United Contractors Magazine March 2024

Prioritizing Employee Growth

When people don’t see themselves growing, you don’t get the best out of them.

HOW TO CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF SUPPORT & CAPABILITY, WITH VALUED, ENCOURAGED EMPLOYEES.

QUOTE BY JULIAN LUTE, SENIOR MANAGER AND STRATEGIC ADVISOR, GREAT PLACE TO WORK®

BAKERSFIELD

3340 Allen Rd. Bakersfield, CA 93314 (661)631-5777

SALT

Lake City, UT 84104 (801)886-0586

SAN

FRESNO

93275 (559)442-8989

HAYWARD

4125 Breakwater Avenue Hayward, CA 94545 (510)786-9506

RENO

12905 Old Virginia Road Reno, NV 89521 (775)348-0140

SACRAMENTO

8565 Elder Creek Road Sacramento, CA 95828 (916)383-7475

SAN LUIS OBISPO

635 Tank Farm Road

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805)543-0113

TURLOCK

2800 N. Golden State Blvd. Turlock, CA 95382 (209)632-5084

SANTA ROSA

3963 Santa Rosa Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707)523-2350

SAN FRANCISCO 251 Shaw Road

South San Francisco, CA 94080 (415)642-2350

INFRASTRUCTURE WE BUILD

BOARD OFFICERS

President...................................Kevin Hester, McGuire and Hester

VP/President-Elect.........Kurt Eddy, Pavement Recycling Systems, Inc.

Secretary/Treasurer.......Juan C. Arrequin, Bay Line Cutting & Coring, Inc.

Sec/Treas-Elect.........................Greg Goebel Jr., Goebel Construction, Inc.

UNITED CONTRACTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

KELLY ATTEBERY, F & M BANK; TOM BARR, GHILOTTI BROS., INC.;

DALE R. BREEN, MIDSTATE BARRIER, INC.; BRYN BURKE, DEES BURKE ENGINEERING; SEAN CASTILLO, TORO ENTERPRISES, INC.; RITA VIGILFERGUSON, G & F CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.; GARRETT FRANCIS, NOR-CAL PIPELINE SERVICES; MICHAEL GATES, DESILVA GATES CONSTRUCTION, LLC; ALAN GUY, ANVIL BUILDERS; MATT LOVINGIER, JMH ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC.; MICHAEL PRLICH, MIKE PRLICH & SONS, INC.; KEVIN REIMERS, WOODRUFF-SAWYER & CO.

UCON LEADERS | UNITED CONTRACTORS COMMITTEE CHAIRS ASSOCIATES: KELLY ATTEBERY (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR), F & M BANK. | KEVIN REIMERS (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR-ELECT), WOODRUFF-SAWYER & CO. CALTRANS: MICHAEL GHILOTTI (CHAIR), GHILOTTI BROS., INC. |

LEGISLATIVE: ROB LAYNE, (CHAIR), O.C. JONES & SONS, INC. | POLITICAL ACTION (PAC): GEORGE FURNANZ (CHAIR), STACY AND WITBECK, INC.; STEVE CONCANNON (VICE-CHAIR) PAVEMENT RECYCLING SYSTEMS, INC. | SAFETY & INSURANCE: ROBERT SABIN, (CHAIR), MCGUIRE AND HESTER, INC. | SF CITY CONTRACTOR LIAISON: MIKE GHILOTTI (CHAIR), GHILOTTI BROS., INC., MIGUEL GALARZA (CHAIR), YERBA BUENA ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. | SCHOLARSHIP: TRONY FULLER, (CHAIR), WEST COAST SAND & GRAVEL | REGIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: MICHAEL PRLICH (CHAIR), MIKE PRLICH & SONS, INC.; GARRETT FRANCIS (CHAIR), NOR-CAL PIPELINE SERVICES

UNITED CONTRACTORS STAFF

MARK BRESLIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; EMILY COHEN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT; TEJEL PATEL, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CEO; URSULA BECKER, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO EVP; VICTOR SELLA, VICE PRESIDENT OF LABOR RELATIONS; CLAY O’NEAL, REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, SOUTHERN CA OPERATIONS; RAY BACA, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; RUBY VARNADORE, SENIOR LABOR CONTRACTS MANAGER; DILPREET MAYALL, LABOR CONTRACTS MANAGER; LUCIA MIXON, CONTRACTOR MEMBER SERVICES, SOUTHERN CA; SANDRA KAYA, ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST; MELISSA GUTWALD, VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS; DENISE RAMIREZ, ONLINE SERVICES MANAGER; EMMY MCCONNELL, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT; MICHELLE HANNIGAN, BOOKKEEPER; GABRIELLE GONZALEZ, OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; ANGELICA GOUIG, DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & EDUCATION; CHRISTINE TRAINA, EVENT MANAGER; RACHEL ORAA, EVENT ASSISTANT; AVANTI MEHTA, EDUCATION ASSISTANT; MICHELLE VEJBY, MARCOM MANAGER; EDDIE BERNACCHI, UCON CHIEF LOBBYIST; CHRISTOPHER LEE, SAFETY CONSULTANT; DREW DELANEY, MIKE BUCKANTZ, REGULATORY CONSULTANTS

UP FRONT

Engaged for Change

by Kevin Hester | UCON 2024 President

LABOR

Ever lost a public works bid to the non-union by 20%+?

by Victor Sella | UCON Vice President of Labor Relations

Union Training & Apprenticeship: Resources & Value for Union Contractors

2024 FFC Workshops - SAVE THESE DATES!

The UCON Contractor Resources Library –UCON Expertise 24/7

over 20,000 downloads

INSIDE THE CAPITOL

United Contractors and Trade Union Partners Sponsor Life-Saving Legislation to Enhance Highway Worker Safety

by Emily Cohen | UCON EVP

United for Impact: 2024 Legislative and Elections Briefing & LegislativeReception

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Employee Training and Development: The Benefits of Upskilling or Reskilling

by Claire Hastwell | Program Manager at A Great Place to Work

Training: A Key to Retention by Angelica Gouig | Director of Events and Education

Lessons Learned from Award-Winning Collaborative Partnering Projects

by Rob Reaugh | President, OrgMetrics

By Kevin Hester, McGuire and Hester, UCON 2024 President

ENGAGED FOR CHANGE

As I write my first article for UCON Magazine, I want to begin by saying how honored and humbled I am to be the President of UCON for 2024. My company, McGuire and Hester, has grown in similar ways to UCON over the last 35+ years, and it is amazing to see where both organizations (and many others) are now versus where we were in the late 1980’s. It is an understatement to say that both organizations were a part of each other’s success.

There is an old saying that there are few constants in life: death, taxes and CHANGE. Since there is not much I can do to influence when the Tax Man comes knocking on your door or when the day comes that we meet our maker, I figured it would be best to concentrate our efforts on preparing ourselves, our coworkers, and our businesses for the inevitability of change.

In 2026, McGuire and Hester will celebrate its 100th year in business. As a third-generation Hester, this milestone is something my family is extremely proud of (and thankful that we have not screwed it up yet). Throughout the decades, we have learned to adapt to many changes in the types of projects we build, economic fluctuations, environmental and legislative changes, contracting changes, shifts in ownership structure, and, most importantly, changes in our workforce. All of these changes were met with varying amounts of resistance and uncertainty by everyone in the company, including myself. Am I going to lose my job? Am I going to lose my standing? Is the company going to go bankrupt? Are we being too aggressive or too passive in pursuing different types of work/opportunities? Why can’t things just stay the same???

