OCT BER 2019
On the
LEVEL The Quarterly Associations Newsletter of:
Construction Contractors • Sheet Metal & Roofing Contractors • Fabricators Erectors & Reinforcing Contractors
The Real Deal...
Charlotte Van Horn: Tri-State Drywall & Acoustical By Barry S. Lewis, Vice-President of Communications & Member Relations Charlotte Van Horn
She adds the issue
shares a story how
was
in
engineered
the
as
early
years
president
resolved
with
sketches
of
and calculations. These
Tri-State Drywall &
days no one questions
Acoustical
the
often
she
was
questioned
knowledge
or
ability of Van Horn or
about being a certified
Tri-State
Women
Acoustical, based in
Business
Owned Enterprise
know the business?
&
Sparrow Bush.
(WBE). Was she just a figurehead or did she
Drywall
The women of Tri-State Drywall & Acoustical are, from left, Deborah Davenport, Charlotte Van Horn, Rebecca Rivera and Christina Bennett.
The company began in
2005
with
three
partners mostly doing
Before finishing she excuses herself to take a call from
metal framing and drywall. Van Horn bought out one
someone at a job site. There’s a question regarding load
partner in 2015 and became majority owner of a 51 percent
bearing walls and the connection to structural steel.
women owned business. Four years later she bought out
Charlotte explains they were discussing the rolling force that is created when setting bar joists are set on load bearing walls and how to control the rolling force that is created. “In our case, we wanted cross bracing to transfer the loads back up to the roof deck while there was a conflicting detail that showed bottom cord bracing that
the third partner and now the company is 100 percent WBE and Van Horn, a graduate of Port Jervis High School who earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting at SUNY New Paltz, is the only woman on the board of directors for the Construction Contractors Association of the Hudson Valley.
welded into the exterior wall which would transfer the
“When we started to go WBE we’d fill out the applications,”
rolling force into the exterior wall.”
says Van Horn. “My husband (Clinton) actually does work continued...
continued from cover...
internships. If they are interested in the field, they should
The Real Deal... Charlotte Van Horn: Tri-State Drywall & Acoustical
definitely reach out to construction companies and union personnel.
Are you seeing interest by women? We don’t see a lot of women going into the field. I don’t see women interested at job fairs. I’ve been approached may times to apprentice, but it’s been for male applicants. It’s definitely a male dominated industry. I don’t know if it’s because women have not been introduced into the construction industry. If it’s not in their background or family, they may not be looking for it.
Is the problem part perception? It could be, construction is a male dominated field. It’s sort of like the military, it’s male dominated for the most part. There are women that are interested in going into that field. They need to know they’re welcome in the industry. Van Horn, a graduate of Port Jervis High School who earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting at SUNY New Paltz, is the only woman on the board of directors for the Construction Contractors Association of the Hudson Valley.
in the field, so people questioned who was heading the company. “The WB interviewers came out and they want to make sure as a woman that you’re actually involved in the company. One guy asked me about things that went on and after meeting me he said, ‘you’re definitely the real deal, you’re WBE, you’re involved, you know what you’re doing.” TSA is truly a family-run WBE. Van Horn’s mother, Deborah Davenport is the bookkeeper, sister Christina Bennett is the office manager and Rebecca Rivera is the project manager/estimator.
How do you deal with sexual harassment? I’m not as sensitive as probably other women and I’ve been in the construction field for more than 20 years. There are some things that might be said…it rolls off my back and you just move on with it. I’ve never had a problem with GC or anyone like that.
Are there opportunities for women? I know there are a lot of things in place for WB as far as owners, starting your own company and owning 51 percent of it. Right now, the requirements for most of the WB participation is around 30 percent. Gov. Cuomo wanted to raise that to 50 percent. At 30 percent I already see that there’s a lack of WB companies to fill
It’s not unusual for Van Horn and TSA to be juggling several projects at a time. Currently they are working at several businesses, schools and as a subcontractor doing metal framing, drywall and acoustical installation work in a new emergency room department at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh. Charlotte Van
the positions.
