities to be resilient. Through helps from the CARES Act, the Guam SBDC was able to secure seven (7) Independent Small Business
To date, these independent business advisors were able to assist 631 clients navigate their small businesses through the effects of the pandemic, and help small businesses obtain a total of over $5 million in funding through federal and local government COVID-19 assistance programs. Don’t let the impacts of the pandemic allow your business to plunder. If you are interested in seeking business assistance with any of the independent business advisors, contact us today at (671)735-2590 or sign up for counseling at our website: https://pisbdcn.ecenterdirect.com/signup
Register at: pisbdcn.ecenterdirect.com/events/ For more information, contact: (671) 735-2590 facebook.com/GuamContractors
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JULY2021 | 11
SUMMER CAMP by: R.D. Gibson
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
This was probably the most difficult year in education in several generations. It required school districts and educators to adapt throughout. Remote learning through online platforms, face-to-face instruction with pandemic precautions, and even creating hard copy lessons for students and families. Though the school year on the island ended in late May, learning opportunities sprung up. Learning does not take a break after all. We learn things every day. The concept of learning loss is not new. However, due to COVID-19, it prompted school districts, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to amp up summer learning programs. Job training, social emotional learning, skills attainment, community building, the list goes on for the learning opportunities that were available this summer. It also prompted organizations to think about learning skill sets that could potentially be used for future work. Given social distancing precautions, mask wearing, sanitization, and whatnot, and notwithstanding restrictions being carefully lifted, the thought process around summer programs for students needed to be a bit more refined and executed properly. *** One of the programs included one from the Guam Community College with the National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI). It was focused on building awareness and interest in middle and high school students about career opportunities in the transportation industry and encourage students to pursue transportation-related coursework in post-secondary education, as well as “address the need for a diverse workforce in the 21st century,” stated Fred Tupaz, an Assistant Professor, and Department Chair for Business and Visual Communications at the Guam Community College in Mangilao, Guam.
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FEATURE STORY
The program was funded through the Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and sponsored by the Guam Department of PublicWorks. “This program allows students the opportunity to spend 2-4 weeks receiving a realistic college preview geared at transportation-related coursework at prominent accredited college/university campuses across the country,” stated Tupaz. For this program, collaboration begins in middle school with counselors to identify students who are interested in transportation and higher education, and participate in STEM-related subjects. Tupaz added how the program focused on the land, air, and sea commercial and military transportation industries. “We wanted to show the interconnectivity of each sector and how important the transportation infrastructure is to the economic lifeline of any community,” Tupaz explained. From bringing goods into the island to the strategic position of our island in the Pacific, these were all points of discussion with participants. Participants had a chance to visit the Port Authority of Guam and the A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport Authority, defense transportation hubs at Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base, and learn about the Truck Driving curriculum, Automotive service technology program, civil engineering, and pre-architectural programs at the Guam Community College. This program was geared toward middle school students as a way for them to begin potentially planning their higher learning and education pathways. Not without its obvious obstacles, the program had 20 students complete the program successfully in early June. It allowed students to engage in hands-on activities and participate in the field trip opportunities listed above. The program was made possible through numerous
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JULY2021 | 13
FEATURE STORY
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
partnerships, including the Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and the Department of PublicWorks, the A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam, the Jose D. Leon Guerrero Port Authority of Guam, Naval Base Guam, the 36th Air Wing Command, Andersen Air Force Base, the Aire Services, the Women in Aviation, Guam, Parsons Transportation Group, Galaide Group, President Mary Okada, and the Staff and Administrators of Guam Community College, and NSTI instructors, Christoper Rowland, Michelle Randle, and John Zilian. Opportunities like these bring together a community of experts and educators who are looking at the future of industries and building partnerships to realize the potential of different career options of the future workforce. *** Dr. Bert Johnston, Education Director at the GCA Trades Academy, held one summer program in connection with the year round program with the Guam Department of Education and hosted another at the GCA Trades Academy offices with the Guam Police Department in Tiyan, next to the GDOE headquarters. Johnston began by talking about ‘return on investment’ that starts with working with instructors. “We tell our
14 | JULY2021
instructors, rather than dollars, we’d rather focus on another measure,” he started, focusing on investment of time in a class. He stated money can be recouped if lost over time, but lost time cannot. He stated that regular educational institutions focus more on grades and attendance, while the Trades Academy focuses on return on investment. “Students have the opportunity to be at a lot of different places, if you make it the best use of their time to be in your class, you don’t have to worry about attendance...you don’t have to worry about learning...you don’t have to worry about grades, they’re going to pass,” he stated. “So we focus in on this return on investment, making it the best use of students’ time to be in our classes.” “We have an arrangement with DOE to put a group of people through classes primarily to give them exposure to something different, plus also gain credit toward graduation.” The program is a core curriculum consisting of nine modules designed as foundational for any of the trades students are interested in - carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc. The nine modules are held throughout two weeks of eight-hour days.