As managers and owners, we need to empower ourselves, our employees, and our businesses to conquer what lies ahead. We need to do this by acknowledging that CHANGE is a constant and that we will cease to exist if we do not prepare and adapt our organizations for change.

Strong Communication Leads Change

One of the key tenets of this preparation is strengthening communication amongst all facets of our organizations. While many of us are incredible builders and/or entrepreneurs, that does not mean we have all sharpened the communication skills in our tool bag or briefcase to effectively lead our organizations through rough patches. We must invest in ourselves and our senior leaders to learn how to better communicate with our teams. Over the last couple of years, UCON has invested significantly in providing in-person and online training to increase accessibility to effective communication and managerial techniques for our members. This is a great first step, but if we send a group of our employees to these trainings with little to no followup or acknowledgement from senior management, we are kidding ourselves to think that we are preparing our workforce to succeed in the long run. They need to see their leaders applying these techniques in reallife situations. We must practice what we preach. When they see us having better outcomes from adopting different communications methods, they will be more motivated to embrace these trainings that will better prepare them to tackle what lies ahead.

Shared Vision Promotes Change

As owners and senior leaders, we need to hold ourselves accountable to having honest, and sometimes difficult, conversations with our coworkers on where the company is heading and what challenges it may be facing. We need to share our companies’ visions with others and be able to effectively communicate with our Teams when there is an upcoming change in direction, no matter how large or small. We need to listen to their feedback, and we need to stay in touch with our employees’ needs and aspirations and realize that they might change over time.

12 or 18 months ago is no different. We need our senior managers to be actively invested in our employees’ careers, including keeping an open communication channel. Sometimes, these conversations might be difficult if the desires of an employee do not align with the company’s vision and/or their skill set. If employees are lacking some of the tools to achieve their ambitions better, we, as senior leaders, need to address this head-on by making them aware of our concerns as well as helping them get the proper training to address any issues/blind spots for the benefit of both parties.

Engaged Employees Support Change

To have a high-performing and engaged employee, whether they are a laborer, foreman, project engineer, senior project manager, superintendent, or senior estimator, we need to show them that we care and are willing to invest in their continued success.

This may mean sending employees to one of the many UCON Trainings that are offered this year (see some

featured on pages 26-29); and assisting them in finding additional continued education classes, whether it be learning English as a second language or learning Spanish to better communicate with many in our workforce, and/or provide some offsite training to help develop better writing, project documentation, and leadership techniques.

Investing in our employees and keeping an open and active line of communication with them will situate our organizations and, more importantly, our employees to embrace and take advantage of the opportunities that come with CHANGE.

Sincerely

McGuire and Hester | UCON 2024 President

By Victor Sella, UCON Vice President of Labor Relations

EVER LOST A PUBLIC WORKS BID TO THE NON-UNION BY 20%+?

Have you ever looked at a winning bid figure and said, “That won’t even cover labor costs; how did they come up with that!?”

At that moment, it’s easy to think that the best available option is to simply throw up your hands and move on. Yet, most don’t realize that there are some impactful, proactive responses you can take to address the situation.

No, I’m not talking about bid protests or lawyering up, though both have their place and time.

What I’m talking about is using a service that is already covered by the fringes you submit monthly to the trust funds. A service that, with a little information and coordination, can result in a non-union contractor getting their pay practices put in check or even having the contractor getting kicked off the job.

The key number to keep in mind is 20%. According to prevailing wage experts, if a non-union company’s winning bid is 20%+ lower than your bid, that’s a red flag that something in their pay practices is worth inspecting from a prevailing wage or wage & hour compliance perspective.

Next time you see that kind of delta, pick up the phone and call the prevailing wage compliance outfit your fringe benefits are already paying for.

In Northern California, the Foundation for Fair Contracting (FFC) is run by a labor-management board, which UCON sits on along with other associations, OE3 and the Laborers (N. CA). Whether it’s prevailing wage guidance, training, or a request to investigate potential pay issues, the FFC is a free support system for contractors signatory to the Laborers and OE3. Check out their classes (at right). Next time you see that kind of delta, pick up the phone and call the prevailing wage compliance outfit your fringe benefits are already paying for.

In Southern California, the Laborers (S.CA) and OE12 each have their own labor-management governed prevailing wage compliance outfits that also provide guidance and training and can even investigate potential issues. Also free to signatories of each craft, you can reach the Laborers’ Center for Contractor Compliance (CCC) at https://socalccc.org/ or call (833) 225-9243, and OE12’s Engineers Contract Compliance Committee at 626-564-6070 or adarbinyan@ccoE12.org for assistance. The public works competitive bid environment is challenging and convoluted. Next time you see a red flag, make sure to leverage the resources you’re already paying for to create a more level playing field and hopefully some better bid outcomes for your business.

Contributed by UCON’s Labor and Member Services Team

Learn from UCON’s Best! JOIN UCON’S 2024 “LUNCH & LEARNS”

FOCUSED ON LABOR TOPICS TO HELP

YOUR BUSINESS

United Contractors’ Labor Team is proud to announce our 2024 webinar series. Covering a range of critical topics, these webinars are tailored for operations managers, project managers, estimators, HR professionals, and anyone keen on mastering the complexities of your union agreements. Each session, led by UCON VP of Labor Relations Victor Sella and other industry experts, promises to deliver actionable insights and best practices. Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your knowledge and skills. For registration and more details, visit the United Contractors’ website calendar.

This class has passed and is now available on-demand in the education library.

CBA Subcontracting Rules (N. CA + S. CA):

Date: February 08, 2024 | Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM PST

Learn to navigate subcontracting rules under Northern and Southern California Master Agreements, covering Laborers, Operators, Carpenters, and Cement Masons.

This class has passed and is now available on-demand in the education library.

Legal Armor: Harness Your Union Agreement against PAGA and Legal Claims:

Date: February 27, 2024 | Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM PST

Discover strategies to use CBAs for mitigating PAGA and employment-related legal claims.

This class has passed and is now available on-demand in the education library.

Skilled & Trained Workforce:

Date: March 07, 2024 | Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM PST

Get insights on compliance with Skilled & Trained Workforce guidelines, as well as a competitive edge.

Overtime & Special Single Shift Rules (N. CA):

Date: April 16, 2024 | Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM PDT

Understand the overtime and Special Single Shift rules under N. CA Master Agreements.

Overtime & Special Shift Rules (S. CA):

Date: April 18, 2024 | Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM PDT

Explore overtime and Special Shift rules under S. CA Master Agreements.

Mastering PLAs and Pre-Jobs:

Date: May 09, 2024 | Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM PDT

Learn to effectively navigate Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and prepare for pre-job challenges.

Mastering the Workers’ Comp Maze: Expert Strategies for Success:

Date: May 16, 2024 | Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM PDT

Gain expert advice on managing Workers’ Compensation, including ADR programs and strategies to mitigate impacts.

UNION TRAINING & APPRENTICESHIP Resources & Value for Union Contractors

Have you contacted your union’s training center lately to see what they have to help you develop an effective workforce? The list below contains links to training program information, including apprenticeship and upcoming schedules where available, as well as the main phone numbers to contact at each training center.

CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE

IRON WORKERS: ironworkers.org/training information on both journeyperson training and apprenticeship ironworkers.org/training/regional-training-centers link to class schedules

(707) 746-7666

Contract Drafting, Review and Negotiation Trial and Arbitration

Claims, Dispute Resolution and Mediation Bid Protests Collection

Tel: (650) 691-2888 Fax (650) 691-2889

www.lrconstructionlaw.com

Contact: A. Robert Rosin

Janette G. Leonidou

Michael M. Lum

Leonidou & Rosin

777 Cuesta Drive | Suite 200 Mountain View, California 94040

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

CARPENTERS/PILE DRIVERS:

journeyman.ctcnc.org journeyperson-level class schedules and course descriptions, plus self-enrollment links for employees

ctcnc.org/apprenticeship.html find information on the Training Center in your area

Main Training Department | (925) 462-9640

CEMENT MASONS: norcalcementmasons.org/Training_Journey general information on journey-level training norcalcementmasonsapprenticeship.org/index.htm information on apprenticeship, including courses and schedule of classes (925) 484-2271 | nccmjatc@sbcglobal.net

LABORERS: norcaltc.org information on both journey-level training and apprenticeship, along with current schedule of classes (925) 828-2513 | training@norcaltc.org | apprenticeship@norcaltc.org

OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL NO. 3: oe3jatc.org information on both journey-level training and apprenticeship (916) 354-2029 | sjones@oe3jac.org

TEAMSTERS: nctat.org/cs information on training; click on the dropdown under Current Classes for the Class Schedule (916) 354-2122 | info@nctat.org

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

CARPENTERS/PILE DRIVERS:

swctf.org information on both journey-level training and apprenticeship swctf.org/schedule link to the current class schedule by course or by location (855) 533-5282 | fundoffice@swmsctf.org

CEMENT MASONS:

cmscapprentice.org information on apprenticeship cmscapprentice.org/training-schedules-1 schedule for classes by location and program (apprentice schedules, and OSHA and Confined Space which are also open to journey-level workers)

(626) 444-4600

LABORERS: laborerstrainingschool.com information on both journey-level training and apprenticeship laborerstrainingschool.com/calendars.html information on both journey-level training and apprenticeship (626) 610-1700

OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL NO. 12: oett.net information on training program (562) 695-0611 | office@oett.net

TEAMSTERS:

ctapsc.com information on training; click on the dropdown under Current Classes for the Class Schedule (909) 900-8150 | Info@ctapsc.com

Photo: Kiewit Infrastructure West Co.

Contributed

2024 FFC WORKSHOPS - SAVE THESE DATES!

An easy way to impact your bottom line and help build your competitive advantage – Free workshops!

The Foundation for Fair Contracting (FFC) is kicking off its twenty-second annual conference series, offered online again in 2024. The conferences provide an overview of the prevailing wage system including current regulations and pending legislation, with speakers from both State and Federal organizations. A perfect opportunity to train new hires or a refresher for seasoned staff, and free to all contractors in the public works industry. The schedule is listed below, and registration for all webinars can be found at ffccalifornia.com/registration-handouts

Can’t make it on the scheduled dates? Need specialized assistance? FFC In-House Training may be the answer for you!

The FFC is available to conduct prevailing wage/labor compliance training workshops at your company. FFC provides individualized assistance based on your group’s needs. Visit www.ffccalifornia.com or call (916) 487-7871 to register for a workshop or to schedule your personalized training session.

AUGUST 13

Tuesday, August 13; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor:

This class will cover UCON members’ most frequently asked certified payroll questions and common pitfalls.

2024 FFC WEBINAR SCHEDULE

MARCH 21, 2024 (THURSDAY) – ONLINE

Co-hosted with the California State Labor Commissioner’s Office

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Workshop

JUNE 6, 2024 (THURSDAY) – ONLINE

Co-hosted with the California State Labor Commissioner’s Office

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Workshop

JULY 9, 2024 (TUESDAY) – ONLINE

Co-hosted with the California State Labor Commissioner’s Office

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Workshop

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 (WEDNESDAY)

Co-hosted with the California State Labor Commissioner’s Office

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Workshop

OCTOBER 12, 2023 (THURSDAY)

Co-hosted with the California State Labor Commissioner’s Office and The City and County of San Francisco

Prevailing Wage/Labor Compliance Workshop

THE UCON CONTRACTOR RESOURCES LIBRARY – UCON EXPERTISE 24/7

over 20,000 downloads

Do all of your employees know about UCON’s Contractor Resources Library (CRL)? This valuable member benefit is available to all of your company’s employees, providing guidance and answering questions on a wide variety of subjects critical to their work.

Available on both UCON’s website and UCON’s app, the CRL contains items crafted by UCON to fit the unique needs of union contractors. Log-in credentials are required, which any member’s employees can create on our website – www.unitedcontractors.org. Contact the UCON Labor & Member Services with any issues or for a quick website tutorial.

Top Downloads

Many of our members have downloaded these items this year. Make sure your staff knows that these are all easily available to them on our website. A quick link on our home page now makes it even easier to access the rate sheets and CBAs.

• Wage & Fringe Benefit Rate Sheets – Available for all of the agreements we are signed to, mostly in a one-page or two-page format for easier reference (also available on UCON’s homepage in “Union Agreement & Rates”).

• Master Labor Agreements – All of the UCON collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), including specialty agreements. Summaries of Modification are also available for new agreements (also available on UCON’s homepage in “Union Agreement & Rates”).

• Union Payroll Reference Guides – Available for both Northern and Southern California, as well as for the Laborers’ specialty work (Traffic Control,

Highway Improvement, & Landscape), these guides provide a deep dive into union payroll. From holidays to meal and rest periods, special shifts and overtime - your one-stop payroll guides! Updated for the 2024 holidays, and now also include San Diego provisions.

• Trucking Prevailing Wages Reference Chart –Trying to figure out if on-/off-haul work on one of your projects is covered by prevailing wages? This chart will help.

• AB 5 Overview & FAQ for Contractors –Informative summary of AB 5, which codified California court interpretation of independent contractor definitions and provided some exemptions. Detailed FAQ contains many scenarios brought to us by our members, especially with regard to construction trucking services, and links are provided to documents to help with compliance.

• Subcontract Agreements, including One-Job and Trucking – Templates created by legal counsel Leonidou & Rosin to be compliant with current laws and to contain recommended language to protect your business.

Unsung Heroes

We also want to call your attention to some extremely valuable items that members may be missing out on.

• Apprenticeship Basics for Public Works – Includes step-by-step compliance instructions, links to the required forms and additional resources, and reference charts for both Northern and Southern California union apprenticeship programs with contact information.

• Skilled & Trained Workforce Guide – Overview of this challenging compliance area, including Q & A, information on each crafts’ programs, and a sample reporting form.

• Subcontracting Requirements & Procedures

- Available for both Northern and Southern California, this comprehensive guide offers union subcontracting best practices and requirements. Includes an overview of the basics for union compliance, a reference chart, and each union’s agreement language and specifics for working with subcontractors.

• Trust Fund Audit Action Response Kit – A mustread before your next Trust Fund audit, especially if it’s your first. Contains guidelines, checklists, template letters, and best practices for all stages of a Trust Fund audit.

• Travel Time Pay and Subsistence Overview – A concise summary on the confusing subject of paying employees for time spent traveling and/or expenses related to work travel.

• Movement of Workers Guide – Union procedures for moving your workers between Northern and Southern California jurisdictions, including specific information for several crafts.

• Union Substance Policy Administration Chart

– Available for both Northern and Southern California, this chart gives a quick and digestible overview to help navigate multiple crafts’ substance abuse policies.