Are those realistic mandates? I get calls from general contractors that can’t meet that 30 percent basically begging us to bid their projects. It’s my understanding if they make an effort to hit
Horn still managed to make time for a few questions:
those marks, they can they can get a waiver. A lot of
What advice do give women who might want a career in construction industry?
in Rochester. Well, I don’t go to Rochester, so they’ll
There are a lot of job fairs or requirements for
and that for whatever reason, it was too far for me
apprenticeship programs and degrees. There are plenty
or I’m too busy and that declined the project. If they
of colleges that have scholarships for girls looking to get
get enough of those letters, they can submit them
into the construction field, specifically for architecture
and try to get a waiver to the WBE requirement.
and engineering. Some of the larger companies have
They will waive if they made a good-faith effort.
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times I’ll get calls from a GC saying I need WBE, I’m ask me to put in writing that they solicited a bid from
OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
How has the construction industry changed in the last 10-15 years?
How far ahead do you bid?
It’s no longer doing business on a handshake. You have to
tough. You’re projecting labor and you’re projecting
cross your t’s, dot your i’s, make sure all your paperwork
material. It’s a guesstimate. For the most part we know
is in place moving forward. It’s a battle to try to get jobs
there’s regularly scheduled increases in materials,
done because they want more and they want to give you
certain times of the year, something the tariffs or
less time. That is the huge change in construction right
sometimes demand is much higher than supply and
now. They want more for the dollar, ‘We don’t want to
then we see prices skyrocket. Hopefully we have
give you any extra days. Just get it done and then we’ll
allotted for that.
Some projects we’re bidding almost a year out so it’s
pay you sometime a year after your complete.’
What skill set has helped you most in business? Has the Hudson Valley peaked with once-in-a-generation projects?
I think the accounting background has helped me
We’ve seen a lot of growth, particularly in Orange County
you‘ll have project managers and engineers who are
in the last five years and I think Sullivan County is going
particularly set in getting the project done but with the
to be set to grow as well. I know there are quite a few
accounting background I see the budget sides all the
projects that they’re looking to bring in, corporate offices,
time. I’m able to weigh a lot of things.
tremendously in the construction industry. A lot of times
warehouses. They have a lot of access to 17, they’re looking for larger plots of property to bring in big companies.
Best part of not being just the accounting. Tax season is tough, I don’t miss that. I do like the
Are tariffs a threat?
construction field to go from job-to-job-to-job which is
That is definitely going to play a role with us. We’ve
always different. You’re starting a new project constantly
seen the pricing for steel and sheet rock fluctuate up and
so it’s always changing. It’s nice to actually go out and
down quite a bit. We’re always keeping our eyes and ears
see the buildings that you helped build and accomplish.
open to ensure that if something looks like its projected
Gives you a sense of satisfaction every project that
to go up that we’re bidding enough to compensate.
you complete.
blewis@ccahv.com
“It’s no longer doing business on a handshake. You have to cross your t’s, dot your i’s, make sure all your paperwork is in place moving forward. It’s a battle to try to get jobs done because they want more and they want to give you less time.”—Van Horn
Charlotte with project manager/estimator Rebecca Rivera.
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
3
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
10/1/19 4:02 PM
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Time to Push Back As you know, I consider
Thankfully so many of you are up to challenge of pushing
myself
realistic
back and not simply sitting back and hoping for the
optimist. I believe the
best. Our boards and the staff are being proactive about
glass is half-full but at
our future. All of us together need to make sure there
the same time I worry
is substantial work going forward for your businesses
about
today and to ensure jobs and a better quality of life for
a
it
overflowing.
Will we have the people to staff the jobs? These days my optimism is lessened somewhat.
our next generation. As announced in our last issue, Barry Lewis has joined our staff to head an aggressive marketing and issues driven campaign. Our communications will focus on
Many of our major regional projects are completed or
the good things that our members continue to do in our
close to complete: the casino, water park, Vassar Brothers
community, the great on time and on budget projects
Medical Center, Tappan Zee Bridge, water tunnel and the
we deliver and what our union teammates contribute
other projects have allowed us to set records for hours
as well. If you know of someone, management or labor
worked. New projects that we look forward to starting are
that is a firefighter, EMT or contributes through youth
being delayed in the approval process. The crescendo of
sports, scouting or a religious organization, reach
“Not in My Backyard” (NIMBYs) continues to grow and
out to Barry at blewis@ccahv.com so we can highlight
numbers of people that don’t want any development are
their accomplishments.
at an all-time high. Local planning boards have projects enter the “review hopper” that many in the past would go through the process in less than a year. We are now seeing multiple projects delayed and held up during that process. The end result is costly legal and consulting fees and construction delays that keeps these projects off the tax base (We will address IDA issues in a future column — I personally don’t believe many people understand IDA benefits fully).
officials to point out the cost of the “underground economy” that is stealing our work and dollars from us and other area taxpayers, while at the same time increasing insurance costs for those businesses and taxpayers that pay their bills. Thank you to Orange County District Attorney Dave Hoovler, who is now President of the New York State District Attorney’s Association for helping us keep this issue in the forefront.
