Volume 10, Issue 2March | April 2014

CEFGA2014 EXPOSKILLSUSA

YANCEY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

2 Georgia Contractor

3March | April 2014

A D V E R T I S E M E N T SABC/Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

AEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

AGC/Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Albany Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Atlanta Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Calculated Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

CLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Georgia 811 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover

Georgia Power Company . . . . . . . . . 25, Inside Front Cover

Georgia Trade School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Go Build Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, Inside Back Cover

Holder Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

IEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

JAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

JCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Metro Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

New South Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

North Georgia Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

RHD Utility Locating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

South Georgia Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

www.t h ege o r g i a c o n t r a c t o r . c om

Editor-in-Chief: Roland Petersen-FreyManaging Editor: Daniel Simmons | (770) 521-8877Art Director: Pamela Petersen-Frey | (770) 521-8877

The Georgia Contractor is published bi-monthly on a calendaryear basis. It is a magazine designed around the constructionindustry associations and their members. It is supported byassociations and their members. Executive, editorial, circulation,and advertising offices: 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton,Georgia 30115 • Phone: (770) 521-8877 • Fax: (770) 521-0406 e-mail: rfrey@a4inc.com. Send address changes to your association and/or to A4 Inc.

Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily thoseof any of the associations or publisher nor do they acceptresponsibility for errors of content or omissions and, as a matterof policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisementsappearing herein. Parts of this magazine may be reproduced withthe written consent of the publisher.

GEO

RG

IACONTRACTOR

On The Cover ~ This year marks the TenthAnniversary of the CEFGA CareerExpo andSkillsUSA State Championships. This wonder-ful event started with about 1,000 participantsat the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds inLawrenceville, Georgia in 2005.

See the story on page 11.

4 Georgia Contractor

6 Letter from Governor Deal

9 Letter from Commissioner Ronald Jackson

10 Letter from State School Superintendent John Barge

15 Blue skies for blue collar careers

17 When life hits hard—dream!

18 Zach Burgess - welder

23 Employment law update:

What employers should expect in 2014

28 MetroPower apprentice talks about

his experiences

29 Contractor News

34 Enhancing mobility with intelligent

interchanges and intersections

42 Lessons Learned

44 Georgia DOT’s first

public private partnership

gets underway

Scott Shelar is ExecutiveDirector of CEFGA - theConstruction EducationFoundation of Georgia.CEFGA is a lead organizerof the CareerExpo andSkillsUSA State Champi-onships for Georgia. www.cefga.org

5March | April 2014

36Georgia-owned andoperatedYancey Bros.Celebrates 100 years inbusiness and itscustomers who havebuilt Georgia

11That iswhat it’sall about

WelcomeLetter from the

LieutenantGovernor

Lt. Governor CaseyCagle gives CEFGA his

support. 8

Scott Shelar

36

The mystery of vitrified and molded rocks

Cusco, the old Inca CapitalSome, who have investigated this stone-fitting tech-nique in Incan ruins, call the process vitrification andmolding. In other words, the stones are similar tothose that have been thermally disaggregated.

21 Casey Cagle

Cusco, the old Inca Capital

6 Georgia Contractor

Dear Fellow Georgians,

Welcome to the 2014 CEFGA Career Expo and SkillsUSA State Championships. With thou-sands of Georgia’s best and brightest, this expo is an exceptional showcase of our talentedyoung people and future workforce generation.

Education is the foundation of success, instilling the critical skills that lead to meaningful em-ployment and rewarding careers. Through participation with the Governor’s Office of Work-force Development’s program, Go Build Georgia, we are working hard to build and maintain ahighly skilled workforce that can sustain Georgia’s top industries.

We also need to provide opportunities and open doors for our young citizens, and organiza-tions such as CEFGA and SkillsUSA give students a head start in the industry. With their help,we can provide our future labor force with available resources to make sure that their educa-tional experiences lead to significant career opportunities.

Special thanks to the students, parents, and educators who were able to attend today. Yourparticipation with CEFGA and SkillsUSA shows your commitment to building a workforce thatwill learn, live, and grow in Georgia.

Sincerely,

Governor Nathan Deal

STATE OF GEORGIAOFFICE OF THE GOVERNORATLANTA 30334-0900

Nathan DealGOVERNOR

March | April 2014 7

Georgia Contractor8

9March | April 2014

10 Georgia Contractor

his year marks the Tenth An-niversary of the CEFGA Ca-reerExpo and SkillsUSA StateChampionships. This won-derful event started withabout 1,000 participants atthe Gwinnett County Fair-

grounds in Lawrenceville, Georgia in2005.

The idea was sparked by observingthe SkillsUSA National Championshipsin Kansas City, and wondering: Couldwe create a similar high energy eventfor students competing in SkillsUSAGeorgia?

Thanks to the vision, courage, andcommitment of so many industry lead-ers and the enthusiasm and apprecia-tion of tens of thousands of teachersand students, we achieved what weonly wondered a decade ago.

Over the last nine years, we’veseen more than 40,000 attendees walkthrough our CareerExpo doors. Thisyear, we are proud to host another7,000 students, teachers, parents,counselors, and industry professionals.

While the growth has been excitingto watch and the achievement of a vi-sion, satisfying, there is one thing Ienjoy the most.

That is, students coming throughthe event one year as SkillsUSA com-petitors or Expo attendees, then return-ing the next year with a full time job,enrolled in an apprenticeship program,university, or technical college, pursuinga career they are passionate about.They first attend the Expo as a student,and before long, they come back to vol-unteer for the Expo or to judge a Skill-sUSA competition as an employee ofone of our sponsoring companies.

That is what our event is all about!Connecting employers, schools and ap-prenticeship programs with teachersand students all over the state.

Our immediate goal is to educatestudents on career opportunities in afun, hands-on way. In other words, it’sabout ‘Edutainment,’ as one of our ExpoPlanning Committee Members, ChuckLittle of the Atlanta Electrical Contrac-tors Association likes to say. We realizethat if we make it all about education,the event would be boring. If we makeit all about entertainment, teachers andstudents couldn’t justify leaving school.So, we walk the line and do our best tomake the CareerExpo educational andentertaining at the same time.

This year, there are hundreds ofemployers, technical colleges, universi-ties, and apprenticeship programs fromall over Georgia and even outside of thestate. Look for Middle Tennessee StateUniversity in the World of Concrete;and Clemson University (making theirfirst appearance this year) and PurdueUniversity (joining us for a secondyear), all the way from West Lafayette,Indiana in the World of Green Buildingand Construction Management.

Our long term objective is to getmore young people into the construc-tion and energy industries. We have a

workforce that is retiring in big numbersevery day. That means opportunity forany young person who likes to workoutside; who likes to build things andtravel; who likes to earn a lot of money;and who may one day want to own theirown business.

Looking for proof that you reallycan make a great living in the construc-tion and energy industries? Look forthese individuals who, just like you,walked the Expo floor or competed inSkillsUSA Competitions and today havecome back to the event as employeesand volunteers for their companies,working to share their excitement forthe construction and energy industries.

Stop by the World of MechanicalContracting and speak to CameronKinser, Jacob Holland or Ramiro Mo-jica. Each of these young men walkedthe Expo floor or competed in Skill-sUSA Contests as high school stu-dents from Hall County in 2013. Today,they are employed by McKenney’s—one of the Nation’s largest mechanicalcontractors.

Stop by and observe the SkillsUSATeamWorks Competition and look forCameron Newell. Cameron visited theExpo back in 2005 when it was at theGwinnett County Fairgrounds. Today,he’s a Superintendent with DPR Hardin,one of the largest General Contractorsin the country. He comes back everyyear to help judge our SkillsUSA con-tests.

You could also visit the World ofElectrical Contracting and speak toJoshua Wills with Allison-Smith Com-pany, a major Atlanta-based electricalcontractor. Joshua competed in the2011 SkillsUSA State Championshipsand caught the eye of a volunteer fromAllison-Smith. “Our original decision tohire Joshua was made after watchinghim compete in the Skills USA compe-

11March | April 2014

T

This is what it’s all about!By Scott Shelar | Executive Director of CEFGA | Construction Education Foundation of Georgia

12 Georgia Contractor

tition. He demonstrated a very goodwork ethic during competition,” saysMike Peters, manager of Field Opera-tions for Allison-Smith.

There’s also Jennifer Smith, a grad-uate of McEachern High School, whocompeted in the SkillsUSA IndustrialMotor Controls Contest. You’ll find herin the World of Green Building and Con-struction Management or assisting withregistration out front. She comes backto volunteer just about every year.Today, she’s working as a Pre-Construc-tion Coordinator with a major General

Contractor, Juneau Construction Com-pany.

Then there’s Andre Person, a lineworker with Georgia Power. Andre gothis start by placing Second in a Skill-sUSA Electronics Competition. Just oneweek after graduating from high school,he went to work as an intern with Geor-gia Power. Today, he’s a lineman ap-prentice on his way to becoming ajourneyman with Georgia Power. Hecomes back to the Expo often, and canbe found in the World of Energy.