Questions? Contact LaborTeam@unitedcontractors.org

www.sukut.com

By Emily Cohen UCON EVP

THE CAPITOL

UNITED CONTRACTORS AND TRADE UNION PARTNERS SPONSOR LIFE-SAVING LEGISLATION TO ENHANCE HIGHWAY WORKER SAFETY

United Contractors, in collaboration with our trade union partners, have introduced Assembly Bill 2809, authored by Assemblyman Matt Haney. This critical legislation would introduce Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) on active highway construction zones. It marks a significant step towards safeguarding the lives of those who tirelessly build our state’s essential highway systems.

“AB 2809 represents the collective effort of our industry to ensure every worker returns home to their loved ones at the end of the day,” said Emily Cohen, Executive Vice President of United Contractors. “Our workforce should not have to put their lives on the line to build and maintain our state’s highway systems. Yet, too often, that is the case. Automated Speed Enforcement will help change that.”

Data from states with existing ASE laws showcases a remarkable reduction in accidents and fatalities, emphasizing its effectiveness as a life-saving mechanism. Pennsylvania began continuously enforcing its Automated Speed Enforcement in Active Work Zones program in April 2020. That year, Pennsylvania saw more than a 19 percent reduction in work zone crashes. Two years after Maryland launched its ASE program in 2010, speeding violations in designated construction zones decreased by more than 80 percent. Work zone-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries were at their lowest in over ten years.

“The evidence is clear: these systems work,” said Cohen. “We will fight to utilize every tool available that is proven to reduce crashes and save lives. I want to thank Assemblyman Haney for introducing this legislation and fighting to protect the lives of those working on our highways.”

United Contractors urges all stakeholders to rally behind Assembly Bill 2809, recognizing its potential to transform California’s highways into safer spaces for our workers.

For more information, contact Emily Cohen, UCON EVP, (925) 719-5811, ecohen@unitedcontractors.org.

THE CAPITOL

UNITED FOR IMPACT: 2024 LEGISLATIVE AND ELECTIONS BRIEFING & RECEPTION

Join us for a day of impact at 2024 Legislative and Elections Briefing & Legislative Reception at the Kimpton Sawyerin Sacramento on Monday, May 20th. Gain insights into key legislation and critical upcoming elections, then network with industry leaders and elected officials from across California.

This year UCON has developed an afternoon program highlighting important information and insights into the legislative framework governing California’s future, ranging from infrastructure initiatives, compliance regulations and strategic upcoming election races.

AGENDA

11:30 am: Registration

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Briefing

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Reception

BRIEFING & RECEPTION TICKETS

Early Bird: $150 (member) | $250 (non-member)

*Available until 5 pm Fri, April 19

Standard: $165 (member) | $265 (non-member)

*Available until 5 pm Wed, May 13

Onsite: $215 (member) | $315 (non-member)

BRIEFING ONLY TICKETS

Early Bird: $75 (member) | $175 (non-member)

*Available until 5 pm Mon, April 19

Standard: $90 (member) | $190 (non-member)

*Available until 5 pm Mon, May 13

Onsite: $140 (member) | $250 (non-member)

UCON’S 2024 LEGISL ATIVE AND ELECTIONS BRIEFING & LEGISL ATIVE RECEPTION

Gain insights into key legislation and critical upcoming elections. Afte r, network with industry leaders and elected officials from across California.

Legislative and Elections Briefing 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

UCON’s Legislative Reception 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The Kimpton Sawyer 500 J Street, Sacramento

Register for this day of united industry impact.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

EDUCATION & TRAINING

By Claire Hastwell, Program Manager at A Great Place to Work

EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT: THE BENEFITS OF UPSKILLING OR RESKILLING YOUR TEAM

Employee training and development isn’t just about teaching employees to do their jobs. It’s about showing employees they are valued and that upward movement in the organization is possible. When employees don’t see opportunity, they don’t bring their best selves to work.

“Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach a person to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.”

It’s a proverb we all know — so common it’s become cliché. But clichés come from truth. Amid the busyness of running a business, it can be easy to forget the importance of good training. How often have you said, “I’ll do it myself” because teaching someone else seemed too timeconsuming? But how often are you frustrated the next time that same task comes around and you have to do it yourself again?

Of course, employee training isn’t just about delegating or making things easier for management. A solid and unique training and development program can give employees a sense of ownership in their role and a future vision with the organization. And when companies don’t invest in learning and development and create paths for growth (beyond pay bumps), employees will start looking for jobs elsewhere.

In fact, in a 2021 Pew Research Study, 63% of respondents said no opportunities for advancement is what pushed them out the door. Lack of growth opportunities was the top reason for leaving – above pay, benefits, and workplace flexibility

A recent Great Place to Work LinkedIn poll also shed light on the critical importance of training and developing

employees for retention. According to the poll, 43% of people called out a lack of growth opportunities as the top reason they quit their last job.

63% of employees cite no opportunities for advancement as the top reason they quit.

“Employees view it as a way of support,” says Julian Lute, senior manager and strategic advisor with Great Place To Work®. “You’re assisting them in doing their jobs. But if you go one level deeper, you’re also supporting this very human need for growth. When people don’t see themselves growing, you don’t get the best out of them.”

What is an employee training and development program?

An employee training and development program is a series of educational activities designed to improve employees’ knowledge and skills.

The most obvious type of employee training is technical training — teaching them their job duties, the company’s processes and systems, and the organization’s overarching mission and mandate. But training can also cover soft skills such as people management or upskilling beyond an employee’s current role to prepare them for a promotion.

Employee training can take many different forms, such as group workshops, one-on-one sessions, formal education (e.g., college or university), job shadowing, mentorship, seminars, or job sharing.

The 4 approaches to employee development

While the types of employee training and development programs can be as varied as your employees themselves, all training plans will typically fall into one of four categories:

• Formal education — The formal training and practical requirements for a given role, such as a specific degree, licence, or certification.

• Assessment — The employee performance reviews, one-on-ones, and any other efforts used to measure strengths and weaknesses and find ways for employees to improve.

• Job experience — The day-to-day, hands-on learning employees do as they master their role, take on new challenges, and grow within the organization.

• Interpersonal relationships — The coaching, mentorships, and any soft skills or interpersonal training employees may complete, such as customer service training, diversity and inclusion training, mental health education, or conflict resolution training.

Why it’s important to train and develop your employees

Employee training and development is important for ensuring that staff are prepared for their role; that they feel supported, valued, and capable; and that they have upward movement. Training and development can have a direct impact on employee engagement and retention and should be an integral part of your talent management strategy.

Engaged employees want to grow, and they want to be challenged. They aren’t looking to simply work at a job; they are looking to further their careers.

Employee training and development is both presentand future-focused. Employee learning programs support your people in meeting the challenges of the business, today. And employee learning programs create a pipeline of leaders to meet the societal and technological challenges of tomorrow.

Julian says employee training also ensures people feel valued, and feel that their employer sees them playing a role in the long term. This feeds into the overall company culture. In fact, in our survey of employees at the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, 87% said they often or always feel like they are offered training and resources to develop professionally.

“This is the way that people feel valued in the business,” Julian explains. “If you’re training me, you’re telling me that you want me to be prepared for the future of the organization.”

The difference between training and development

While employee training and development are commonly lumped together, and both serve a critical role in the employee experience, there is an important distinction between the two.

• Training is job-specific. It is ensuring an employee has the correct tools and learns the correct skills to complete their tasks. It is immediate and measured in short-term results.

• Development is about employee growth. It is long-term and more behavioral-focused.