While we realize there are valid concerns regarding safeguarding proper and safe development, once the zoning, planning and legal requirements are met, projects should not be held hostage by zealots that don’t want any growth. We need jobs not only for our members today, but for our next generation as well. New York State has an incredibly high cost of living, and if jobs that pay a living wage aren’t here, then the whirling eddy of people and money leaving New York will speed up as well as increase in volume.
Likewise, we will continue to work with our elected
We continue to offer information to anyone contemplating a construction project and reinforce the value of quality construction that our members and associates provide year over year. Our Associations will continue to work hard to make sure your opportunities are there through the uncertainty and turmoil. Best Regards,
Alan Seidman Alan Seidman
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
5
When you want reliable professionals, you hire union carpenters.
The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark
There’s no greater asset in the building industry than a worker who shows up wellprepared and ready to go. It can mean the difference between a project that runs smoothly and a project that runs out of time. The Carpenters union recognizes this and has provided contractors with world-class quality and professionalism for 130 years – in addition to a can-do spirit to step up to meet any challenge. It’s not just a relationship, it’s a true partnership, and the entire building community benefits.
The New England Regional Council of Carpenters. It’s time to build. To learn more, visit NERCC.org
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Union Support Grows, but Not Membership By Barry Lewis came from 2009 through 2012, years of high unemployment that followed the Great Recession. Gallup also observed relatively low union approval during the poor economic times in the late 1970s and early 1980s. However, actual union membership rates are relatively low. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals the general union membership rate for 2018 was 10.5 percent, which is about even with the numbers from 2017. However, that percentage represents a jarring overall decline in union membership since comparable date was first released in 1983. That year more than 20 percent of workers belonged to a union. Over time, that number has dropped steadily by almost half. Democrats, independents and Republicans are all more likely to view unions positively now than they were at the low point a decade ago. Notably, since 2009, union approval has increased among each party group by 16 or 17 points. Democrats (82%) remain far more likely than Republicans (45%) to approve of unions. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey throws her support for unions and transparency in government while speaking at the 21st National Alliance Conference in September in Boston.
In addition to partisanship, union affiliation is a
Sixty-four percent of Americans approve of labor unions, surpassing 60 percent for the third consecutive year and up 16 percentage points from its 2009 low point, according to a recent Gallup poll. Union
approval
averaged
68
percent
between
Gallup’s initial measurement in 1936 and 1967, and consistently exceeded 60 percent during that time. Since
significant driver of union approval. Specifically, 86 percent of U.S. adults living in a household with a union member approve of unions, compared with 60 percent of those in nonunion households. According to the 2019 survey, 14 percent of Americans reside in a union household, and 10 percent of working adults are personally members of labor unions.
1967, approval has been 10 points lower on average, and has only occasionally surpassed 60 percent. The current 64 percent reading is one of the highest union approval ratings Gallup has recorded over the past 50 years, topped only in March 1999 (66%), August 1999 (65%) and August 2003 (65%) surveys. Higher public support for unions in the past few years likely reflects the relatively good economic conditions in place, particularly low unemployment. By contrast, the lowest union approval ratings in Gallup history
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
7
CCA’s Golf Outing Some 120 golfers took part in the annual Construction Contractors Association outing July 29 at Trump National Golf Club. Another great outing!
SMACNA foursome: Bill Haskel, Steve Mulholland, Dennis LaVopa and Mike Briggs.
Bob Kaehler tracking his shot.
From left to right: Jack Dianis, Sr., Scott Dianis, Jack Dianis, Jr. and Rob Betz
Justin Darrow showing professional form.
For many golfers, the toughest part of the day was trying to find their first tee.