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FEATURE STORY
Initially itInitially starteditwith started credit with recovery credit recovery as a pilotas program a pilot programsummer summer school component school component due to excess due tofunding excess due funding due in 2016 for in 2016 high school for highstudents. school students. “[DOE] had “[DOE] this had wild this wild to the pandemic. to the pandemic. idea of ‘why ideadon’t of ‘why we don’t do something we do something different...and different...and put put them intothem the Trades into theAcademy Trades Academy under theunder agreement the agreement they they The classes The are classes not typical, are notthey typical, are they always aredifferent, always different, as as graduategraduate from high from school?’” high school?’” All of those All of people thoseinpeople that in that explained explained by Johnston. by Johnston. That andThat the concept and the concept of the best of the best pilot program pilot program graduated graduated to Johnston’s to Johnston’s knowledge. knowledge. Since Since use of the use students’ of the students’ time (return timeon (return investment) on investment) is what is what then the then program the program has gonehas from gone halffrom a dozen half people a dozentopeople todrives engagement drives engagement and eventually and eventually pride in their pridework. in their work. upwardsupwards of 100 students of 100 students - and it’s -open and it’s to all open students to all students on on Johnston Johnston pointed emphatically pointed emphatically to benches, to benches, tables, and tables, and island and island not limited and nottolimited credit to recovery. credit recovery. “We have“We some have some shelves that shelves are signed that areby signed the students by the students who builtwho them, built them, of the people of thewho people are in who theare topinten theof top their tenclass of their in our class in ourwhich gives which them gives a sense them of a sense pride in of their prideteamwork, in their teamwork, program,” program,” stated Johnston. stated Johnston. “These people “Theseare people excelling, are excelling,collaboration, collaboration, and accomplishment. and accomplishment. and all ofand a sudden all of athey’re suddenrealizing, they’re realizing, maybe college maybeisn’t college isn’t the routethe they route want they to go.” want to go.” JohnstonJohnston talked about talked theabout differences the differences with theirwith campus, their campus, stating their stating instructors their instructors are trades arepractitioners trades practitioners who bring who bring “Some of“Some these of students these students had issues hadwith issues behavior with behavior in their in their their experience their experience into the classrooms, into the classrooms, there arethere no timeare no timeschools...we schools...we see nonesee of that nonehere,” of that stated here,” Johnston. stated Johnston. lines - semesters, lines - semesters, and no grades. and noThere grades. is standardized There is standardized Citing theCiting approach the approach from instructors from instructors who are practitioners who are practitioners testing both testing written bothand written practical and practical for knowledge for knowledge and skill,and skill, in their respective in their respective fields and fields who and treatwho students treat students as if theyas if they respectively. respectively. Last there Last is an there evaluation is an evaluation of the program, of the program, were trainees were trainees in the real-world in the real-world jobs site jobs with site consequencwith consequencinstructors, instructors, and facilities, and facilities, which asks which students asks students to evaluate to evaluate es. “We’re es. providing “We’re providing them an them opportunity an opportunity to learn whether to learn whether based onbased a scale. on a scale. [the trades [the are] trades for them, are] for or them, not.” or not.” JohnstonJohnston added the added students the students receive areceive certificate a certificate in the in the It’s a regular It’s aprogram regular program through through a partnership a partnership with the with the fundamentals fundamentals in whichever in whichever trade they trade chose. they“And chose. they’re “And they’re Guam Department Guam Department of Education of Education and the GCA and the Trades GCA Trades highly employable, highly employable, and the certificate and the certificate is a nationally is a nationally AcademyAcademy that’s year that’s round, yearwhich round, ended whichupended with aup with a
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FEATURE STORY
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