“Development is much more of a conversation than training,” says Julian. “Where do you want to grow? How do we need you to grow? It requires a bit more vulnerability. Training assumes you have a skill gap or knowledge gap, whereas with development, you must be willing to lean into it to fully realize the benefits.”Are your learning and development programs hitting the mark? Providing employee training and development opportunities can enhance job satisfaction, boost productivity, and improve employee retention. Equipping employees with new skills and knowledge increases their potential for advancement within the company. It’s a winwin situation for everyone involved.

Article by Claire Hastwell,

Content program Manager at Great Place to Work®. Article excerpted from Claire’s Insights article on Employee Training and Development, April 2023, www. greatplacetowork.com. Reprinted with permission.

Photo: Flatiron West, Inc.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

EDUCATION & TRAINING

TRAINING: A Key to Retention

A key strategy for attracting and retaining the best in your company involves investing in professional development, skills and education, and providing inspiring leadership. The investment is important to make.

3/4 of employees would leave a job without skills, support, and growth.

By Angelica Gouig, Director of Events and Education

Talent development can be your advantage. More engaged employees with pathways to develop skills means better retention. Participants in talent development programs are more effective in the workplace, make meaningful contributions to teams, and advance their careers; they do what good talent does, and the industry desperately needs: they lead, manage, influence, coach, and elevate

UCON IS YOUR PARTNER

UCON has made it as easy as ‘point and click’ for members. Last year, over 2,800 participants from 260+ companies registered for our courses and rated them at an average of 4.8 out of 5, with over 10 classes rated 5/5.

For easy access to classes, UCON developed and launched United Contractors App for phones and desktops. Your team can participate from anywhere (see Last Call for more on our App). Through the App, and UCON member portal, there are many classes on-demand in our ever-growing UCON Education Library.

CLASSES FOR EVERYONE

For 2024, UCON has over 40 classes addressing skills development, leadership, safety and other relevant topics for all levels in the organization—from top management to PMs, superintendents, forepersons, and more. As part of your membership, you have access to these, most at no additional cost.

INSPIRE YOUR TEAMS; LEVEL-UP YOUR BUSINESS

In addition to skill development and targeted industry training, UCON is once again providing its exceptional

Project Management Career Advancement (PMCA) Program, as well as a new Leadership Essentials Academy, and a number of Lunch & Learns, where during the lunch hour, you will gain essential knowledge that will help you achieve your goals.

UCON is committed to serving as the statewide leader in delivering professional, technical, and leadership development content that invests in your people. We are here to serve you, your employees, and the greater industry. Our extensive professional development program is one more way to make a difference.

MARCH AND APRIL EVENTS

REGISTER AND SPONSOR AT UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG/CALENDAR

MARCH 12

How to Create an Empowered Culture

Tuesday, March 12; 12:00-1:00pm

Instructor: Cody Miller, MPWR

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: Free | Non-member: $100

APRIL 11

Five Steps to Fearless Negotiating

Thursday, April 11; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructors: Paul Stout, Power Summit

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

MARCH 19

Blueprint for Continuity: How to Craft Your Succession Strategy

Tuesday, March 19; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Eric Anderton, Construction Genius

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

APRIL 15 - JUNE 17 (see more on page 27)

Leadership Essentials Academy

Start Date: April 15; 9:00am-10:00am

Instructor: Bill Treasurer, Giant Leap Consulting

Class Style: Zoom and Asynchronous

Class Limit: 25

Cost – $1,297 per person; UCON Member price: $1,000 (with $297 discount, use code LEADUCON)

MARCH 28

A Day in the Life of a Construction Supervisor/Foreman

Thursday, March 28; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Paul Stout, Power Summit

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: Free | Non-member: $100

NOTICE ON MEMBER PRICING:

Starting March 13 members will need to log into the UCON website to access member pricing for professional development classes and events.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

MARCH AND APRIL EVENTS (CONTINUED)

REGISTER AND SPONSOR AT UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG/CALENDAR

APRIL 16

Overtime & Special Shift Rules (N. CA)

Tuesday, April 16; 12:00pm-1:00pm

Instructor: Victor Sella, United Contractors

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

APRIL 25

Psychological Safety

Thursday, April 25; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Bill Treasurer, Giant Leap Consulting

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

APRIL 18

Overtime & Special Shift Rules (S. CA)

Thursday, April 18; 12:00pm-1:00pm

Instructor: Victor Sella, United Contractors

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

APRIL 30

Building Excellence: The Power of Trust in Teams

Tuesday, April 30; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: John Peterson, Threshold Rising

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: Free | Non-member: $100

APRIL 23

Corporate Identity Meets Personal

Brand: The Art of Social Selling

Tuesday, April 23; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Eric Anderton, Construction Genius

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

UCON & GIANT LEAP

CONSULTING PRESENT:

LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS

APRIL 15 - JUNE 17

NEW—ASYNCHRONOUS SERIES TO LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE!

Start Date: April 15; End Date: June 17; 9:00am-10:00am

Instructor: Bill Treasurer, Giant Leap Consulting

Class Style: Zoom and Asynchronous

Class Limit: 25

Cost – $1,297 per person; UCON Member price: $1,000 (with $297 discount, use code LEADUCON)

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE sign up now!

The Leadership Essentials Academy kicks off on April 15, 9:00-12:00pm, as you meet with instructor and program developer Bill Treasurer of Giant Leap Consulting, and one of UCON’s highly rated leadership instructors. After this meeting, complete one module per week asynchronous, on your own time, until the closing class on June 17 from 9:00-12:00pm.

Here’s what Bill has to say about the course:

Leadership, as a practice, may be, and often is, hard to do. But it doesn’t have to be hard to understand. For over three decades I’ve been a student of leadership and a practitioner of leadership development. This course is a collection of all the essential lessons I’ve learned that I believe are critical to effective leadership. It is delivered in a way that will remove the complexity and confusion that many new leaders face.

The Leadership Essentials Academy provides high-quality best practices in leadership that you can immediately apply at work. Throughout the self-paced program, you’ll be introduced to practical tips and strategies for getting the best out of everyone you’re charged with leading.

The program includes over 65 video lessons, and bonus content from a former US Navy SEAL officer, a former director of the FBI hostage negotiating team, a world-record holding athlete, and a recognized DEI expert.

As you journey through the program, you’ll have access to downloadable materials, surveys and quizzes, and your very own leadership development plan. By the end of the course, you’ll be a stronger, more confident, and more capable LEADER!

As an exclusive feature of the UCON and Giant Leap partnership, you will have two opportunities to have real-time interaction with Bill Treasurer, founder of the Leadership Essentials Academy, and the author of six leadership books. You’ll be able to bring your toughest leadership challenges and questions to your session with Bill, and get practical advice for addressing them.

This course is perfect for:

• Construction personnel who are shifting from being an “individual contributor” to leading a team.

• New Project Managers and/or new field crew leaders.

• Seasoned leaders in the construction industry who are in need of a boost or leadership refresher.

• Any leader who is looking to improve!

UCON and Giant Leap are confident that signing up for the Leadership Essentials Academy will be one of the best investments you’ve ever made in your leadership development. You’re worth investing in!