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Special Inspections and Materials Testing Asphalt • Concrete • Soils Masonry • Steel • Deep Foundations Construction Phase Monitoring and Engineering Vibration • Noise • Deformation Condition Surveys • SOE Design Land Surveying Construction Layout • 3D Scanning Mobile LIDAR Environmental Services ACM and Lead • Air Monitoring End Sampling and Soil Disposal Engineering Geotechnical • Civil • Structural
Mountainville, New York 800.829.6531 www.tectonicengineering.com
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
9
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Safety Pays Dividends Lovell Safety Management Co., LLC 110 William Street New York, NY 10038-3935 212-709-8600 1-800-5-LOVELL www.lovellsafety.com
OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Workers’ Compensation Insurance Update RATES
Consider these situations:
By now you’ve heard the Good
• You have an employee who
News that Workers Company rates
submits a claim for occupational
have dropped for the fourth straight
injuries which results in $200,000 of
year.
On July 16, 2019 the New
medical and indemnity payments.
York State Department of Financial
If you are a small to medium sized
Services
average
contractor your mod is going to
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
go over 1.00. But if you are a large
rate decrease of 10% for new
contractor
policies or renewal policies issued
occupational loss plus other losses
on or after October 1, 2019.
and your mod will remain well
approved
an
For
you
the New York State Construction
under 1.00.
Industry, 46 of the 50 most common
Mod results.
construction
classifications
could
have
an
Same loss different
went
down – the most decreases seen in
• You’re
a number of years.
employee twists his knee walking
a
plumber
whose
Kevin A. Viaña Vice President Specialty Risks Division For a copy of the updated 2019 Rates please feel free to drop an email to kviana@marshallsterling.com
on the site, because your payrolls
EXPERIENCE MODS
are not large your mod increases
comp and the employee friendly
While lowers rates is always a
considerably
the
Comp judges aren’t pushing back
good thing, keep an eye on your
site contractor whose employees
causing the Contractor/Employer
Experience Mod. I say this because
are paid considerably more per
of record at the time the employee
the experience mod is an actuarial
hour
decides to make a claim to be laden
comparison of your losses against
below 1.00 for the same loss.
with the entire loss.
the premiums you’ve paid. As such
Again, the injury in the same
the claim is closed out if can be
if your losses for the past three years
but the impact on the mod is not
apportioned to all the employee’s
stayed the same but your premiums
the same.
previous employers but that take
whose
compared
mod
to
would
stay
Yes, once
years and in the meantime the Con-
decreased, your mod would be going up. Combine this with the
OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES
tractor’s experience mod takes a hit
increase loss payments and the mod
While Projects are safer and there are
that can’t be reversed. As a result,
starts to get ugly.
Unfortunately,
fewer snap crackle pop injuries, the
contractors are keeping a closer eye
Project Owners and GCs continue
number of occupational injuries is
on their employees so as not to be
to use Mods for prequalifying
on the rise. An occupational injury
tagged in this game of roulette.
Contractors/Subs, which even the
is one that has been building up over
developers of the Experience Mod
years of joint stress - i.e. the Laborer
SAFETY
formula
on
who has been lifting materials year
With
Compensation Insurance - NCCI)
after year or the tin knocker who
continues to be a priority, to do
do not feel the Mod is an adequate
has been climbing ladders for years.
otherwise will increase your chance
measure of a contractor’s overall
These and many other joint losses
of falling victim to most if not all the
safety practices.
are being pushed back by the health
above scenarios.
(National
Council
all
these
items,
Safety
insurance providers as workers
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
11
On the Job After serving five years in the U.S. Army, including two deployments to Iraq in the military police, Ted Fotopoulos of Middletown wanted a job that would provide
him
with
the
security to raise a family and stay in the Hudson Valley. He’s now a first-year apprentice for Local 279 of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters working for Penlyn Construction. “I worked non-union jobs when I got out of the Army but I realized I’m going to need something better for me and my family’s future. Joining the union has given me that security,” said Fotopoulos, who was working this summer helping rebuild the Michael Kors Outlet at Woodbury Common in Central Valley.
Ted Fotopoulos (on left) working at Woodbury Commons
Gregg Nott of Hopewell Junction
is
a
foreman
for Tri-State Drywall & Acoustical, a subcontractor for
Holt
Construction
which is working on a 10,000 sq. ft. expansion of Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall
Hospital’s
Kaplan Family Center for Medicine in the City of Newburgh. Nott has been with Tri-State Drywall & Acoustical of Sparrow Bush for three years. He became a local laborer right out of high school and got into the carpenters’ union in 1989. “There are so many befits of being in the union: a hiring hall that’s behind you when you need to go out for work, you get laid off from a job you have somebody looking to find work for you when a contractors Gregg Nott working at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital (Gregg on the right)
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call in and a benefit package for family, retirement and pension and that’s important,” explained Nott.
OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
13
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 137
JEFF LOUGHLIN ANTHONY BRACCIO, JR. WAYNE HELLER JOHN MCGILL JAMES SASSO DANIEL FENYO
BUSINESS MANAGER PRESIDENT /BUS. AGENT VICE PRESIDENT RECORDING CORR. SECRETARY TREASURER /BUS. AGENT FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Executive Board John Belardi – Ronald Burgess – Rocco Miceli – Michael Miller Rocco Sanseverino – Joe Schneider
1360 Pleasantville Road Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 (914)762-0600 14
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Supporting the Candidates The Construction Contractors Association of the Hudson Valley along with the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades and Construction Industry Council sponsored fundraisers in July for Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan.
At Blu Pointe in Newburgh, Neuhaus and Molinaro both talked about growth in the Hudson Valley and their support for local labor.
On hand at Blu Pointe, from left, CCA Executive Director Alan Seidman, Hudson Valley Build Trades President Todd Diorio, Molinaro and CIC President Ross Pepe.
Gathering at Diorio’s home to show their support for Ryan is, from left, Diorio, Pepe, Barry Lewis, CCA Vice President of Communications; Ryan, John Cooney Jr. of CIC; Seidman and Town of Marlboro Supervisor Alphonso Lanzetta
Ryan is flanked by Diorio and Seidman
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
15
Insurance Law Update The recent Federal Court case of Praetorian Ins. Co. v. Axia Contracting, LLC, 2019 WL 1002939 (D. Colo. Mar. 1, 2019) serves as a potent reminder to Owners and Contractors on the importance of complying with their Builder’s Risk policy conditions.
the erection of a six-foot perimeter
Praetorian involved a 3-million-dol-
Owner and Contractor never erected
lar fire loss at a construction site. The
a 6-foot fence around the entire
Owner and Contractor submitted
perimeter. The ensuing fire, which
the claim under their builder’s risk
destroyed the construction site to
policy, but the claim was denied - a
the tune of 3 million dollars, was
denial upheld by the Court. Why? In
determined to have been caused
exchange for a 10% savings on the
by arson.
policy, the Owner and Contractor agreed
to
implement
certain
“Protective Safeguards” on the job site.
These
safeguards
included
fence with locked gates during non-working
hours.
The
policy
further disclaimed coverage for any losses that were a result of the Owner/Contractor’s failure to meet and maintain the safeguards. As you might have guessed, the
Michael Catania, Catania, Mahon, Milligram, & Rider, PLLC 1 Corwin Court Newburgh, NY 12550 mcatania@cmmrlegal.com
the failure to erect the fence was
Based on this finding, the insurance company denied coverage and filed a lawsuit seeking judicial approval of its denial. The Court found that
a material breach of the insurance contract and, as a result, confirmed the insurance company’s right to deny coverage for the loss.
Lynn Allen Cione President
40 Matthews Street, Suite 104, Goshen, New York 10924 T 845.294.1700 ext 1100 u C 845.551.9546 u F 845.294.1897 LynnC@orangeny.com
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Mark J. Stellwag, Regional President 1769 Route 52, Fishkill, NY 12524 (845) 440-2898 Equal Housing Lender. ©2018 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. mtb.com
OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
17
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Hudson Valley. Walk with us to raise the funds needed to end breast cancer.
WHAT UNITES US, IGNITES US. October 20th, 2019 Woodbury Common Premium Outlets Registration: 7:30 a.m. Walk: 9:00 a.m.