recognized certificate from the NCCER.” According to the NCCER website, the organization’s “mission is to build a safe, productive and sustainable workforce of craft professionals”; its vision “is to be universally recognized by industry and government as the training, assessment, certification and career development standard for construction and maintenance craft professionals.” Johnston stated, the NCCER certification is recognized in all 50 states and eight countries. Johnston pointed out that some of the students are only registered as half-day students, but choose to stay afterward. “They don’t want to leave,” he stated. They keep them busy with work around the Trades Academy campus. Some of the students have stated they like it better than their regular school campuses - and there are already plans to have this summer program again next year. Johnston hopes his Trades Academy students stay interested in the trades when they leave the program. Hee stated how the pandemic was a disruption from our regular ways. In times of disruption, we are left with two options: go back to the way things were, or we practice ways we can make a situation better. *** Johnston used the Black Plague of the mid 1300s and the subsequent Renaissance era as an example. According to Worldhistory.org, the Black Death changed Europe dramatically. The Black Death brought about new ways of thinking in a society with its tough stances on several topics, including religion, commerce, and learning. However, from it, there was advanced medical treatment and understanding, the dismantling of feudalism, and greater questioning and open thinking as a way of learning. 16 | JULY2021
We cannot discount that the traditional academic institutions did their best with the resources they had to promote learning and engage students remotely and quite differently from years past. It’s in one of the simplest concepts: Learning doesn’t stop at schools, or end in summer school programs. Learning is constantly evolving. We’re in a new age of learning and enlightenment.
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MICRONESIA RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC. BECOMING GENERATION RENEWABLE, INC. Micronesia Renewable Energy, Inc. (“MRE”), a leader and premier design/build integrator in solar energy and battery storage systems for the Asia Pacific market, is changing its name to Generation Renewable, Inc. and is preparing for an initial public offering (“IPO”) in the coming months. The purpose of the name change is to reflect the anticipated global expansion of MRE beyond its Asia Pacific roots. In addition, the IPO will allow MRE to fund the continued internal growth and expand through potential acquisitions both in Asia Pacific and in North America. Tracy Voacolo, CEO of MRE, commented, “Over the past ten years, MRE has established itself as a leader in solar energy and battery storage systems. Our company has focused in delivering the highest quality and most cost-effective renewable energy solutions that have provided for a better environment. Our mission to be a contributor towards a cleaner and healthier planet remains the same. Now, our goal turns towards expansion as our success has created opportunities to build a substantially larger organization committed to clean energy. We look forward to this new phase of our growth.”
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On June 28, 2021 we will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony at our office/warehouse facility in Harmon (address below) to commemorate the launch of the IPO and the name change to Generation Renewable, Inc. The event starts at 2:00 p.m. Both Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lieutenant Governo Josh Tenorio will be present and will make brief remarks on this milestone occasion. About MRE: MRE is a privately held company specializing in design/build integration of renewable energy infrastructure with a goal of contributing to a clean energy environment. Our commitment is to provide the highest quality, most advanced and cost-effective renewable energy solutions including solar energy and battery storage systems which enables clients to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their overall energy costs. The company serves the residential, commercial and government sectors.
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MEMBER BENEFITS
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AFFINITY REWARDS
DISCOUNTS AND BENEFITS AT YOUR FINGER TIPS By Rodney “RJ” Ricarte
Affinity Rewards is TakeCare’s loyalty program that rewards TakeCare members for their support of the partner program members. As a TakeCare member through the Guam Contractors Association, you have the benefit of receiving discounts and special offers from our Affinity Partners. In addition, you can receive rewards from TakeCare for actively participating in the program.
Benefits and discounts at locations throughout Guam
TakeCare members (not just subscribers) can enjoy substantial benefits and discounts from a wide variety of more than 50 participating local restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and service partners with your TakeCare Affinity Rewards Card. Simply present your TakeCare member ID card at any of our Affinity Partners to receive a special offer or discount. Receive a stamp from our Affinity Partners for each visit.
Restaurant partners include Ajisen Ramen, Caffe Cino, Cafe de Sirena, Capricciosa, Caravel (at Onward), Dolce Frutti,
Fizz & Co., Fountain Lobby Lounge at Hotel Nikko Guam, Frost Bite, Gabriel's Restaurant, Haagen Dazs, Magellan Restaurant at Hotel Nikko Guam, Nuts & Grains, Onward Mangilao and Onward Talafofo Golf Club (Pro Shop & Restaurant only), Sagano Restaurant at Onward, TGI Friday's, Tony Roma's, and Tumon Bay Lobster & Grill.