Members: Use this special discount code to receive $297 off the program fee: LEADUCON

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

By Rob Reaugh, President, OrgMetrics LLC

LESSONS LEARNED FROM AWARD-WINNING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERING PROJECTS

On Friday January 12th, the City of San Francisco celebrated the 6th Annual San Francisco Collaborative Partnering Awards and honored seven project teams built by United Contractors Member companies . Leaders from each of San Francisco’s Chapter Six Departments attended the event to show support for the City’s highest performing teams and the annual event. The breakfast ceremony, hosted at San Francisco Public Works headquarters was a great day to celebrate project teams and reflect on the teamwork needed to deliver projects in such a diverse, complex area.

One of my favorite aspects of the partnering process is how we can gather lessons learned and work on getting better each time we attempt to build something together. In honor of that, we will share one key lesson learned from each of the seven project teams who received recognition during the ceremony.

The big winner of the day was the San Francisco International Airport Storm Drain Pump Station 1C Project, who took home a Gold Level Award and “Best in Class” for the 2023 Awards program delivered though a collaboration between Yerba Buena Engineering, Inc. and Power Engineering.

CA

Storm Drain Pump

Station 1C Project

Category 1 (Under $20M)

Infrastructure Projects

Gold Level Award and “Best in Class”

Owner: SFO Planning, Design, & Construction

Design/Builder: Yerba Buena Engineering & Construction, Inc.

A&E: Pannu Larsen McCartney, Inc.

The SFO Storm Drain Pump Station 1C Project involved the repair of the timber structure supporting three outfall pipes at the end of SFO’s Runway 19R. The outfall structure was failing and a collapse could lead to discharge of water into the bay and flooding of the Airfield Operations Area. The work required the retrofit of timber piles by cutting each off below the mudline at the point where the wood was still good, installing a fiberglass jacket around the base, then installing rebar and pumping in concrete to create a sturdy new concrete pile section.

This was Yerba Buena’s first project at SFO in many years and Yerba Buena’s President, Miguel Galarza, stated from the jump that he had two goals: 1. Have a very successful project so SFO and Yerba Buena would be excited to work together again and 2. Win a partnering award together!

Lesson Learned

For this project, one of the best lessons learned was how each team member “owned” the right risks. SFO helped the contractor’s team secure 7460 crane permits. These permits can take months and would have blown the entire schedule. The contractors team also owned field issues and would call fast-tracked design resolution meetings when they found unforeseen field issues (like unanticipated wood rot).

Ultimately, the team finished all major scopes one month ahead of the “in water work window” completion and substantially completed the project 4 days early, while saving $264K through collaboration. They also completed the project with ZERO punchlist. A first for many of the project team members.

Upgrade Project

Category 1 (Under $20M) Infrastructure Projects

Gold Level Award

Owner: SFO Planning, Design, & Construction

Design/Builder: Schembri Construction

CM: SFO

Other Key Team Member(s): BASS Electric

Facilitator: OrgMetrics LLC

The SFO 12kV Cable Replacement & System Upgrade

Project involved the replacement and installation of roughly 60,000 feet of medium voltage cable, establishing a new switchgear station, and providing temporary generators for load centers. The scope involved work at North McDonald Road and Westfield Road (both busy traffic areas for SFO) and in multiple confined spaces throughout the greater SFO campus.

Lessons Learned

This team was incredibly nimble. Right from the start, the team needed to resolve a difficult dewatering issue where the environmental permits forced the team to avoid runoff into a nearby wetland area, and they also saved the project substantial time and money by minimizing night work. The team also learned the value of detailed sight investigations and had to go door to door with building tenants to determine how much power each tenant was drawing so they could safely conduct shutdowns and repairs. This extensive design vetting process was used as they were developing the design on the next phase of the project, which Schembri is now working on – this application of the lesson learned is already saving the airport and contractor time and money!

Ultimately, this team substantially completed the project in 325 days (275 days ahead of schedule!), safely, and within the project budget and contingency.

continued on next page

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Heron’s Head Shoreline Resilience Project

Category 1 (Under $20M) Infrastructure Projects

Silver Level Award

Owner: Port of San Francisco

Design/Builder: Dixon Marine Services

A&E: Environmental Science Associates

CM: SKS Engineering and Joe Hill Consulting

Facilitator: OrgMetrics LLC

This $2.3M project’s scope involved the installation of a gravel beach, rock groyne structures and other safeguards to protect the wetlands from erosion and sea level rise.

Lesson Learned

This team applied two key lessons that helped the project optimize the dollars invested in the project.

First, they installed a gabion system to bridge across the marsh to offer safe beach access. This system allowed the team to re-use onsite gravel, which is both more efficient and ensures the materials are not introducing new pollutants.

Second, the team also needed to reconcile significant differences between the three-year old survey data of the tidal zone and the existing conditions, where the profile had changed and there were unstable soils. The team updated the design and reduced the material quantities addressing two issues at once, while saving the City an estimated $1M in project costs. This team finished the project safely, ahead of schedule, and added value while delivering within the budget contingency.

SFMTA MME Boiler and HVAC Rehabilitation Project

Building Projects, Category 1 under $20 Million.

Silver Level Award

Owner: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Prime: Cal State Constructors, Inc.

A&E: SFMTA

CM: SFMTA

Facilitator: JBROMM PHD

The SFMTA Muni Metro East (MME) Building Boiler and HVAC Rehabilitation Project was initially scoped as a $2.58M project to replace a boiler, two rooftop air condenser units and alterations to the existing HVAC system of an active 150,000 square foot light rail vehicle (LRV) maintenance facility and various other scopes. The primary challenges involved incorporating a new HVAC system into an existing system while the facility remained operational, and to vet the systems analysis that had been provided prior to bid. Ultimately the team completed the project within budget and contingency (returning money to SFMTA’s program.

Lesson Learned

The key lesson learned was to right size the scope by conducting thorough site investigations and determining how they could replace key components rather than replace entire systems (making the project much more affordable). By right-sizing the upgrades the team extended time, but constructed the desired fixes in offices and repairing heating and cooling while finishing within budget.

Ultimately, this team estimated they saved the City $87K through collaboration and developed strong relationships they could roll over to subsequent projects.

Mariposa Dry Weather Pump Station Project

Category 1 (Under $20M) Buildings Projects

Silver Level Award

Owner: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Prime: Western Water Construction, Inc.

A&E: San Francisco Public Works

CM: SFPUC

Facilitator: OrgMetrics LLC

The SFPUC’s Mariposa Dry Weather Pump Station Project was an $18.5M upgrade to this pump station, which conveys wastewater from the surrounding areas to the Southeast Treatment Plant. This critical infrastructure upgrade was needed to accommodate the UCSF Hospital and Laboratory upgrades, the Chase Center, Mission Rock, and other nearby programs in the southern part of San Francisco.

Lessons Learned

This team maintained highly collaborative relationships both internally and with the key community stakeholders including the nearby Ramp Restaurant, the adjacent boat rental business, and the Chase Center.

Western Water and the City of San Francisco also implemented an innovation called the SoilFreeze shoring system for deep excavation, which provided a barrier preventing groundwater seepage into the excavation of the 31-foot deep system. The successful implementation of this new shoring system means that it is now available for future projects in small footprints. By working as a team, they saved the City $568K.

Rental Car Quick Turn Around (QTA) and Fire Sprinkler Replacement Program

Category 1 (Under $20M) Buildings Projects

Silver Level Award

Owner: SFO Planning, Design, and Construction

Design/Builder: Schembri Construction

CM: SFO

Facilitator: OrgMetrics LLC

Key Subcontractors: Bass Electric and Value Fire Protection

SFO’s Rental Car QTA Fire Sprinkler Replacement Program was a fast-tracked project in the 131,000 square foot Consolidated Rental Car Center Facility (CONRAC) at SFO. This is the 3rd busiest CONRAC in the United States and the fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems, which had been installed in 1999, had reached their usable life.