For more information: 845-781-6131 kristi.greco@cancer.org Makingstrideswalk.org/hudsonvalley
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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 Q U A R T Š2019, E RAmerican L Y Cancer N Society, E WInc.SNo.L080059 ETTER
CCA’s Go Pink Campaign Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. The risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 12%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer. In 2019, nearly 42,000 women will die from breast cancer. But we’re not giving up the fight. Join Patty Dalton, Alan Seidman, Millie Rodriguez and the Construction Contractors Association as they take part in the American Cancer Society’s campaign to raise awareness and funds to battle breast cancer. For a minimum donation of $25 you will get a limited-edition pink CCA backpack. You can also donate to Alan’s Real Men Wear Pick campaign at
Join the CCA team on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 at 9AM at Woodbury Common Premium Outlet for the ANNUAL MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER walk. Call 845-562-4280.
https://tinyurl.com/y285ec2q. All the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
19
Kaplan-Larkin Golf Outing Eighty-eight golfers took part in the Inaugural Kaplan-Larkin Golf Outing on August 2, 2019 at the Powelton Club in Newburgh. The event, which honored Newburgh businessman and philanthropist William Kaplan and retired State Sen. William Larkin raised more than $125,000 for the Newburgh Armory Unity Center. The NAUC was created in response to the specific needs of residents and students of the City of Newburgh. Among the event organizers was Alan Seidman, executive director of the Construction Contractors Association. Sen. Larkin died on Aug. 31.
Bill Kaplan kicks off the inaugural Kaplan-Larkin Outing
Justin Rider showing form
John Sergi, Mike Pacella, Billy Harnett. & Dr Andrew Resler
Honorable Jeff Berry
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OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
The Ins and Outs of Commercial Construction Financing Commercial construction contractors, subcontractors, and manufacturers need cash flow before a project starts to secure equipment, buy insurance, cover payroll, and many other critical business expenses. One option is to borrow the needed funds through commercial construction financing. However, when it comes to financing alternatives, there are a number of factors one must consider. You want to work with a financing partner that will help fuel your business’ innovation and growth in the right way. The best partner will also have a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing companies within
Vincent Delucia, President, Hudson Valley Region Community Development Banking Sterling National Bank
the commercial construction and manufacturing industries.
1. What do I need to consider when seeking financing? Before you sign on the dotted line with a financing
4. Why should commercial construction or manufacturing companies work with banks with industry expertise?
partner, you should know exactly how much money you
Despite sizable growth in the industry, construction
need, what it’s for, how the repayment schedule aligns
and manufacturing are still considered high-risk for
(or doesn’t) with your expected receivable schedule, and
many lenders. Many contractors simply cannot qualify
whether or not you can build the cost of the loan into the
for traditional bank or SBA loans. Due to the nature of
total cost of the project. Bringing these items to the table
the industry, you may need financing to cover project
will help make the process much smoother.
expenses, bond premiums, labor and materials costs before you receive your first payment.
2. What do I need to apply for commercial construction or manufacturing financing? Application processes vary between lenders, but there is typically initial paperwork (an application) to fill out before your loan will be considered. Once the application is complete, you’ll also need to provide supporting documents such as company bank statements, financial statements, tax returns, work in progress schedules and
Experienced lenders with industry knowledge can provide commercial construction contractors the financing they need when they need it. These lenders allow companies to, bid competitively on bigger projects, and grow their business.
contractor licenses, in addition to personal information. For contractors, covering the majority of the cost of
3. When should you secure funding? Many commercial construction contractors wait until after a project has started to seek funding, but this approach can have serious consequences as under-funded or unfunded expenses can result in project delays, mechanics liens, and litigation. The best strategy is to consider the cost and method of any needed capital during the bidding process of a job.
ON THE LEVEL:
a job before the work begins is a large burden. There are several financing options to choose from, but it’s important to find the best option for your company and the type of job. Finding the right funding partner can help you cover costs, increase your profits, and bid on larger projects. The right partner, who understands your business and helps you to grow, will make all the difference.
OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
21
Employee Handbooks – A Business’s Secret Success Tool Compelling. Interesting. Cutting Edge.
For the business owner, it is a tool to manage employee performance
These are not words normally
as well as a means to protect the
used to describe an Employee
company in the event of employee
Handbook.
dismissal or legal action.
More likely, most
employers think of them as a
manual is up-to-date with relevant
necessary evil and employees look
procedures and has been issued to
at them as a story they will never
each employee, it acts as a standard
read. By the way, many businesses
for acceptable employee behavior.
don’t even have handbooks.
It makes it easier to counsel or ultimately terminate an employee
Too bad. Because a well-made,
who does not abide by the standards.
concise and authoritative manual can assist a business owner in managing
an
employee’s
job
expectations, work habits and job performance
and
engage
him/
her as a partner to the company’s success. Translation: market and financial goals achieved. It is not rocket science.