We hope you enjoy our Tenth Ca-

reerExpo and SkillsUSA State Champi-onships. And we hope that one day youwill come back to volunteer for thisevent as a proud employee in the con-struction or energy industry! v

2014 CEFGA Board of Directors

Kenny Adkins, Technical College System of Georgia David Barksdale, Batson-Cook Company Carol Burke, Georgia Department of Education Ryan Byars, Holder Construction Company Jeffrey Diamond, Goodman John Doherty, Pyramid Masonry Tim Grimes, Dollar Concrete Construction Company Debra Howell, Georgia Power Jimmy Medina, All State Waste Jake Nellis, JE Dunn Andy Rogers, Winter Construction Company Michael Rogers, Blount Construction Company Jill Stratton, Juneau Construction Company Tony Varamo, MetroPower

2014 CEFGA Advisory Board

Jay Cunningham, Superior Plumbing Doug Davidson, New South Construction Company Pete Frey, The Georgia Contractor Mark Hornbuckle, HB Training & Consulting Mike Kenig, Holder Construction Company Brent Reid, Winter Construction Company

Scott Shelar is Executive Director ofCEFGA - the Construction EducationFoundation of Georgia. CEFGA is a leadorganizer of the CareerExpo and Skill-sUSA State Championships for Georgia.www.cefga.org

2014 CEFGA Expo and SkillsUSA State

Championships Planning Committee

E.V. Bennett, Holder Construction Company Scott Brumbelow, Georgia Utility Contractors AssociationRyan Byars, Holder Construction Company Kenneth Cook, Pyramid Masonry Charles Crosby, CORE Project Management Tasha Hardegree, Georgia Power Michelle Dunham, Georgia Tech Research Institute Trey Harrison, Georgia System Operations Todd Hawkins, Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC)Jim Holt, Georgia Power Michele Huber, Masonry Association of Georgia Jody Klodner, Marek Interior Systems Chuck Little, Atlanta Electrical Contractors AssociationJerome Sabol, PlumbWorks Gina Shelnutt, Robert M. Anderson Cherri Watson, AGC Georgia Lynn Callery, McKenney’s Kris Dell, Applied Software Bridgette Moore, MBA Waste

CEFGA Staff

Scott Shelar, Executive Director Kevin Ward, Operations Director Tangie Judy, Office Manager Jamie Buck, Placement Coordinator

CEFGA - 1255 Lakes Parkway - Suite 390 - Lawrenceville,

GA 30043 - www.cefga.org

13March | April 2014

Sponsors (as of February 5, 2014)A4 Inc.ACE Electric ABC of GeorgiaAGC GeorgiaAGC Georgia Young Leadership ProgramAllison-Smith CompanyAllstate WasteAmerican Institute of Architects - AtlantaAnning-Johnson CompanyApplied SoftwareAtlanta Contract GlazingAtlanta Electrical Contractors AssociationAVI/SPLBalfour Beatty ConstructionBatson-Cook CompanyBlock USA, a CEMEX CompanyBlount ConstructionBrooks-Berry-Haynie and AssociatesC.C. Owen Tile CompanyCentury Fire ProtectionClemson UniversityCleveland ElectricCLP, A True Blue CompanyCMAACornerstone MasonryDay & ZimmermannDelcamDollar Concrete ConstructionDPR HardinEckardt ElectricFaith TechnologiesFitzgerald & Sons PlumbingFluorFortune-Johnson General ContractorsGeorgia Concrete and Products AssociationGeorgia Department of EducationGeorgia Department of TransportationGeorgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium

(GEICC)Georgia Highway Contractors AssociationGeorgia Masonry SupplyGeorgia PowerGeorgia Power FoundationGeorgia TechGeorgia Trade SchoolGeorgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA)Glover & Davis AttorneyGoodman

Governor's Office of Workforce Development (GOWD)GUCA FoundationHB NEXTHolder Construction CompanyHolder Construction FoundationIBEWIndependent Electrical Contractors (IEC)International Aviation ConsultantsJE Dunn ConstructionJuneau Construction CompanyLocal #72 / Mechanical Contractors Association JointApprenticeship ProgramLowe'sMarek Interior SystemsMasonry Association of GeorgiaMechanical Industries CouncilMetroPowerNew South Construction CompanyPace DrywallParrish Construction CompanyPCL Industrial Construction CompanyPearson/NCCERPenco Electrical ContractorsPittman ConstructionPritchard & JerdenPurdue UniversityPyramid MasonrySavannah College of Art & Design (SCAD)School of Building Construction - Georgia TechSherwin-WilliamsSouthern Polytechnic State UniversitySouthwire CompanyTebarco Mechanical CorporationTechnical College System of Georgia (TCSG)The Conlan CompanyThe Miller-Clapperton PartnershipTradestar StaffingUltra Commercial DrywallWayne J. Griffin ElectricWinter Construction CompanyWm. J. Redmond & Son, Inc.Yates Insurance Agency

Participating Companies and

Organizations(as of February 5, 2014) Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association (AECA)AffinityService Group

2014 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships

Sponsors and Participating Companies

This event is made possible through the generous financial support of our sponsors and involvement and passion ofour participating companies. Thank you!

14 Georgia Contractor

2014 CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Championships

Sponsors and Participating Companies (continued)

AGC GeorgiaAllison-Smith CompanyAllstate WasteApplied SoftwareApplied Technical ServicesAtlanta Grout And Tile Care, Inc.Blount Construction Co., Inc.Brick Industry AssociationBrooks-Berry-Haynie & Associates Inc.C. C. Owen Tile Company, Inc.CEFGAClayton County Water AuthorityClemson UniversityCMAA - South Atlantic ChapterCORE Project Management LLCCornerstone Masonry Group LLCCowin Equipmentdal tileDay & ZimmermannDeVry UniversityDouglas EasterDPR HardinEckardt ElectricElectric Cities of GeorgiaFluor CorporationFly & Form, Inc.Fortune-Johnson General ContractorsGeorgia Concrete and Products Association (GCPA)Georgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium(GEICC)Georgia Tech Research InstituteGeneral Motors LLCGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia PanelGeorgia PowerGeorgia Power (AMIGOS)Georgia Power (TWIG)Georgia System Operations CorporationGeorgia Transmission CorporationGeorgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA)Georgia Tech Research InstituteGeorgia Tech - School of ArchitectureGeorgia Tech - School of Building ConstructionGeorgia Trade SchoolHallman Wood ProductsHB NEXTHD Supply White Cap Construction SupplyHendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Flatt, PCHolder Construction CompanyIndependent Electrical Contractors (IEC)Ivey Mechanical Co LLCLakay Enterprises, Inc.Laurus Technical Institute

Marek Interior Systems, Inc.Masonry Association of GeorgiaMayberry ElectricMBA Waste Enterprises LLCMcKenney's, Inc.MEAG PowerMetroPowerMiddle Tennessee State UniversityOglethorpe Power CorporationOSHAPCL Industrial Construction CompanyPearson/NCCERPeed Brothers, Inc.Pirkle Electric CompanyPittman Construction CompanyPlumb Works Inc.Purdue University-Building Construction ManagementPyramid Masonry Contractors IncRockTennSavannah College of Art and DesignSimmons Welding, LLCSnapping Shoals EMCSouth Georgia Technical CollegeSouthern CompanySouthern NuclearSouthern Polytechnic State UniversitySouthwire CompanyTekla, IncTradeSTAR IncTri-County EMCUpTime Electric Company, Inc.US Department of Labor - OSHAWayne J. Griffin Electric Inc.Winter Construction Company

There are blue skies for bluecollar careers in the construc-tion industry,” says DonnieWoodham, Vice PresidentField Operations withMcKenney’s Inc.

Donnie has been withMcKenney's for 28 years and hasknown Superintendent David Nix forjust as long. They both started their ap-prenticeship in the late 70s and early1980s, both working their way up theladder into leadership positions for theirindustry, while making a decent livingincluding benefits and pension for whenthey are ready to retire.

Donnie says right now there are alot of people in the industry, just likehim, who are in their mid to late 50s.Most of those people that fall into thatage group are not only still in the in-dustry, but have worked their way upinto positions as leaders for our indus-try. The opportunity is huge as manyof those positions must be filled whileour aging workforce continues to re-tire from the many diverse fields ofsheet metal, piping, plumbing, con-trols, service, carpentry, and maintain-ing equipment.

There are huge benefits and job se-curity for those entering the trade. An‘opportunity to earn while you learn’ issomething apprentices appreciate. Ap-prentices are able to learn a trade whileearning an income. The apprenticeshipprogram is free training and costs anapprentice nothing as long as the ap-prentice has passing grades and re-ceives a good report from his employer.The apprentices continue to learnthroughout their life long careersthrough teamwork and relationships,gaining marketable skills, learning tobecome problem solvers, building con-fidence, responsibility, trust, communi-cation and leadership skills throughouttheir career.

Richard Bolz, Pipefitter Foremansaid the high school graduates thatcame from Hall County’s high schoolconstruction programs are doing great.These are a first for McKenney's. Thehigh school graduates came preparedwith basic construction knowledge andwere involved with SkillsUSA - a differ-ence from the green helper without anyconstruction knowledge hired off thestreet. Donnie Woodham recruited thehigh school graduates for a Hall Countyjob through McKenney's involvementwith the CEFGA CareerExpo & Skill-sUSA State Championships that is heldeach year in March.

Donnie Woodham met Mike Mad-sen and Rodney Presley, instructorsfrom Hall County who regularly attendthe CEFGA CareerExpo & SkillsUSAState Championships. McKenney's hassponsored the ‘World of HVAC’ at theExpo for the past four years. Donnie in-vited the instructors and their studentsto McKenney's for a shop tour of theirfacility. The students start off in thetraining room with presentationsabout McKenney's and how it allbegan. Donnie has people come from

their Engineering, Drafting depart-ments, a Project Manager, a represen-tative from the apprenticeshipprogram and Go Build Georgia to talkwith the students. Students are givenan impressive tour of the facility, draft-ing department, Dispatch Room and allthe different departments includingthe sheet metal and piping shops. Stu-dents end the day long tour with lunchand any questions they may have be-fore they board their bus back toschool. Donnie asked the instructors totalk with a couple of their studentsabout working for McKenney’s. He isalways looking for students who aremature and responsible enough thathe can put them on a large job.

McKenney's has a job located inHall County that requested hiring HallCounty residents. Donnie rememberedinstructors Mike Madsen of West HallHigh and Rodney Presley of JohnsonHigh and gave them a call to send theirbest graduating seniors that wish topursue a career in construction. Donniehired three ambitious graduates: JacobHolland - Johnson High, Ramiro Mojica- West Hall High, and Cameron Kinser

15March | April 2014

Blue skies for blue collar careersBy Jamie Buck | Placement Coordinator | CEFGA

“

l to r: Ramiro Mojica, Donnie Woodham, Jacob Holland and Cameron Kinser.

- Johnson High. All three graduateswere involved in SkillsUSA. All threegraduates are mentoring and workingunder David Nix – Project Superinten-dant, Richard Bolz – Foreman, and DougDixon – Foreman, on the job in HallCounty.

