Masonry Magazine November 2007 Page. 64
News
Smith has long been involved in CREW (www.crewnetwork.org), which formed in the 1980s to bring together women involved in commercial real estate for professional development and networking. She recently was selected by her peers to become the organization's national president-elect in January and will remain in that role for a year before taking over as the organization's president in 2009.
Among the change CREW seeks to bring about is the creation of a more diverse workforce, which "we think is essential for the future success of our members, their companies, and our industry," Smith says.
Manning Joins Alimak Hek
Alimak Hek Inc. has hired Paula Manning as business development manager of the HEK product line for North America. Manning comes to Alimak Hek with extensive experience in the construction elevator and platform industry. She most recently served as national marketing director for Lewis Equipment Co. and was president of Elevated Marketing, LLC, a marketing firm specializing in the heavy construction equipment market.
Manning was also VP at Champion Elevators, where she helped to pioneer the transport platform industry in the United States. Alimak Hek will draw on her experiences as they re-enter the market full force in the coming months.
Arizona Masonry Contractors Association Apprenticeship Program
Family and friends from as far away as Tennessee and Florida recently joined the masonry industry of Arizona at a graduation ceremony and celebration for 14 graduates of the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association's Apprenticeship Program:
Juan Bernal
Michael Bias
Edy Camacho
Benjamin Carranza
Francisco Chavez
Adrian Corona
Carlos Craveo
Miguel Farias, Jr.
Polo Mendez
Jesus Perez
Ramon Reyes
Oscar Rosales
Michael Snope
Jeffrey Wrobleski
The evening of dinner, dancing and a graduation ceremony celebrated the culmination of three years of training consisting of one night per week of classroom instruction and a Saturday lab session held August through May. During those three years, apprentices learned many aspects of the trade from basic block laying and blueprint reading, to brick patterns, arches and glass block and stone. Upon completion of the training, each apprentice received his journeyman card from the U.S. Department of Labor. Most will become foremen or superintendents for their sponsoring contractors. There are currently 50 apprentices in this year's program.
While in the program, apprentices are working for a contractor gaining practical experience and they also have the opportunity to compete in local and regional Masonry Skills events. The current apprentice classes will be competing locally during the upcoming 'Fastest Trowel on the Block' event; the winner will go on to compete regionally and internationally.
For more information about AMCA'S Apprenticeship program, contact Joan Dandurand, executive director, AMCA, joan@azmasonry.net.
AGC Receives Susan Harwood Grant
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) was awarded a $243,000 Susan Harwood Training Grant by The U.S. Department of Labor to continue successful Construction Focus Four hazard sessions (falls, electrocution, caught-in and struck-by) training to reduce fatalities on construction worksites.
The AGC will conduct 26 eight-hour Focus Four construction hazard training sessions at 12 AGC chapters and at national safety committee meetings, reaching about 1,200 contractor employees. The group will also distribute 1,500 educational CD-ROMs in English and Spanish to complement the training seminars.
"AGC is at the forefront of training programs designed to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for the industry," says Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of AGC. "We recognize the industry's need to protect the most valuable resource: our workers."
The AGC's grant affects the Focus Four hazards as they continue to account for the greatest number of preventable fatalities in the construction industry. During the last five years, on average, 720 workers were killed and many more were injured despite Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and special emphasis enforcement programs. Injuries and fatalities associated with the Focus Four hazards are preventable and occur when workers are unaware and guidance for the OSHA standards are not followed.
In just five years, the AGC has received more than $1.2 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants that have enabled the association to train nearly 8,000 workers in the OSHA Steel Erection Standard, Fall Protection Training or Focus Four Training. Through the grant money, the AGC has distributed 40,500 training.