It is not
corporate gobbledy-gook. It is a guide to the company’s culture, policies and accepted behaviors that gives the employee the information and guidelines he needs to be a successful team member.
22
ON THE LEVEL:
Robin Seidman is a partner with RJS HR Solutions. For more information go to www.rjshrsolutionsllc.com or contact Seidman at 845-494-8530 or at robin@rjshrsolutionsllc.com
If the
Here are the most important sections of a good employee handbook: • Introduction • Policies – government mandated and arbitrary
Business
owners
with
existing
handbooks should regularly review and update them using either an
in-house
Human
Resource
specialist or an outside consultant. For those companies that don’t have an employee handbook, it is time to create and distribute a compliant
• Employment Information
and easily understood version that
• Performance Standards
encompasses and reinforces the
• Compensation-related policies
business’s policies, culture and
• Time-off
procedures. Again, an in-house HR
• Employee Benefits
specialist or an outside consultant
• Workplace Responsibilities and Conduct
can make this a fairly painless
• On-the-job Safety & Security
the business in managing its Human
• Exiting the Company
Resource responsibilities.
process that ultimately can assist
OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Job Site Fire Prevention and Protection 1. A “fire plan” should be set up prior to beginning a
3. Smoking should be prohibited at or in the vicinity
demolition job. This plan should outline the assignments
of hazardous operations or materials. Where smoking
of key personnel in the event of a fire and provide an
is permitted, safe receptacles shall be provided for
evacuation plan for workers on the site.
smoking materials.
•
4. Roadways between and around combustible
All potential sources of ignition should be evaluated
and the necessary corrective measures taken.
storage piles should be at least 15 feet wide and maintained
•
free
from
accumulation
of
rubbish,
Electrical wiring and equipment for providing light,
equipment, or other materials. When storing debris or
heat, or power should be installed by a competent person
combustible material inside a structure, such storage
and inspected regularly.
shall not obstruct or adversely affect the means of exit.
• All internal combustion equipment should be shut
5. Free access from the street to fire hydrants and to
down prior to refueling. Fuel for this equipment should
outside connections for standpipes, sprinklers, or other
be stored in a safe location.
fire extinguishing equipment, whether permanent or temporary, should be provided and maintained at all
•
Sufficient firefighting equipment should be located
times.
near any flammable or combustible liquid storage area. 6. An ample number of fully charged portable •
Only approved containers and portable tanks should
be used for the storage and handling of flammable and
fire extinguishers should be provided throughout the operation.
combustible liquids. 7. An alarm system, e.g., air horn, siren, two-way radio, 2. Heating devices should be situated so that they
etc., shall be established in such a way that employees on
are not likely to overturn and shall be installed in
the site and the local fire department can be alerted in
accordance with their listing, including clearance to
case of an emergency. The alarm process and reporting
combustible material or equipment. Temporary heating
instructions shall be conspicuously posted.
equipment, when utilized, should be maintained by competent personnel. Information for this article provided by OSHA and the National Fire Protection Agency. Edited by John B. Struble; Occupational Safety Consultants Inc, workriskfree.com.
ON THE LEVEL:
OCTOBER 2019 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
23
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Mark Your Calendar and Plan to Join Us! OCTOBER 20, 2019 MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER WALK – WOODBURY COMMONS PREMIUM OUTLETS DECEMBER 2, 2019 CCA ANNUAL HOLIDAY & CHARITABLE GIVING EVENT Details and reservation information will be sent prior to each event. We look forward to seeing you!
Scott Dianis, President Daniel J. O’Kane, 1st Vice President Mark Steir, 2nd Vice President Mike Adams, Secretary-Treasurer Ron Bloomer Robert Kaehler Ira Gold Joe Jerkowski Jay Harrison
Paul Taphorn Jay Holt Charlotte Van Horn A. Alan Seidman, Executive Director Barry Lewis, VP Communications & Member Services Patty Dalton, Executive Assistant Millie Rodriguez, Admin. Assistant
Fabricators, Erectors and Reinforcing Contractors Association: Justin Darrow, Chairman Jake Bidosky, Vice Chairman Bernie Hillman, Secretary Dan Teutul, Treasurer
SMACNA of Southeastern New York: Lou Doro, President Jim D’Annibale, Vice-President Steve Mulholland, Secretary Dan Harden, Treasurer Mark DiPasquale, Past President Walter “Chip” Greenwood Bill Haskel