18-year-old Jacob Holland, 2013 Grad-

uate of Johnson High School

Jacob was interested in welding, andthat is why he took construction in highschool with SkillsUSA being the hook.He wanted to become a welder whichsparked his interest in construction.Jacob competed in the SkillsUSA TeamBuilding Competition in 2010 and tookfirst in state. In 2011, Jacob placed firstin masonry for the region competition.Jacob's father works in sheet metalconstruction. Jacob enjoys operating aLull on the jobsite and working with hisforeman who takes the time to mentorand train him. Jacob plans to interviewfor the apprenticeship program inMarch.

18-year-old Cameron Kinser, 2013

Graduate of Johnson High School

Cameron says that Jacob Holland andhis father got him interested in con-struction. His father does a lot of elec-tronics and audio video. Cameron helpswith all the work that his father does onthe house in addition to learning how torun cables and repairs. Cameron didtwo internships while in school, withfirst semester with Kipper Tool and sec-ond semester with Haines Craftsman.He was referred by friends and parentsto do some construction work.Cameron also enjoys welding and takesadvantage on breaks to practice.

18-year-old Ramiro Mojica, 2013 Grad-

uate of West Hall High School

Ramiro credits Mike Madsen for gettinghim interested in construction since hisfreshman year of high school. He tookMike Madsen's construction class in hisfreshman, junior, and senior years.Ramiro says he looked forward to at-

tending the CEFGA Career & SkillsUSA

Championships Expo every year. He

also took the shop tour at McKenney's

which finally hooked him. He gave Mike

Madsen his name to be forwarded on to

Donnie Woodham to be considered for

employment after graduation. Romera

enjoys installing duct systems for

McKenney's on the jobsite. Ramiro will

start the apprenticeship program.

Jacob, Cameron, and Ramiro be-

lieve students should get involved in the

CEFGA CareerExpo and SkillsUSA State

Championships to see if construction is

a career path for them.

Donnie Woodham says that meet-

ing the instructors, getting into the

classrooms, getting to know the stu-

dents is ‘KEY’ to getting them inter-

ested in your trade. The relationships

we build between instructors, students,

parents and contractors will grow our

workforce. v

Georgia Contractor16

n May 1998, as a carefreesophomore at McEachernHigh School in PowderSprings, Georgia, JeremyTuggle’s life was turned up-side down. He was diagnosedwith a malignant tumor in his

right leg. All of a sudden life went onhold. Dreams stopped. Uncertainty setin and a journey began.

That journey began with Jeremybelieving that God would heal him.Eight months later that belief wouldprove true. God did heal him.

During that time, he received en-couragement and support from many.He was leaning toward a possible ca-reer in auto repair. He was taking autoshop classes at McEachern High Schooland enjoying them.

In his junior year, he met Mr. KevinWard, a construction teacher atMcEachern High School. Jeremy en-rolled in Mr. Ward’s construction class,and his career path began to change.Mr. Ward invested in Jeremy and en-couraged him in the constructionclasses.

In Jeremy’s senior year, he ex-pressed a desire to apply for the AtlantaElectrical Joint Apprenticeship TrainingCommittee (AEJATC) apprenticeshipprogram through the Atlanta ElectricalContractors Association and IBEWLocal Union 613.

Jeremy made application to theprogram and was accepted. Mr. Ward’sinvestment did not stop there. Hehelped Jeremy apply for and receive aScholarship at McEachern High Schoolwhich paid for his books and his first setof tools to begin his career in the elec-trical trade.

In July 2000, Jeremy started hiselectrical career as an apprentice work-ing for Eckardt Electric Company inChamblee, Georgia. He completed afive-year program of study through the

AEJATC while working full time obtain-ing valuable on the job work experience.During those five years of study, he at-tended 1440 hours of classroom studyplus received 10,000 hours of on thejob training. He has worked for EckardtElectric for 13 years now and is a fore-man for Eckardt Electric, installing andoverseeing electrical installations andmost of all, beginning to mentor youngapprentices in the trade.

Life hit Jeremy hard but by thegrace of God he never gave up on hisdream. The construction industry hasprovided well for him, his wife, and fourchildren. It’s provided an education,good pay, and good benefits and mostof all, a bright future. The investmentand encouragement of Mr. Ward helpedcatapult Jeremy to a successful careerin the Electrical Industry.

By the way, the teacher Mr. Wardis the same Mr. Kevin Ward of CEFGA.He is still changing lives and makingdreams come true for many young menand young women. Thank you, Mr.Ward for your commitment.

Editors Note: The seeds of this successstory were planted more than 13 years ago,when CEFGA Operations Director KevinWard was a construction teacher atMcEachern High School in Cobb County.CEFGA and Mr. Ward just learned aboutthis story in early 2014. It’s a good re-minder that teachers really do influencelives every day. For information aboutCEFGA, visit www.cefga.org v

When life hits hard—dream!

I

Jeremy Tuggle

By Wade Tuggle | Eckardt Electric

March | April 2014 17

fter I graduated from Ken-nesaw Mountain Highschool, I moved out to East-ern Kentucky for college,with every intention of ma-joring in broadcast mediaand playing college foot-

ball. I ended up returning home after aless than stellar year and tried my luckat a community college. Unfortunately,that too went poorly. I could never getinterested in any of my classes andhonestly never gave it any real effort.Three years went by before a goodfriend of mine, and now graduate,started talking about Georgia TradeSchool, and I knew that it was where Iwanted to be.

My best advice for any prospectivewelder would be to be dedicated anddriven every day. Take in as much infor-mation as you can. Ask questions anddon't be afraid to make mistakes. Burnit till you learn it!

Georgia Trade School changed mylife in many ways and really has mademe what I can only hope is a much bet-ter person. Instructor James Spinnerstood by my side through my goodwelding days and my bad. From him andthe other instructors I learned patienceand humility, not only when welding butjust in general. The school gave me allthe tools to do whatever I put my mindto and they drove me every day to bebetter than the day before.

I ended up getting a job with asmall company called Apex Weldingright out of school, and it’s been amaz-ing since day one. It’s been a little bit ofeverything. From running pipe at CKS,a company that produces many of theplastic bottles we use every day, to a lit-tle bit of work for Lockheed Martin.Throughout this year, most of our timewill be spent at CKS in some of theirnew warehouses but we will also berunning all the welded pipe for Georgia

Southern university's new football fieldhouse. Needless to say we'll have our

hands full, but I have no doubt that wecan handle it! v

18 Georgia Contractor

Zach Burgess - welder

ABy Zach Burgess

19March | April 2014

20 Georgia Contractor

hether you are readingabout the pyramids at Gizaor the stone walls nearCusco, Peru, the official ex-planation for the creation ofthis fascinating stonework

is usually the same: thousands of work-ers hauled enormous stone blocks(some weighing many tons) over greatdistances and then pounded and fittedthem together with nothing more so-phisticated than copper chisels andstone hammers. Really?

Personally, my logic sort of cavedin (no pun intended) at the haulingstage. But, OK, there are all of thosetextbook drawings of thousands ofworkers tugging on ropes attached togreat stones that make it somehow tothe top of the pyramid or wall or tem-ple. But what happened next producesanother gasp: these great stones werethen fitted together with such precisionthat no modern mason could duplicatethe outcome. Stones that were regularand deliberately irregular were packedso closely together that no piece ofpaper (even if they had had paper)could fit between them. But still there’smore to puzzle over. Many of thesestructures are constructed of perfectlyfitting stones that have a smooth, shinysurface—like cut cheese or butter. Pre-sumably, they weren’t quarried with thesurfaces smooth and shiny, so whatwere the ancients able to do to producethis effect? Some archaeologists sug-gest that the workers simply polishedthe stones until they shone. But what ofthe joints’ perfection? Some stones lookas if they were melted and pressed intoa form with the corresponding block.

Some, who have investigated thistechnique in Incan ruins, call thisprocess vitrification and molding. Inother words, the stones are similar tothose that have been thermally disag-

gregated. One such researchers is JesúsGamarra of Cusco, Peru. Jesús and hisfather, Alfredo, spent many years inves-tigating the Incan sites and collectingphotos and information about the tech-

niques used. The elder Gamarra beganhis research into the phenomenon in theearly part of the 20th century and spenthis life investigating this mystery andothers of his hometown Cusco. Sr.

21March | April 2014

Ollantaytambo is an excellent site in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here allkinds of vitrified and molded stones can be observed. In this example of the fa-mous perfect fit, there is reflection, smooth parts, and a different color to be ob-served, especially at the borders.

A vitrified stoneblock in a wall inside of Koricancha.

The mystery of vitrified and molded rocks

WBy Beulah Banks | Staff Writer

Gamarra puts the history of thesestones even farther back than the Incancivilization—much further back. Beforehis death in 1999, he recorded the de-tails of his research.

The father and son also observedthat some of the stones in Tiahuanaco,Ollantaytambo, Koricancha, and thesite at Yuroc Rumi, Vilcabama, con-tained evidence that metal clamps andT-grooves were used to join the stones.Evidence of the use of clamps has alsobeen seen in Egyptian ruins. Thesegrooves appear to be limited to themost monumental structures.

Why would the builders need asmall metal clamp to hold large stoneblocks in place? Alfredo Gamarra saidthat the perfect fitting blocks are per-fect because they were moldable at themoment of construction. If Alfredo wasright, one can imagine that especially

big blocks were more difficult to treat,and that the T-clamps would havehelped to hold the stones in place sothat they would harden out in the cor-rect position. This would mean that theshine observed on these stones was notdue to polishing but to vitrification.

Vitrified stones are simply stonesthat have been melted to a point wherethey form a glass or glaze. But howcould these huge stones have under-gone such a process? Glass or glazesare traditionally created using a fur-nace. This process requires tempera-tures to exceed 1,000° C. According toSr. Gamarra, this vitrification processwould have been applied to once softstone that was still in a clay-like state,hardening them and fortifying the con-struction.

Jan Peter de Jong, an agriculturalengineer who graduated from the Uni-versity of Wageningen in Netherlands,first visited Ecuador on an irrigationproject high in the Andes in 1991. Hiswork took him eventually to Peru, andas he visited ancient sites like Sacsay-hauman, just above Cusco, and MachuPicchu, he, too, began to appreciate thegenius of the builders of these greatstructures. Up close and personal, hebegan to notice the fascinating tech-niques that no one in the scientific com-munity could quite explain. That’s whenhe met Jesús and Alfredo and started

on a 15-year study of the ancient sites.Mr. de Jong points out on his Web

site that huge molded rocks similar tothose of the Inca sites of Peru were alsomade at other ancient sites around theworld. Stone work similar to that foundin Peru can be observed in Malta, Egypt,and Turkey.