Entertainment partners include Tango Theatres, Adventures with Wookie "Unique Like Me!", Color Guam, Project Matrix, and The Bead Hive.
Health and Wellness partners include FHP Dental, FHPVision, Guam Meditation Center, Ina Wellness Collective, Island Eye, and Mega Drug.
Auto partners include Blake's Car Rental and East Island Tinting. Hotel partners include Island Skin Spa, Natural Ginger Spa, Spa Ayualam, and Sugar Hut. Home Care partners include KM Universal, MGKM Kooling Services and Zephyr Cooling. Stamps at each visit turns turns into potential prizes!
Remember to get that stamp from the Affinity Partner at each visit. Submit 3 completed Affinity Rewards cards to TakeCare Customer Service to receive a prize. For TakeCare App users, visit the TakeCare Customer Service office when you complete 1 digital Affinity Rewards Card to receive a prize. All submitted Affinity Rewards cards are entered into a quarterly raffle drawing. Winners will be notified, and Prizes can be redeemed from TakeCare Customer Service”
We invite GCA companies to participate in the program
As a valued TakeCare Employer Group, we invite GCA’s company to participate in this opportunity and be part of the excitement of the TakeCare Affinity Rewards Program as an Affinity Partner. The discounts and special offers are on quarterly basis. If you would like to participate, please contact me or email affinityrewards@takecareasia.com and we can discuss further. Your company does not have to be a TakeCare member to be a partner in the program. We advertise our Affinity Partners to our growing membership on the TakeCare website, marketing collaterals, emails to members, TakeCare social media, TakeCare mobile app and other promotional materials throughout the year. *Partner listing and discount offers are subject to change. For updated list, please go to our directory page: https://takecareasia.net/directories/affinity_directory
Rodney “RJ” Ricarte is the TakeCare account executive for GCA. He can be contacted at (671) 487-7121 or rodney.ricarte@takecareasia.com.
20 | JULY2021
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475 Mendioka Street Dededo, Guam 96929 Tel: (671) 632-5160 | sales@midpacfareast.com | www.midpacfareast.com
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INTERNATIONAL
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CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
NEWSLINE EEOC Issues Long-Awaited Guidance Related to COVID-19 Vaccinations The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently added a frequently asked question related to best practices for protecting workers regardless of vaccination status to its non-ETS FAQs. The FAQ reads: What are best practices that all employers should consider taking to protect workers regardless of vaccination status? Conducting a workplace risk assessment for potential COVID-19 exposure, preparing a response plan and taking steps to improve ventilation are all activities consistent with CDC guidance to promote public health and workplace health. In addition, on June 10, OSHA updated its Jan. 29 guidance on Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace, which applies to nonhealthcare employers. The summary of changes as of June 10 include focusing protections on unvaccinated and otherwise at-risk workers, encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations and adding links to guidance with the most up-to-date content. ABC’s general counsel, Littler Mendelson P.C., wrote an analysis of the OSHA ETS and updated guidance, titled Federal OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard for Health Care. The article
22 | JULY2021
states that the update clarifies how OSHA wants employers “to engage with workers and their representatives to determine how to implement multi-layered interventions to protect unvaccinated or otherwise at-risk workers and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.” These steps include:
• Granting paid time off for employees
to get vaccinated • Instructing any workers who are infected, unvaccinated workers who have had close contact with someone who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and all workers with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home from work • Implementing physical distancing for unvaccinated and otherwise at-risk workers in all communal work areas • Providing unvaccinated and otherwise at-risk workers with face coverings or surgical masks, unless their work task requires a respirator or other PPE • Educating and training workers on the employer’s COVID-19 policies and procedures using accessible formats and language(s) they understand • Suggesting that unvaccinated customers, visitors or guests wear face coverings • Maintaining ventilation systems • Performing routine cleaning and
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disinfection
• Recording and reporting COVID-19 infections and deaths
• Implementing protections from
retaliation and setting up an anonymous process for workers to voice concerns about COVID-19-related hazards • Following other applicable mandatory OSHA standards. The Littler article further states, “While many of the items on this updated list were previously present in the initial guidance, the fact that OSHA reviewed and noted updates further confirms OSHA’s expectations for employers in all industries. Employers outside of the healthcare industry are advised to closely review the updated guidance and make further adjustments to their own internal policies and procedures, as appropriate.”