Lessons Learned

This team when all-in on the Schedule and committed to the mission. This commitment started when they investigated the site and amended the phasing plans multiple times to follow the procurement of the key fire life safety equipment. They also built great relationships with the tenants and the SFO Real Estate Team who liaised between them and the car rental companies, so they could progress the work during the day as cars went in and out of the facility. Ultimately, this high performing team delivered the project two months ahead of schedule and $182,000 below budget by avoiding unnecessary fire watch.

continued on next page

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION

SFMTA Van Ness Improvement Project

Category 2 (Over $20M) Infrastructure Projects

Bronze Level Award

Owner: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Design/Builder: Walsh Construction

A&E: SFMTA

CM: SFMTA

Facilitator: OrgMetrics LLC

The SFMTA Van Ness Corridor Transit Improvement Project was the first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service in San Francisco. This project has improved reliability for #49 Muni routes by shortening transit times by an estimated 30% while increasing ridership by nearly 33%.

The scope is a key element of the Vision Zero program and has enhanced Van Ness, a major corridor throughout the City. The scope involved installation of safety features including pedestrian bulb-outs and countdown timers and eliminated the majority of left turns through the corridor. It also replaced the 100-year old sewer and water systems throughout the corridor while enhancing the urban design of Van Ness Avenue.

Lessons Learned

This team learned how to remain committed to partnering even through challenging circumstances. This team leveraged partnering and the dispute resolution process to resolve more than $30M of issues, saving the city an estimated $1.8M, worked through a challenging subcontractor issue, and incorporated pragmatic cost-and schedule-saving strategies including slip-lining for aging pipelines and using full closures to recover nearly two months of schedule.

As G.E. Executive Jack Welch once said,

An organization’s ability to learn and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.”

Each of these project teams had to solve a complex construction challenge while managing materials supply chain issues, cost escalation, and dynamic work environments to deliver these projects. I hope you can take some of these lessons learned and leverage them on your projects.

To learn more about partnering and how to “Deliver Partnering That Works,” check out the International Partnering Institute’s Certified Project Leader course. Partnering is proven to save money, time, stress and more: www.partneringinstitute.org/project-leadercertification, (925) 447-9100.

Rob Reaugh is President of OrgMetrics LLC. He facilitates the City and County of San Francisco Collaborative Partnering Steering Committee, and currently works with San Francisco International Airport, San Jose Airport, BART, Caltrans, and others. For more information, contact Rob at robreaugh@ orgmet.com, (925) 487-2404 (cell), or (925) 449-8300. OrgMetrics is a UCON Member since 1994.

By Christine Traina, UCON Event Manager

BECOME AN INSIDER INTO SOUTHERN CA PUBLIC WORKS!

Register to attend UCON’s Public Works Summit

Don’t miss UCON’s 3rd Annual Public Works Summit on April 10, at the Hilton Anaheim. You’ll be able to join the sessions that mean the most to you—the agenda for the 2024 Summit includes several presentations on how best to do business with the various agencies, keeping within their program requirements and executing as part of the stakeholder team, along with features on workforce development and next-generation workforce.

You and your team will gain insight into the vast construction market potential of the Southern California region, as you’ll have an inside look at billions of dollars of projects coming down the pipeline and information on how to bid on and win these opportunities. See opposite page on how to register. Don’t miss it!

Thank you to all of our employees for their efforts in continuing to plan and build our projects safely!

We are so proud of our team and grateful for their hard work and dedication including our subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers.

UCON’S 2024 CRAB FEED One Shell of a Night!

Thank you to everyone who joined us Thursday, February 22nd, at the San Ramon Marriott for our annual Crab Feed! It was great to see you all and to start the year with this exceptional and soldout event. Over 700 members, union leaders, and affiliates enjoyed networking, reconnecting, and 2,650lbs of fresh Dungeness Crab. Not to mention, the tequila tastings and fresh donuts were also complete crowd-pleasers. Attendees captured memories at our “Shellfie” Station—because that’s what this evening was all about—connecting and reconnecting with so many friends, building relationships, and meeting new people who all work in this great industry…together.

Thank you to all the Crab Feed sponsors, UCON Annual Sponsors, and Volunteers for helping to make this one of UCON’s most-loved and attended events—join us for more upcoming opportunities in 2024: unitedcontractors.org/calendar.

The UCON Crab Feed is a perfect event to strengthen existing relationships, in-person, with customers. It also provides a great environment to expand your professional network.

ELLEN MEADEN, RUPERT CONSTRUCTION

SUPPLY

UCON events are always a great opportunity to catch up with industry colleagues and friends. And the Crab Feed doesn’t fall short.

MIKE LLAMAS, GHILOTTI BROS., INC.

Another amazing event in the books. The vibe was so great this year, and it was good to see so many new faces, as well as the tried and true!

TERESA DIAS, PETERSON TRUCKS/PETERSON IDEALEASE

THANK YOU SPONSORS

BEER CUP SPONSOR

WINE

TABLE

BAR SPONSORS

MINT SPONSOR

HAND SANITIZER SPONSOR

IN-KIND SPONSOR

CUP SPONSOR

HAND WIPES SPONSOR

STAIN REMOVER PEN SPONSOR

BAR NAPKIN SPONSORS

The UCON Crab Feed is ALWAYS a great time.......you run into many old friends that you haven’t seen in a while, and you meet a bunch of new contacts that will someday become your old friends.

KEVIN HESTER, MCGUIRE AND HESTER

Thank You to our Event Chairperson and our Fantastic Volunteers:

Chairperson: Teresa Dias, Peterson Trucks/Peterson Idealease

Oscar Arellano, Western States Oil

Kelly Attebery, F&M Bank

Rachael Brown, Sweeney Mason LLP

Lisa DeGarmo, Dynamic Office & Accounting Solutions/Dynamic Technical Partners

Sidney Dutcher, Dynamic Office & Accounting Solutions/Dynamic Technical Partners

Lindsey Eppler, LogoBoss LLC

Matt Hennagin, Moss Adams LLP

Jason Herrera, BFBA, LLP

Glen Hungerbuhler, Mission Clay Products. LLC

Robin Jackson, Western States Oil

Eddie Juarez, Dynamic Office & Accounting Solutions/ Dynamic Technical Partners

Aileen Lansang, Dynamic Office & Accounting Solutions/Dynamic Technical Partners

Ilene Mason, Sweeney Mason LLP

Roger Mason, Sweeney Mason LLP

Renee Peppars, Western States Oil

Kevin Reimers, Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.

Sophia Stuart, Dynamic Office & Accounting Solutions/Dynamic Technical Partners

Brett vonKrakau, Dynamic Office & Accounting Solutions/Dynamic Technical Partners

Hiromi Young, Allen Construction Group LLP

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:

Construct Your Image for their work on the sponsor signs and UCON swag; Brad Kinney Productions for providing the AV for the event; Breslow Imaging for capturing the event in photographs; San Ramon Marriott for their exceptional service; Adictivo Tequila; Harvey’s Donuts; Winslow & Associates; and Snap Fiesta!

UP

UCON’S 2024 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Applications* Now Open!