There has been much discussionparticularly about vitrification at theIncan sites. Was this a deliberate actionor could this have been some naturaloccurrence? Natural or not, we are stillleft with the mystery of how these greatstones were heaved into place.

I am particularly fascinated by theone thing that we can most assuredlyobserve: the ancients had knowledgethat we no longer possess. Humblingand intriguing, this calling card of sophis-tication leaves me with a new respect forthe human accomplishment that verylong ago preceeded us.v

22 Georgia Contractor

The area of the T-groove is also vitrified.

Alfredo Gamarra in Sacsayhuaman Cusco, the old Inca Capital

Author’s note: A special thanks to JanPeter de Jong for his kind cooperationon this article. For photo referencesused in this article, please see his Web

site: www.ancient-mysteries-ex-plained.com. Mr. de Jong offers greatdetail on the subject on his extensiveWeb site. He has also produced a doc-umentary, The Cosmogony of the Three

Worlds, which can be ordered atwww.ancient-mysteries-explained.com

ith a still uncertain econ-omy and a more active reg-ulatory climate, 2014expects to be anotherchallenging year for em-ployers in their ongoing ef-forts to avoid potential

litigation and government investiga-tions. Here is a series of ‘hot topics’ for2014, with some topics being continu-ations of prior trends and others beingpart of specific government enforce-ment initiatives:

The Employee MisclassificationInitiative. The Internal Revenue Service(‘IRS’) and the Department of Labor(‘DOL’) have engaged in a joint initia-tive to seek out and correct employers’misclassification of employees as inde-pendent contractors. Notably, bothagencies have increased the level offunding and manpower devoted to thisinitiative, which the government esti-mates can bring in over $7 billion in ad-ditional revenues. Given this heightenedscrutiny and the far-reaching implica-tions of misclassification (including,without limitation, liability for back pay-roll taxes and penalties, wage and hourconcerns, liability for unpaid benefits,and civil penalties under federal andstate law), employers should take thetime now to ensure that any personclassified as an ‘independent contrac-tor’ or a ‘consultant’ is defensibly clas-sified, and that existing documentationsupports the classification.

Limitations on the Use of CriminalBackground Checks for EmploymentPurposes. The Equal Employment Op-portunity Commission (‘EEOC’) re-cently issued a guidance regarding theuse of criminal background checks forrecruiting and other employment pur-poses, which can be found athttp://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guid-

ance/arrest_conviction.cfm. In sum,the EEOC believes that the use of crim-inal background checks has a disparateimpact on certain protected classesand that the use of such checks mustbe tailored narrowly to match the na-ture and requirements of the positionin question. The EEOC generally re-jects blanket exclusions in which em-ployers exclude any applicant who hasa criminal arrest or conviction. Sincethe issuance of the guidance, the EEOChas engaged in increased enforcementin support of the guidance and has ini-tiated several class actions attackingblanket exclusions. And, unsurpris-ingly, plaintiffs’ attorneys have also fo-cused on employers’ backgroundcheck policies and practices as a basisfor filing discrimination claims. There-fore, employers should review theirbackground check policies and prac-tices, and consider narrowing overly-broad policies, and especially any

blanket exclusions for criminal history. Increased Scrutiny of Social Media

Practices. Over the past few years, mostemployers have implemented policiesto regulate their employees’ use of so-cial media. Considering the explosion ofsocial networking sites, such policiesare an important way to protect busi-ness reputation and goodwill. Employ-ers should be aware, however, that theNational Labor Relations Board(‘NLRB’) has been actively scrutinizingsuch policies to ensure that they do notinterfere with employee rights, specifi-cally to engage in protected ‘concertedactivity’ under the National Labor Rela-tions Act—the right to discuss termsand conditions of employment. No-tably, the protection for concerted ac-tivity applies not just to unionizedworkforces, but also to nonunionizedemployers. The NLRB has not hesitatedto overturn policies that purport to pro-hibit employees from discussing the

23March | April 2014

Employment law update:What employers should expect in 2014

WBy Henry M. Perlowski & Ashley S. Kelly | Partners AGG

Henry M. Perlowski Partner, Atlanta Office

(404) 873-8684henry.perlowski@agg.com

Ashley S. Kelly Partner, Atlanta Office

(404) 873-7020 ashley.kelly@agg.com

terms and conditions of their employ-ment, even discussions that would por-tray an employer in a negative light.

Social media practices are also fac-ing challenges on other fronts. Pollsshow that employers increasingly arerequiring job candidates to allow theemployer to access an applicant’s per-sonal social media accounts, such asFacebook or Twitter. As a result, manystates, including California, Delaware,Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and NewJersey, have recently enacted laws pro-hibiting employers from requesting so-cial media user names or passwordsfrom employees or job candidates.Other states, including Georgia, areconsidering similar legislation. Employ-ers should check all relevant state lawsbefore requiring potential employees tohand over the keys to their social mediaaccounts.

More, More, More Wage and HourActions. As in the past few years, 2014promises to be another active year forwage and hour disputes. Driven by in-creased enforcement action by theDOL, as well as private claims by em-ployees, employers are finding their paypractices under heightened scrutiny.There are many different types of alle-gations in wage and hour claims. Someof the most common are as follows:• Employees claim that they are im-

properly classified as ‘exempt,’ andtherefore have not been paid mini-mum wage or overtime pay towhich they were entitled.

• Employees assert that their em-ployers failed to pay them for timeworked ‘after hours,’ such as re-turning e-mail or answering phonecalls.

• Employees contend that their em-ployers improperly docked theirpay for meal periods and breaksthat the employees were not ableto take, including through ‘auto-matic’ deductions.

• Workers claim that they were im-

properly classified as ‘unpaid in-terns,’ when in fact they shouldhave been paid as regular employ-ees.

Given the high cost of these disputes –which are often brought as collectiveactions – employers should periodicallyaudit their pay practices to determinewhether they are consistent with theFair Labor Standards Act and applicablestate law, and seek counsel as to themost effective way to mitigate any risksin this area. The law in this area is verypunitive, as innocent mistakes often re-sult in significant liability (with defensesto liability being very limited).

Ever Increasing Employee Migra-tion. Numerous studies show thatworkers are changing jobs more thanever to the considerable detriment ofemployers who invest time and moneyin training and allow employees accessto customers and confidential informa-tion. Therefore, it is vital that employersexamine their policies, including theirrestrictive covenant agreements, to en-sure that they are adequately protectedfrom migration and post-migrationcompetition, recognizing that the lawsin this area are very state-specific. And,employers in Georgia can now take ad-vantage of a law promoting the enforce-ability of noncompetition and otherrestrictive covenant agreements. Whilethere has been much confusion sur-rounding the effective date of the newlaw, at least one federal court has heldthat the new statute applies only tocovenants executed on or after May 11,2011. Employers therefore should con-sider obtaining new covenants to takeadvantage of the new law (becauseprior agreements still will be held to thevery difficult ‘old Georgia law’).

Proliferation of Alternative WorkArrangements. Most employers permitsome form of alternative work arrange-ments, whether job sharing, flextime, acompressed workweek, telecommuting,or some other arrangement. Thesearrangements can be extremely usefulfor securing the best talent and increas-

ing employee morale, but they alsobring numerous risks, including many ofthe wage and hour, misclassification,and employee migration concerns dis-cussed above. Before entering into anyalternative work arrangement, employ-ers should ensure that the arrangementis carefully defined and that they under-stand fully the potential pitfalls associ-ated with any nontraditional form ofemployment.

Implementation of the AffordableCare Act. Finally, and perhaps most sig-nificantly, the employer mandate of theAffordable Care Act (‘ACA’) goes intoeffect for most employers on January 1,2015, with the implementation for smallemployers with 50-99 employeespushed back to 2016. In very generalterms, the ACA requires employerswith 50 or more full-time equivalentemployees to provide affordable healthcoverage for their employees or risk fac-ing stiff penalties. We cannot stressenough that employers must preparefor the implementation of the mandatethis year, well before its effective date.The ACA mandate also is going to re-sult in increased scrutiny of independ-ent contractor classifications (asdiscussed above) when employers seekto avoid the mandate by classifyingworkers as contractors or consultants.

If you have questions or would likeadditional information about any ofthese topics and how they may affectyour business, please contact Henry M.Perlowski or Ashley S. Kelly of AGG’sEmployment Law Team. v

24 Georgia Contractor

25March | April 2014

Georgia Contractor26

March | April 2014 27

etroPower Electrical Con-tractors’ Jaime Moralesvisited his former highschool construction classto speak with studentsabout his experiences asan electrical apprentice.

Jaime, who graduated from West HallCounty HS in 2012, was asked by hisformer instructor to give current con-struction students a glimpse into thelife of an electrical apprentice and hisexperiences as a MetroPower Em-ployee. Jaime’s former instructor, Mr.Mike Madsen has always been astrong supporter of the constructionindustry and wanted his students tohear first-hand of the great opportuni-ties available in the electrical trade aswell as the behavior required to be asafe and successful employee in a dy-namic work environment. Jaime ex-plained that success on the jobsiterequires teamwork focused on safety,waste elimination, empowerment, andengagement. A strong team will al-ways meet or exceed daily objectivesas long as everyone communicates ef-fectively, watches out for one-another,and uses the knowledge and skills de-veloped through formal and informaltraining.

Jaime talked about the discipline,focus, and flexibility required to worksafely and efficiently in a fast pacedand ever-changing environment.Jaime clearly stated that safety is hisnumber one priority (each day) andthat students should always be mind-ful of their surroundings whether theyare at work or not. Jaime also talkedabout his Independent Electrical Con-tractors (IEC) Apprenticeship and thetime management he must exercise tomake sure he completes his homeworkeach week before attending class.

Jaime gave students insight into thevarious projects he has been assignedand the tasks performed. He statedthat he enjoys the challenge of workthat requires the fine balance of elec-trical theory and on-the-job training.He gave specific examples of strippingwire, installing devices, terminatingwires, and his experiences as a teammember that installed fluorescentlighting in the basement of Grady Hos-pital. Students really enjoyed Jaime’stalk and asked some very good ques-tions regarding the trade and his train-ing at the IEC. Jaime’s enthusiasmexemplifies the pride and dedicationthat apprentice’s exhibit each andevery day and how this enthusiasmcan achieve amazing results.