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CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
EPA, Army Announce Intent to Revise WOTUS Definition
On June 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Army announced their intent to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” that are federally regulated under the Clean Water Act and replace the definition under the Trump administration’s 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which provided four clear categories of waters under the CWA that businesses and landowners could easily understand. According to an EPA news release, the NWPR was targeted in President Biden’s Executive Order 13990 on “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To Tackle the Climate Crisis.” That E.O. directed federal agencies to review all existing orders, guidance documents, policies and any other similar agency actions promulgated, issued or adopted during the previous administration. Following review of the NWPR, the agencies determined that the rule significantly reduces clean water protections.
As a result of the agencies’ findings, the U.S. Department of Justice is filing a motion requesting remand of the rule. The news release also states that DOJ’s action reflects the agencies’ intent to initiate a new rulemaking process that restores the protections in place prior to the Obama administration’s 2015 WOTUS final rule. It also anticipates developing a new rule that defines WOTUS and is informed by a robust engagement process as well as the experience of implementing the pre-2015 rule, the Obama-era final rule and the NWPR.
Issued in April 2020, the NWPR replaced the 2015 WOTUS rule and clarified key elements related to the scope of CWA jurisdiction by identifying four clear categories of waters that are federally regulated under the CWA:
Background ABC has long been a vocal opponent of the Obama-era WOTUS final rule since it was first proposed in April 2014. ABC submitted comments on EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposals on step one and step two of the WOTUS rulemaking under President Trump. Additionally, ABC filed comments as a member of the Waters Advocacy Coalition.
ABC continues its commitment to work with the EPA and Corps and ensure the clearest possible regulations so that its members have the information needed to comply with the law while also serving as good stewards of the environment.
• Territorial seas and traditional navigable waters
• Perennial and intermittent tributaries • Certain lakes, ponds and impoundments and
• Wetlands that are adjacent to jurisdictional waters.
24 | JULY2021 3
A/C & Refrigeration Mechanic HVAC & Refrigeration Technician Field Supervisor
30
5 2
Crane Operator
Total Non-Construction H-2B Workers
6
Pipefitter
5
Elevator Installer Technician
www.guamcontractors.org TOTAL Construction H-2B Workers
Total OTHER Construction
11
HVAC & Refrigeration Mechanic
2
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
1557
64
10
23
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
18
Camp Cook
4
Construction Equipment Mechanic
5
Other Construction Occupations
Employers Workplace Monthly Report Statistics
Automotive Mechanic
Other Non-Construction Occupations
GUAM DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Alien Labor Processing Certification Division
27
1586 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1587
4783 1719
1587
Total H-2B Employers U.S. Const. Workers Total U.S. Workers Grand Total H-2B Workers
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
Total U.S. Workers
Total U.S. Workers Grand Total Hin H2 companies 2B Workers
US Workers vs. H-2B
6 24
Non-Construction
6000
18
Construction
Employers By Industry
Philippines Mexico Japan Kiribati United Kingdom Australia Italy Peru Thailand Other Total by Nationality
Workers by Nationality
1493
Welder Total Common Const.
121
Heavy Equip. Operator 2
20
Sheetmetal Worker 93
67
Plumber
Camp Cook
17
Structural Steelworker
Electrician
165
639
342
Reinforcing Metalworker
Carpenter
Cement Mason
Common Construction Occupations
MONTH ENDING: June 2021
Mexico Thailand 0.00% 0.00%
1.14%
4.49%
1.34%
8.10%
11.05%
6.23%
0.13%
Other 0.00%
Peru 0.00%
Prepared By: Jessie Cruz Contact information: Greg Massey, ALPCD Administrator P.O. Box 9970 Tamuning, Guam 96931 (671)475-8005/8003
Welder
Camp Cook
Heavy Equip. Operator Electrician
Sheetmetal Worker
Reinforcing Metalworker Structural Steelworker Plumber
Carpenter
Cement Mason
Other
Thailand
Peru
Italy
Australia
United Kingdom
Kiribati
Japan
Korea
Philippines
United Kingdom 0.00%
Kiribati 0.00%
22.91%
42.80%
1.81%
Common Construction Occupations
Philippines 99.94%
Japan 0.00%
Australia 0.06%
Italy 0.00%
H-2B Population by Nationality
REPORTS/ INFORMATION CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
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