Apply now for one of UCON’s Scholarship Awards. Up to $60,000 will be distributed. You are eligible if you meet ONE of the following criteria:

You are an employee, spouse, registered domestic partner, or dependent (of an employee) of a UCON member company and attending any 2 or 4 year accredited college or university with a cumulative 3.0 GPA (all majors may apply).

OR

You are a California college student majoring in Civil Engineering or Construction Management with a cumulative 3.0 GPA.

* Past winners are not eligible to apply.

Since 1994, UCON has awarded over $500,000 through its Scholarship Awards Program. Applications open Monday, March 25th - Deadline, Friday, May 10th (winners announced in late June). For more information, visit our website at www.unitedcontractors.org or contact Denise Ramirez, UCON’s Scholarship Liaison, dramirez@unitedcontractors.org

By Christopher Lee, UCON Safety Consultant

JOIN UCON’S SAFETY & INSURANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Meets via Zoom—open to all members statewide!

UCON Safety & Insurance Committee meets (mainly) virtually from 1:30pm-3:00pm. Register and view meeting topics (and also sign up for UCON events) at: www.unitedcontractors.org/calendar

xx April 3

xx May 15

xx July 10

xx September 11

xx October 23

xx December 4

Safety & Insurance Committee Meeting April

April 03, 2024 1:30pm–3:00pm PDT

The Safety & Insurance Committee provides the membership with information on safe operations in the industry, increases preventative safety programs, and reduction of liability expenses.

Gather your safety information from last year’s 2023 projects and apply for UCON’s Statewide R.E.A.L. Safety Awards , honoring the safest companies in our industry by R ecognizing E xcellence, A wareness, and L eadership in safety.

All contractors are eligible to apply. Applications are available online through April 5, 2024 at unitedcontractors.org. For more information, contact Ursula Becker (925) 362-7307, ubecker@unitedcontractors.org

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MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES: MARCH

United Contractors would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank the following companies who are celebrating their anniversary of membership with our organization in March:

43 YEARS – 1981

Associate Member:

Oldcastle Precast, Inc.

Greg Bull

42 YEARS – 1982

Associate Member:

Aon Construction Services Group

Le Ronda Gaines

39 YEARS – 1985

Contractor Member:

M G Construction Mladen Grbavac

38 YEARS – 1986

Contractor Member:

T.D.W. Construction, Inc. Edmundo Alire, Jr.

31 YEARS – 1993

Associate Member:

CNA Surety

Paul Kitchell

30 YEARS – 1994

Associate Member: Cresco Equipment Rentals

Chris Smith

29 YEARS – 1995

Associate Member:

AWSI

Brandon Jentzen

26 YEARS – 1998

Associate Member:

D.P. Nicoli, Inc.

Michael Casas

25 YEARS – 1999

Contractor Member:

Central Striping Service, Inc. James Lesniewski

Associate Member: Harris Blade Rental Sandy Thomson

22 YEARS – 2002

Contractor Member: CMC Traffic Control dba CMC Construction Brandon Lovell

21 YEARS – 2003

Contractor Member:

D.A. Wood Construction, Inc. Dan Wood, Jr.

Associate Member: Heffernan Insurance Brokers

John Clark

Western Rentals/Scott Equipment

Richard Scott

19 YEARS – 2005

Contractor Member: Argonaut Constructors Michael Smith, Jr.

Associate Member: Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo Thomas Kovacich

18 YEARS – 2006

Contractor Member: Cal State Constructors, Inc. Don Cabianca

17 YEARS – 2007

Contractor Member: Tri-Valley Excavating Mike Garcia

Tom Grbavac & Sons, Inc. Bobby Grbavac

16 YEARS – 2008

Contractor Member: Inner City Demolition, Inc. James Campanella

15 YEARS – 2009

Contractor Member: RNR Construction, Inc. Andre Catellier, P.E.

13 YEARS – 2011

Associate Member: Construction Testing Services

Brenda Harris

12 YEARS – 2012

Contractor Member: Guy F. Atkinson Construction, LLC Mark Padien

Mocon Corporation Robert Morow

11 YEARS – 2013

Contractor Members: Roadway Construction, Inc. Reza Yazdi

Ferreira Construction Co. Inc. dba Ferreira

Coastal Construction Co Brandon Pensick

Associate Member:

Downey Brand LLP

Sean Filippini

Filice Insurance Agency

Steve Giachetti

Adamson & McGoldrick Insurance

Brian McGoldrick

10 YEARS – 2014

Contractor Members:

Goebel Construction, Inc.

Greg Goebel Jr

Ransome Company

Geoff Raaka

Associate Members:

Rebel Equipment Enterprises

Robert Lee

Varela, Lee, Metz & Guarino, LLP

Andrew Van Ornum

9 YEARS – 2015

Associate Members:

Bolton & Company

Dave Miller

SiTECH NorCal

David Larsson

8 YEARS – 2016

Contractor Members:

Bridgeway Civil Constructors, Inc.

Gabe Farncroft

Dees Burke Engineering Constructors, LLC

Bryn Burke

Associate Members:

Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Mike Heffernan

Old Republic Surety

Rick Rehrer

7 YEARS – 2017

Contractor Members:

Atlas Peak Construction

Danny McLean

Interstate Concrete Pumping Co., Inc.

Andrew Paulazzo

Stater Bros. Development, Inc.

Chris Boyer

Landavazo Bros. Inc.

Ted Landavazo

Malcolm International LLC

Patrick Snyder

Marinship Development Interest LLC

Derek Smith

Associate Members:

LogoBoss

Tim Smith

Peterson Trucks, Inc.

Teresa Dias

Snell & Wilmer LLP

Michael Baker

Turner Surety and Insurance Brokerage, Inc.

Nick Langer

6 YEAR – 2018

Contractor Members:

Bear Electrical Solutions, Inc.

Andrew Bader

Bayview Demolition Services, Inc.

Rick Cleveland

Mission Constructors. Inc.

Jaime Gonzalez

5 YEARS – 2019

Contractor Members:

Bertco Inc.

Bert Garcia

Kerex Engineering Inc.

Patrick Madden

Main Street Underground, LLC

Ron Bianchini

Associate Member:

Contractor Compliance, LLC

Sarah Rolin

4 YEARS – 2020

Contractor Members:

Brannon Corporation

Paul Brannon

J&M Concrete Contractors

Tony Naranjo

3 YEARS – 2021

Contractor Members:

BC Traffic Specialist (an Infrastripe Company)

Billy Miller

California Rebar Fabricators Incorporated

Michelle Jacobsen

FJ & I Engineering Inc.

Antonio Sotelo

Monterey Mechanical Co. James Troup

Stephen M Silva II Incorporated dba DaSilva Underground Construction Madelyn Holmes

Sterndahl Enterprises, Inc. Chip Sterndahl

West Concrete, LLC

Natalie Jelavich

Associate Members: J&J Acoustics, Inc. Rick Wood

2 YEARS – 2022

Contractor Members:

California Legacy Well Services, LLC

Sean McNally

Golden State Construction & Utility, Inc. Mark Doane

GreenCoast Landscapes Inc.

Juan D. Perez

Unified Field Services Corporation

Joe Watkins

Associate Members:

Enoven Truck Body + Equipment

Sam Enochian

Twining, Inc.

Mariel Attento Rhorer

1 YEAR – 2023

Contractor Members:

CS Marine Constructors, Inc. Jeff Thompson

Castle Contracting LLC Jason Mrozek

Associate Members: NES, Inc.

Tammera McManama

Chessbake Engineering Group

Hugo Villanueva

HCSS

Christina Ter Poorten

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