Scott Holtzclaw is now the con-struction instructor at West HallCounty High School and maintains theprogram’s accreditation through TheConstruction Education Foundation ofGeorgia (CEFGA) in Carpentry, Electri-cal, Masonry, and Plumbing. Studentsare trained using the National Centerfor Construction and Education Re-search (NCCER) Curriculum. NCCER

develops standardized constructionand maintenance curricula and assess-ments with portable credentials whichare tracked through NCCER’s NationalRegistry that allows organizations andcompanies to track the qualificationsof their craft professionals and/orcheck the qualifications of possiblenew hires. The National Registry alsoassists craft professionals by maintain-ing their records in a secure database.v

28 Georgia Contractor

MetroPower apprentice returns to highschool to talk about his experiences

MJaime Morales

Gov. Nathan Deal and the Governor’sOffice of Workforce Development(GOWD) are pleased to recognize Co-lumbia, Effingham, Glynn, Jackson,Meriwether and Murray CountySchools for having 100 percent of thesystem’s high schools organized with aGo Build Georgia High School Team.

“Go Build Georgia High SchoolTeams serve as a great resource for ourstate, educating young people on theopportunities in the skilled trades andbuilding a strong workforce,” said Deal.“Special thanks to these educators fortheir commitment to Georgia’s youthand the economic future of our state.”

The Go Build Georgia High SchoolTeams program launched in October2012 to provide the next workforce gen-eration with the necessary resources tomake informed career decisions aftergraduation. The teams, made up of teach-ers, counselors, and local business lead-ers, promote the values and opportunitiesavailable in the skilled trade industry.

“I applaud the efforts of theseschools for gaining 100 percent Go BuildGeorgia High School team participa-tion,” said Ben Hames, executive direc-tor for GOWD. “With more than 220teams across the state working to closethe skilled labor gap, we are proud ofthese educators and look forward to ex-periencing the far reaching benefits of askilled, available workforce in Georgia.”

The Go Build Georgia programseeks to close our state’s skilled laborgap by dispelling misconceptions aboutthe industry and building a pipeline ofworkers. The online Web site, www.gob-uildgeorgia.com, provides data, informa-tion and guidance to students andparents about careers in the industry andhelp on how to get started. Featuredskilled trade occupations highlighted onthe Web site include welders, pipefitters,

truck drivers, electricians, plumbers, in-dustrial maintenance, civil engineers,and in-ground utility contractors.

“Through the Golden Isles CareerAcademy, Glynn County has been in-volved in Go Build Georgia since itslaunch in 2012. It is important that weclose the skills gap so that upon gradu-ation, students have the opportunity tomove right into the workforce if that istheir chosen career path,” said HowardMann, superintendent of Glynn CountySchools. “Our CTAE instructors use re-sources like the Go Build Georgia Website as a career exploratory tool for stu-dents to learn more about the opportu-nities and to get them excited about thepotential for success after high school.”

“The Murray County School Sys-tem recognizes the value of preparingstudents for careers in the skilled trades

and we believe the GBG High SchoolTeams are an important step in makinginformation available,” said Vickie Reed,superintendent of Murray CountySchools. “We appreciate the supportwe are receiving from the Go BuildGeorgia program as we strive to makeour mission, ‘Committed to studentsuccess, no exceptions, no excuses’ areality for all students.”

“We are excited to take yet anotherstep in our journey for education excel-lence,” said Randy Shearouse, superin-tendent of Effingham County Schools.“Working together as a community, weare building on the success of ourschool system’s Career, Technical andAgricultural Education program by par-ticipating in the Go Build Georgia initia-tive. Both of our high schools work toincorporate the importance of learning

29March | April 2014

Contractor NewsDeal and Governor’s Office of Workforce Development congratulate six school systems

IEC Atlanta awarded Kristen Williamsof Penco Electrical Contractors Inc., its2013 Member of the Year Award. Mrs.Williams was presented her well-de-served award at IEC’s 2013 annual hol-iday party held on December 13th.

She has supported the IEC and theindustry by helping with the design ofthe Emerging Leader Program from in-ception, which she also enrolled in her-self. As a member of the NationalAssociation of Women in Construction(NAWIC), she donated the electricalmaterial for MAGIC Camp for girls in-terested in construction. MAGIC Campwas an IEC and NAWIC sponsoredevent. She is also a member of the At-lanta Board of Directors and has repre-

sented IEC at various meetings.Congratulations to Kristen

Williams, IEC’s 2013 Member of theyear. Your dedication, hard-work, vision

for the industry, and women in the in-

dustry does not go unnoticed. IEC is

thankful to Mrs. Williams for her sup-

port and looks forward to blazing into

the future with her and Penco Electrical

Contractors Inc.

IEC is a trade association for merit

shop electrical contractors and offers a

wide array of training programs for ap-

prentices and experienced electricians.

In addition to the electrical apprentice-

ship training program, IEC provides per-

sonnel referral including loan/borrow

programs, and provides a broad range

of informational resources for electrical

contractors in Atlanta and Georgia. v

30 Georgia Contractor

a skilled trade and good work habits.”“The Go Build Georgia High School

Teams Program helps our teachers bet-ter promote careers in fields experienc-ing a shortage of high-skilled workers,”said Sandra Carraway, superintendentof Columbia County Schools. “Throughthe program, our students are exposedto the value of learning a trade as weseek to dispel their misconceptionsabout the industry and inspire them to

consider building a career as a skilledtradesman.”

“Jackson County is very proud tohave achieved 100 percent participa-tion in the Go Build Georgia Initiative.”said April Howard, superintendent ofJackson County Schools. “Not onlydoes the experience equip our studentsfor success, ultimately the program em-powers our communities by providing amore skilled work force which promotes

our economic development.”“This is another exciting step in

preparing our graduates for the world ofwork,” said Carol L. Lane, superintend-ent of Meriwether County Schools. “Weare seeing more and more jobs come toMeriwether County, and programs suchas Go Build help us show that we areable to produce top notch employees.”Contact: Hope Peterson (404) 316 -5509v

IEC Atlanta Awards Kristen Williams of Penco Electrical Contractors Inc. the 2013 Member of the Year

IEC and the Downtown Atlanta Construction Workforce Consortium

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, IEC Training Di-rector, Todd Hawkins participated in theDowntown Atlanta Construction Work-force Consortium to serve as vice chair,Training and Skills Committee. Mr.Hawkins will work with the committeeto devise a plan that helps meet the de-mand for labor during the constructionof the Atlanta Falcons stadium in down-town Atlanta. The goal is to help 1,000Atlanta residents connect with job op-portunities and training throughout theconstruction project. As the Greater At-lanta Area begins work on the AtlantaFalcons stadium project the demand forworkers becomes immensely multi-plied! All trades are in need of workersand have been for a long time. Skilledlabor shortages that were forecast for

years are appearing today! Those of usin the construction trade know how dif-ficult it is to find one worker much lessthe hundreds of workers that a projectof this magnitude demands.

Skilled labor, already a critical issuefor the construction industry promptedGeorgia governor, Nathan Deal tolaunch the Go Build Georgia campaigndesigned to get people engaged in ca-reers in construction. Executive Direc-tor, Niel Dawson serves on the advisoryboard to Go Build Georgia. To beginsolving the immediate problem of laborneeds for the stadium project IEC At-lanta Chapter was asked to join theConsortium to focus on the area of pro-viding workers to the jobsite. The initialplan calls for providing an assessment

of interested applicants, delivering anorientation of the construction industryand basic construction safety training.

Once these steps are completedthe committee would continue provid-ing career guidance to applicants sothey can find specific in depth careertraining such as the IEC’s Electrical Ap-prenticeship Program.

IEC is a trade association for meritshop electrical contractors and offers awide array of training programs for ap-prentices and experienced electricians.In addition to the electrical apprentice-ship training program, IEC provides per-sonnel referral including loan/borrowprograms, and provides a broad rangeof informational resources for electricalcontractors in Atlanta and Georgia. v

Sam Stiteler was recently installed asthe 2014 Chairman of the board of di-rectors of the Associated Builders andContractors of Georgia Inc. (ABC). Theassociation also installed its 2014 boardof directors at its annual business anddinner meeting at the Cobb GalleriaCentre.

“ABC is a dynamic organizationrepresenting top caliber companies thatbuild excellent construction projects inAtlanta, the Southeast, and across thecountry,” Stiteler said.

Stiteler serves as Business Devel-opment Manager for Metro Power,which has offices in Atlanta, Macon,Columbus, Albany, and Greenville,South Carolina. For over 30 years,Metro Power has served the electricalconstruction and services needs ofcommercial, industrial, and institutionalclients across the Southeast in a timelyfashion with pride, trust, and value ulti-mately resulting in total client satisfac-tion. He has been involved in ABC formore than a decade serving on theboard of directors and numerous com-mittees, and has over 13 years of expe-rience in the construction industry, withan emphasis in business developmentand operations.

Stiteler graduated from ClemsonUniversity in 1988 with a Bachelor ofScience degree in Management. He andhis family reside in Dallas, Georgia,where he is involved in church and com-munity activities.

Other ABC of Georgia officers in-stalled at its business meeting are:

Officers/Executive Committee

members:

• Chairman, Sam Stiteler,

MetroPower

• Chairman-Elect, Phil Greeves,JAMCo Inc.

• Vice Chairman, Jeff Toebe,McCarthy Building Companies

• Treasurer, Al Clark, Smith Adcock& Company

• President, Bill Anderson, ABC ofGeorgia (non-voting member)

Directors:

• Gary Bishop, PCL IndustrialConstruction Company

• Rob Cooper, Ivey MechanicalCompany, LLC

• David Hendrick, Hendrick,Phillips, Salzman & Flatt

• Alex Henry, DPR HardinConstruction

• Eric James, Harcon Inc.

• Jim Pritchett, Balfour BeattyConstruction

• Tammy Pace, Pace Drywall, LLC

• Collin Skutt, All AmericanConstruction Services

• Matthew Smith, ManhattanConstruction Company

• Jill Stratton, Juneau ConstructionCompany

• Adam Wheeler, Brasfield & Gorrie

Legal Counsel:

• Scott Walters, Thrasher Liss &Smith, LLC

ABC of Georgia represents 300 com-mercial and industrial contractors, sup-pliers, and service firms, representingmore than 10,000 employees. Associ-ated Builders and Contractors Inc.(ABC) is a national trade associationwith 22,000 members representingmore than 19,000 construction and in-dustry-related firms. Founded on themerit shop philosophy, ABC and its 72chapters help members win work anddeliver that work safely, ethically, andprofitably for the betterment of thecommunities in which they work. v

31March | April 2014

Stiteler Installed as Chairman of the Board of Atlanta-Based ABC of Georgia Inc.

2014 ABC of Georgia Chairman Sam Stiteler (left), MetroPower, receives

the chairman’s gavel from 2013 Chairman Kirk Mathews.

IEC Atlanta Awards Roland Weekley of Johnson Leppard Engineers the 2013 Partner of the Year Award

IEC Atlanta awarded Roland Weekley ofJohnson Leppard Engineers, its 2013Partner of the Year award. Mr. Weeklywas selected from of a total of 65 excel-lent, Atlanta partner members, because

of his consistent support throughout2013. His time outside of his duties atJohnson Leppard Engineers consists ofvolunteering to work with IEC instruc-tors, and designing and writing lab activ-

ities to help IEC apprentices better un-derstand concepts like Ohm’s Law. Mr.Weekley brings with him an electricalengineering background that continuesto elevate our apprentices and entire

32 Georgia Contractor

electrical apprenticeship program.Congratulations Roland Weekley,

IEC’s 2013 Partner of the year. IEC isproud to have the contributions pro-vided to the excellence of IEC appren-tices, provided by Roland Weekley andJohnson Leppard Engineers.

IEC is a trade association for meritshop electrical contractors and offers awide array of training programs for ap-prentices and experienced electricians.In addition to the electrical apprentice-ship training program, IEC provides per-sonnel referral including loan/borrow

programs, and provides a broad rangeof informational resources for electricalcontractors in Atlanta and Georgia.

For more information about IECand its programs, contact Niel Dawson,Executive Director at (770) 242-9277or niel.dawson@iecatlanta.org v

Paver Edging Spikes will Revolutionize the Industry

MCP Supply, a distributor of the Ed-getite is pleased to introduce newpaver edging spikes that makes paveredging installations stronger.

The new paver spikes help solvethe separation problem that can occurwhen installing paver edging with com-mon spikes. They were created fromfirsthand experience when Jeff Good-man, a landscape/hardscape contrac-tor with 25 years of experience,continually encountered this problemwhile installing paver edging. Aftergrowing tired of seeing and repairing

failed brick edging for years, he feltthere had to be a way to solve this prob-lem. Edgetite™ paver edging spikeswere created with this in mind.

Edgetite™ paver edging spikes areunique because of the patent pendingangled tip design. As an edging spike ishammered into the compacted base,the angled tip deflects away from theinstallation while the head pushes theedge restraint tightly against the brick.The angled final position of an installedpaver spike resists frost heave whileadding strength and longevity to your

brick project.

When Mr. Goodman pounded in his

first Edgetite™ paver edging spike, the

result was amazing. The tip deflected

away while the head firmly secured the

edging to the brick. Now an old installa-

tion problem has a solution, and the

brick paver edging industry has an ally.

Ask your local Landscape Supply

dealer about Edgetite™ paver spikes. See

videos showing how Edgetite™ spikes

work visit www.mcpsupply.com.v

Red Hawk Road: Chicago Pneumatic Gas-Powered Breaker Now Available in North American Markets

Chicago Pneumatic ConstructionEquipment has introduced the RedHawk Road gas-powered breaker tothe North American market, featuringa powerful breaking force, easy porta-bility, minimum vibration, and maxi-mum production all in one tool, idealfor general construction, demolition,and road building applications.

The Red Hawk Road – the only gas-powered breaker in the Chicago Pneu-matic breaker lineup – is easilytransported to any jobsite, and is de-signed to get the job done faster, com-bining high percussive energy with highblow frequency.

Offering the same power-to-weight ratio as pneumatic or hydraulicbreakers without any power source orhoses, the Red Hawk Road delivers apowerful breaking force of 60 joules.With a light weight of 55 pounds, thebreaker has a full speed impact rate of1,440 blows per minute (bpm) and op-erates with a guaranteed sound powerlevel of 109 dBA.

The hand-arm vibration value ofthe Red Hawk is 4.3 meters per second(m/s2) and allows 50 percent longer

work time with a one cylinder, two-stroke engine. Measuring at 36.5-inches with a width across the handlesof 24-inches, the Red Hawk Road mini-mizes vibration reducing the impact onoperators while increasing productivity.

Featuring a fan-driven cooling sys-tem, the Red Hawk Road has a recoilstarter with a decompression valve, aredesigned tank cap, and electronic ig-nition for easy start-up in any type ofweather.

“The Red Hawk Road is the tough-est breaker in the Chicago Pneumaticlineup and can be utilized for everythingfrom driving and compacting to cuttingand breaking,” said Gus Armbruster,product manager, handheld tools atChicago Pneumatic. “Delivering morepower means increased efficiency andallows workers to be more productiveon the jobsite while still maintaining acomfortable level of operation.”

For more information on the com-plete line of CP breakers, please visitwww.cp.com.v

Dataforensics, developer of geotechni-cal and geoenvironmental data man-agement solutions, announces thatpLog Tablet for Android is now avail-able for immediate download from theGoogle Play store.

The evolution of pLog now allowsusers a new range of hardware optionsfor field data collection, furthering thedigital data collection model thatDataforensics has been a proponent offrom the inception of the company tenyears ago.

This iteration of pLog greatly en-hances usability by allowing users toleverage new hardware options withbigger screen sizes, faster processors,greater storage capacity, integratedGPS, and real time data sharing. (*Avail-ability of cellular network as well asWIFI connections will determine realtime capabilities). pLog Tablet featuresinclude:• A new, customizable user interface

with greater flexibility. Customizewhich data collection parametersare shown in each module and inwhat order the items are shown

• Graphical Log Preview. The abilityto view a standardized borehole login graphical format as data is en-tered has been a common requestfrom our users. That dream is nowa reality as you can view the loggraphically on the data collectiondevice so you can better visualizethe investigation as it is happening.

• Real-time data sharing. The abilityto send the data and/or the stan-dardized log report electronicallydirectly from the field makes shar-ing data with your colleagues asimple process enabling bettercommunication between field andoffice staff.

• A simpler, direct data export togINT. Users will no longer be re-quired to synchronize their hand-

held/tablet with their PC beforeworking with their data in gINT.pLog Tablet will directly export fielddata to gINT, eliminating confusionfor the user and simplifying instal-lation and reducing the IT re-sources necessary to run thesystem.

• More streamlined navigation. Nomore tapping between screens toinput a specific type of data –alldata can be accessed for a particu-lar module from one screen.

“pLog Tablet is a major milestone in

the effort to move the geotechnical andgeoenvironmental field personnel to-wards digital technology. pLog Tabletstreamlines the data collection processeven further to create even greater effi-ciencies in the process. We can’t waitfor users to experience pLog Tablet”said Scott Deaton, President ofDataforensics.

pLog Tablet for Android is nowavailable from the Google Play Store:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dataforensics

pLog Tablet for Windows is available di-rectly from Dataforensics. v

33March | April 2014

DataForensics Announces pLog Tablet

Georgia Contractor34

nnovative designs, technol-ogy, and alternative deliverymethods are helping depart-ments of transportation dra-matically expand thecapacity, safety, and mobilityof urban interchanges and in-

tersections without the cost of physicalexpansion and the need to acquire rightof way.

Technology dramatically expands

capacity

According to an October 2013 HNTBAmerica THINKS survey, many Ameri-cans expect their travel experiences togreatly improve in the next two decadesthanks to innovation. One of the mostexciting innovations in interchange andintersections is adaptive traffic signalcontrol. According to the Federal High-way Administration, DOTs can expectimprovements in efficiency rangingfrom ten percent to as much as 50 per-cent in areas where signals are particu-larly outdated.

Unlike conventional signal systems,adaptive traffic signal control collectsreal-time traffic information and thenadjusts the signal timing plan to facili-tate maximum throughput at an inter-section. The software is smart enoughto respond on a cycle-by-cycle basis tothe level of traffic currently on the sys-tem, providing an amazing increase inefficiency.

Adaptive signal control technology:• Continuously distributes green

light time based on prevailing traf-fic conditions

• Improves travel time reliability byprogressively moving vehiclesthrough green lights

• Reduces congestion by creatingsmoother flow

• Prolongs the effectiveness of trafficsignal timing

• Reduces vehicle idling, which re-duces harmful emissions

Although the technology can greatlyimprove efficiency, it requires a signifi-cant amount of stationary sensing

equipment and the software can becomplex, which explains why only twoto three percent of traffic signals in theUnited States have this technology. Asthe technology evolves, we may seegreater adoption and adaptive trafficsignal control used to its highest poten-tial as part of an integrated corridormanagement program or as probe ve-hicle data availability increases.

No-tech or low-tech designs improve

safety, capacity

Today, there are collision-resistant in-tersections, where high-speed, right-angle crashes are things of the past.

I

By Pete Rahn & Jim Barbaresso | HNTB

Innovative technology, designs, and delivery methods are producingsafer, more efficient facilities faster

Enhancing mobility with intelligentinterchanges and intersections

Roundabouts, displaced left-turn inter-sections, median U-turn intersections,restricted crossing U-turns, and quad-rant roadway intersections are surpris-ingly effective in keeping project costsdown while driving safety and effi-ciency up.

Cost-effective diverging diamondinterchanges are helping resource-strapped DOTs bring relief and greaterlevels of safety to congested highwayjunctions by eliminating left-turncrashes and rear-end collisions.

Innovative delivery speeds construction

At a time when public agencies have asignificant backlog of transportation in-frastructure needs and insufficientfunding to address those needs, design-build and dynamic-design-bid-build(D2B2) are delivery methods beingused for massive interchanges andlarge intersections. Further, D2B2 con-forms to conventional procurementprocesses and can be instituted almostimmediately.

Executed on the right projects, de-sign-build and D2B2 also can enhancea DOT’s credibility among key decision-makers and constituents, putting theagency in a favorable position to receiveadditional funding when it is available.

There is no doubt the future willbring even more advances. HNTB hasbeen providing infrastructure solutionsfor 100 years. We have seen tremen-dous advances in interchanges and in-tersections. One day, likely within thenext 50 years, we could see the elimi-nation of traffic signals once vehicle-to-vehicle communication becomesmainstream. Until then, DOTs can relyon innovative technology, design, anddelivery methods to produce safer,more efficient assets faster.

About the Authors

Pete Rahn is HNTB’s national trans-portation practice leader, where he de-velops and directs strategies thatenhance HNTB’s service to state de-partments of transportation across thecountry. Rahn has served as director of

the Missouri Department of Trans-portation and cabinet secretary of theNew Mexico State Highway and Trans-portation Department, making him oneof only a handful of people who have leda DOT in two states. He also is pastpresident of the American Associationof State Highway and TransportationOfficials. Contact him at (816) 527-2034 or prahn@hntb.com.

Jim Barbaresso is HNTB's national in-telligent transportation systems prac-tice leader. His 35-year transportationcareer is a mix of public- and private-sector experience. Prior to joiningHNTB, he was vice president for tenyears at a company specializing in ITS.Before that, he served 18 years in vari-ous capacities at the Road Commis-sion for Oakland County, Michigan.Contact him at (313) 961-3330 or jbar-baresso@hntb.com. v

March | April 2014 35

Pete Rahn

Jim Barbaresso

36 Georgia Contractor

Georgia-owned and operated Yancey Bros.Celebrates 100 Years in Business and Its Customers Who Have Built Georgia

37March | April 2014

hen Goodloe and EarleYancey started YanceyHardware Company in 1914in the heart of what is nowdowntown Atlanta, they fo-cused on local needs, spe-cializing in selling

hardware, picks, shovels, and prisonuniforms to government agencies re-sponsible for road constructionthroughout the state of Georgia. Theyalso served as the country’s only dealerof the Adams Mule Grader, an earlyversion of the motorgrader, a piece ofearthmoving equipment that was pulled

by eight mules. But the

Yancey brothers’ entrepreneurial spiritquickly led to the company’s expansionthroughout the southeast, where thebrothers became the only distributor forthe Holt Model 45 tractor—a piece ofequipment that boasted the ability todo the work of ‘40 mules…or 40 horsesand countless humans.’ Sold by the HoltManufacturing Company, which wouldlater become the Caterpillar TractorCompany, the Holt Model 45 usheredin a new era of motorized equipmentthat appealed to farmers’ needs to in-crease production and efficiency. Good-loe and Earle Yancey visited landowners and agencies throughout Geor-

gia, Alabama, Florida, and South Car-olina and pre-sold the entire Holt Model45 inventory using only a photographand a $4,750 price tag.

This early collaboration with Holtwas the beginning of a great partner-ship. In 1925, Holt merged with C.L.Best to form The Caterpillar TractorCompany. Today, Yancey Bros. Co., stillholds the title of ‘The Nation’s OldestCaterpillar Dealer.’

Within ten years, thebrothers re-focused their

W

business to the state of Georgia aloneand split the counties to be covered.Goodloe operated in the northern halfof the state as Yancey Bros., Inc., andEarle and brother L.D. Yancey operatedin the south as the Yancey Tractor Com-pany. Yancey Bros. Co. continued to sellproducts and services to support con-tractors in the construction of countyroads, infrastructure for growing com-munities, and the expanding road con-struction and maintenance required bythe Federal Aid Road Act of 1916.

By 1947, the company had sold theYancey Tractor Company in the southand adopted the current Yancey Bros.Co. name in the north where it openeda full-service product support branch inAugusta. Subsequent expansionswould move the company to a 12-acresite on Northside Drive in Atlanta and asecond product support branch inMacon. These support centers servicedequipment for contractors building new,four-lane highways throughout thestate as well as the rerouting of High-way 41 to bypass major cities.

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisen-hower green lighted the largest publicworks project in American history at

that time by signing the Federal AidHighway Act into law and authorizing$25 Billion for 41,000 miles of an inter-state highway system. The need forYancey’s equipment and equipmentservicing became more important than

ever. Contractors throughout the coun-try bid on projects to build and extendGeorgia’s growing highway system tobetter connect the state’s growing me-tropolises as well as support thetourism industry in the state. By 1959,

38 Georgia Contractor

CAT Model 30

14 M Motor Grader

the next generation of Yancey’s carriedon the legacy of the family business,with Don becoming the President ofYancey Bros. Co. and continuing thefocus of exceptional customer service.

The next 15 years saw the companyexpanding while Interstate 75 was builtthrough swamps and granite, requiringheavy pushers, dozers, and excavators,which Yancey proudly sourced andserviced. Yancey Bros. Co. relocated toits current corporate headquarters inAustell, Georgia and ushered in thethird generation of Yancey leadershipwith Don’s younger brother Goodloe IIIassuming the role of President uponDon’s retirement. Goodloe III furtherbuilt Yancey’s legacy to deliver thehighest quality equipment in the worldwith unmatched service to its cus-tomers state-wide.

In 1995, Don Yancey’s son-in-law,Jim Stephenson, became the com-pany’s President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer, ushering in the fourth genera-tion of the Yancey family to lead thecompany. Under Jim’s leadership,Yancey has continued to thrive throughacquisitions and expansions that bettermeet the needs of customersstatewide. The company opened theCat Rental Store in 1997 to offer localand general contractors flexible rentaloptions for Caterpillar equipment, aswell as dump trucks, aerial lifts, andother specialized tools.

The Carlton Co., southern Geor-gia's Caterpillar dealership at that time,was purchased in 2002 to enableYancey to once again serve as Georgia’sexclusive Caterpillar dealer for equip-ment and power systems. Three yearslater, Yancey created Yancey Engi-neered Solutions, to meet customers’global needs as a supplier of sound-at-tenuated packaging, testing, and designsolutions and engineering services forpower generation units.

The last decade has seen Yanceybecome the exclusive dealer for schoolbus parts, OEM parts, and factory-sup-ported service for the Blue Bird Bus Cor-poration in Georgia. The company also

added forestry equipment to the list ofproducts available for customers andcreated Yancey Truck Centers to sup-port the trucking industry with equip-

ment, parts, and service throughoutcentral and southern Georgia.

Yancey’s influence and marketreach is substantial for the communi-ties in which it operates. The companynow offers products and servicesthrough two major company divisionsto the following industries: Aggregates,Industrial, Mining, Governmental,Waste, Construction, Forestry, RoadConstruction, Electric Power, Marine,Industrial and Transportation.

It is during Jim Stephenson’s tenureas CEO that Yancey Bros. Co. celebratesits 100th Anniversary, and reflects on

the impact its customers have had onthe transportation initiatives and intra-state connectivity throughout the stateand the role it plays in their success.

Yancey is proud of its long legacyin the great state of Georgia and as‘The Nation’s Oldest CaterpillarDealer.’ The company honors its cen-tennial with an anniversary theme cel-ebrating all that its customers havebuilt in Georgia – Yancey Bros. Co.: WeBuild Georgia – documenting its historyalongside that of the nation over thelast 100 years at www.WeBuildGeor-gia.com. “A lot of things have changedin the past 100 years, but the founda-tion of what Yancey Bros. Co. stands forhas not changed. It has always beenabout delivering the highest qualityequipment in the world with un-matched service and support to cus-tomers that are building Georgia,” saidPresident and CEO Jim Stephenson.“So to celebrate our milestone, wewant to tell the stories and share theimages of the people and companiesthat built our great state.”

Yancey invites you to visit the We

39March | April 2014

D6T Dozer

Georgia Contractor40

Number 12 Motor Grader

Build Georgia Web site (www.WeBuild-Georgia.com), read the stories andlearn more about the actions thatshaped the landscape of Georgia andthe history behind its many construc-tion initiatives.

From its humble beginnings onPeachtree Street and its early collabo-ration with the Caterpillar Tractor Com-pany, Yancey Bros. Co. now operates 32locations throughout Georgia, relyingupon its dedicated team of employees.Many of those employees have beenwith the company for decades, risingthrough the ranks over the course oftheir careers. No one knows this betterthan Wayne Evans, a Product SupportSales Representative and 50 year em-ployee. “I started my career at YanceyBrothers Co. the year we celebrated our50th anniversary. It has been an honorto be involved in major projects thathave shaped Georgia,” said Evans. “Wewere part of projects such as the inter-state program, building Interstates 75,85 and 285 which have been so crucialto Georgia’s growth today. Anotherwere the airport projects, I was involvedin building the third, the fourth, and thefifth runways.”

In its 100th year, the company re-

flects on its accomplishments helpingcustomers build Georgia’s landmarks,cities, roads, ports, and communitiesand celebrates its valued partners whohave built Georgia to what it is today.Yancey Bros. Co. looks forward to the

next 100 years and meeting the ever-changing needs of its customers whobuild the great state of Georgia. v

March | April 2014 41

Jim Stephenson

President & CEO

Yancey Brothers Inc.

Holt 45 Tractor

n early November, theAmerican Society for Testingand Materials (ASTM)published the new Phase IEnvironmental SiteAssessment (ESA) standardessentially creating a new

standard protocol for good commercialand customary practice to conductenvironmental due diligence studies. ThePhase I ESA is the standard method forevaluating a property for environmentalissues, and the release of the new standardhas been long awaited. While the technicaland procedural changes are known, whatis less certain is how these changes couldimpact the environmental consulting andcommercial real estate industries.

There are essentially three significantchanges in the new Phase I process. Firstis the introduction of a new type ofRecognized Environmental Condition(REC). The REC is what Phase I ESAs aredesigned to identify as they indicate a pastor present release of hazardous substancesor petroleum products, or a material threatof such a release. The new classification iscalled a Controlled RecognizedEnvironmental Condition (CREC) andindicates a release which has occurred onthe property, has been addressed to thesatisfaction of the applicable regulatoryauthority, and is subject to some form ofuse restriction imposed on the property.For example, a release from anunderground storage tank that meets cleanup standards for commercial use, but notresidential use, would be restricted tocommercial use only and therefore be aCREC. Under the previous Phase Istandard, this release would likely havebeen a REC. The new CREC term issimply a way to qualify the impact a

release may have on the property.The second major change with the

new Phase I standard is a greater focus onwhen regulatory file reviews should beconducted by the professional completingthe Phase I ESA. Before, if theEnvironmental Professional (EP) believedregulatory files would provide usefulinformation, then those files should havebeen reviewed. In the new standard, theEP should, by default, review standarddatabase files for the subject or adjoiningproperties. If they are not reviewed, the EPmust provide adequate justification as towhy not.

The third, and arguably mostimportant revision to the standard,involves the inclusion of a definition formigration in accordance with thatprovided in federal statutes. The migrationdefinition includes the movement ofpetroleum and hazardous substances inany form onto the subject property. Theimportance here is the explicit inclusion ofvapor migration. Previously, emphasis hadbeen placed on the movement ofcontamination onto a property viacontaminated groundwater flow. This newdefinition essentially requires EPs toconsider vapor migration no different thangroundwater migration. This change willalmost certainly result in additional vaporintrusion or encroachment concerns beingidentified in Phase I’s.

The publication of the new ASTMPhase I standard is certain to change theway environmental due diligence studiesare conducted, but the magnitude of thechange remains to be seen. However, somein the industry remain skeptical that thenew standard will significantly change theway studies are conducted. Whatever one’s

particular view, the impacts of the newrelease will be made known in theearly part of 2014.

We hope these ‘Lessons Learned’ willhelp you plan for, and adjust to thechanging environmental regulationsassociated with commercial and residentialreal estate acquisitions and be beneficial toyou in achieving that goal.

Respectfully,ECS Corporate Services, LLC v

Construction Engineering Services

Observations and Lessons from the School of Experience:

The New ASTM Phase Environmental Site Assessment Standard

I

Lessons Learned

Georgia Contractor42

March | April 2014 43

inally. A decade after dis-cussions began, the Geor-gia Department ofTransportation’s first PublicPrivate Partnership (P3)venture is underway.

Northwest Express Roadbuilders(NWER), a joint venture of ArcherWestern Contractors, LLC, of Atlanta,and Florida-based Hubbard Construc-tion Company, is at work on a $599 mil-lion project that will transformcommuting in Atlanta’s northwestquadrant and serve as template for sim-ilar breakthrough projects throughoutthe Metropolitan area.

The companies, along with theirlead engineering firm, Parsons Trans-portation Group, are designing andbuilding the Georgia DOT’s NorthwestCorridor (NWC), a reversible, barrier-separated managed lane system ex-tending 30 miles alongside busyInterstate Highways 75 and 575.Archer Western and Hubbard are con-tributing $60 million in what in effect isa private equity bridge loan to the proj-ect. Design and preliminary construc-tion activities are ongoing; majorconstruction will begin by summer, andthe variable-price toll lanes will open totraffic in 2018.

Building the Northwest Corridor isthe Department’s largest single invest-ment by far. It has been a long time inthe making and expenses already in-curred push the project’s total cost tonearly $834 million. No one doubts itwill prove worth the wait and a wise in-vestment, though. When it opens, theNWC will restore a mobility option in acorridor that routinely carries as manyas 230,000 vehicles a day; the project

also will be a key building block andlinchpin of the Department’s ManagedLanes System Plan—our ambitiousstrategy to extend this mobility choicethroughout Metropolitan Atlanta.

Like our colleagues in other statetransportation departments, GeorgiaDOT has watched the gap betweenavailable funding and needed fundinginexorably widen each year. And be-cause of what we refer to as our prob-lem of prosperity—Georgia’scontinuing economic and populationgrowth—the gap here is widening at adisturbingly quick pace. In Metro At-lanta alone, we need to find literally bil-lions of unidentified new dollars to keeppace with a population predicted togrow from five to eight million people injust the next 30 years. We were hope-ful when what we first called Public Pri-vate Initiatives —partnerships injectingsubstantial sums of private sector cap-ital (and innovation) into public sectorprojects—began to receive serious con-sideration. Chicago getting $1.8 billion

for its 99-year lease of the Chicago Sky-way in 2005 was encouraging, and In-diana’s $3.8 billion, 75-year Toll Roadlease a year later downright exciting.

Georgia DOT also was consideringpublic/private ventures. The GeneralAssembly had authorized them in 2003and we received several unsolicitedproposals to convert existing roads totollways and build new tolled lanes onothers, including the Northwest Corri-dor. Examining the offers though, werealized they were stand-alone projects—not interconnected to one another oran overall managed-lane strategy.Some weren’t on roads we consideredour most pressing priorities. It was ap-parent the Department needed to es-tablish a managed lane agenda anddrive its implementation. Working withsubsequent General Assemblies andthe State Transportation Board, unso-licited public/private proposals wereprohibited. We formulated a compre-hensive plan for managed lanes inMetro Atlanta and we developed a con-

Georgia DOT’s first public private partnership gets underway

FBy Russell McMurry | Chief Engineer | Georgia Department of Transportation

& Darryl VanMeter | Director of Innovative Program Delivery | Georgia Department of Transportation

Russell McMurryDarryl VanMeter

Georgia Contractor44

tinually evolving, tiered agenda of po-tential P3 projects throughout the state.(This remains one of—if not the only—prospective P3 projects blueprint in thecountry; the public/private industrynow knows what Georgia DOT consid-ers viable P3 opportunities, our priorityfor development of those projects, andhow they would link to and complementfuture efforts.)

A constant in our evolving P3 land-scape has been the Northwest Corridor.Atlanta’s aforementioned growth andthe equally increasing freight traffic onI-75 make the corridor a highest priority.We continued negotiations well into2009 trying to make a wide-ranging un-solicited NWC proposal work. Its initialiteration, featuring truck lanes and abus rapid transit network, came at aprohibitive price approaching $4 billion.The scope of improvements had to bemodified as we came to better under-stand the varying types of P3s and theirattendant requirements.

Transferring risk to a private sectorpartner, we learned, has its own cost.

Understandably, as any private entity’sinvestment in a project increases, sotoo does its desire to control the cir-cumstances that affect recouping thatinvestment. ‘Partnerships’ becomemore complicated, however, as privatesector business considerations and de-cisions must acknowledge prevailingpublic sector opinion and meld withgovernance’s public policy. There likely

is no universally applicable public/pri-vate template. What works in Chicagomay not work in Atlanta; what’s rightfor Indiana may not be right for Georgia.And what applies in Atlanta, Georgia,may be inapplicable in Dallas, Texas, orMiami, Florida. Each state, each com-munity, and each project must find itsown unique balance, its own appropri-ate terms.

March | April 2014 45

For instance, from virtually the firstmoments we began considering pub-lic/private partnerships and the tollingscenarios they usually necessitate, pre-vailing public sentiment indicated that,while tolling on new capacity could gar-ner support, Georgians did not believetolls should be charged on what werepreviously free general purpose lanes,‘roads already paid for.’ In 2005, theTransportation Board voted to makethat view Department policy.

The Board and the Department re-mained committed, however, to fashion-ing a viable environment for public/private endeavors. In 2007, the Boarddeclared that any new capacity added tolimited access roadways in Metropoli-tan Atlanta would be managed lanes.The expectation remained that PublicPrivate Initiatives, by now rechristenedPublic Private Partnerships, or P3s,would be a common, if not predominant,delivery mechanism. In a 2010 solicitedprocurement, three consortiums wereshort-listed for consideration as thegroup to build a revived Northwest Cor-ridor and also conduct preparatory en-gineering and environmental work onmanaged lanes on Interstate Highways285 and 20 on Atlanta’s west side.Later that same year, Nathan Deal waselected governor.

In the literally hundreds of meet-ings and thousands of conversationsthroughout the years of considerationof the NWC and other potential pub-lic/private projects, it became apparentthat the price of securing the billions, oreven hundreds of millions, of dollars inprivate investment we initially had en-visioned would be steep. A concessionagreement essentially giving a privatepartner decades of control of the road-way, the authority to set the toll rates,and first rights to the toll revenues, usu-ally accompanied by restrictions on theDepartment’s ability to add or expand‘competing’ infrastructure, would benecessary, reasonable business expec-tations perhaps for a private partner;something less, at least in Georgia, from

a public opinion, public policy perspec-tive. Late in 2011, Governor Deal andthe Transportation Board halted theprocurement and directed the Depart-ment to find other delivery options.

Still remaining was the sharedcommitment of the Governor, Boardand Department to the NWC projectand a public/private partnership pro-gram that would be right for Georgia, a“better way forward.” Emerging fromthat commitment—the design/build/finance hybrid P3 with NWER thatnow, ten years later, is constructing theNorthwest Corridor, the first real newcapacity we’ve been able to add to

Metro Atlanta’s Interstate System indecades. No, there wasn’t a pot of bil-lions of private-sector dollars at the endof a P3 rainbow, but there were private-sector innovations and alternative tech-nical approaches that are savinghundreds of millions of dollars.

Moreover, there now is a frame-work of shared knowledge from whichwe can undertake future public/privatepartnerships that will be in keeping withpublic opinion and consistent with pub-lic policy. In the years to come, thatknowledge base will prove to be just asimportant and beneficial as the North-west Corridor itself. v

Georgia Contractor46

Electricians $21.67Carpenters $19.90Construction Equipment Operators $16.02Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $20.41Sheet Metal Workers $20.31Painters and Paperhangers $16.84Cement Masons, Concrete Finishers, and Terrazzo Workers $17.11Roofers $15.99Drywall Installers, Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers $14.99Structural Iron and Steel Workers $19.92Carpet, Floor, and Tile Installers and Finishers $16.99Brickmasons, Blockmasons, and Stonemasons $18.52Glaziers $16.91Elevator Installers and Repairers $32.85Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers $15.72Boilermakers $24.57Plasterers and Stucco Masons $14.34

Selected Contractor Pay Scales 2013Source: QCEW-EMSI 2013

March | April 2014 47

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