WFO Construction

What trends are currently shaping the construction industry?massive increase in healthcare, strong infrastructure, increases in ppl moving into the SE is also resulting in more housing shortages.

How are you implementing sustainable building practices?thats more of a design issue. architects and engrs need to include these practices when they design projects. We are already using things like low water flow plumbing fixtures and high efficiency LED lighting. i personally believe many cities and states need to reuse existing surplus buildings instead of building everything brand new. For instance, jacksonville has MANY properties that are vacant and unused. these should be used for affordable housing or sold on the cheap to developers to help with revitalization areas

What challenges are you facing with labor shortages or supply chains?very difficult to find skilled workers. fewer ppl entering the trades over the last many years. This results in labor shortage and high labor costs. and possibly scheduling delays if not remedied quickly.

How do you ensure safety on your job sites?We make all our jobsites OSHA compliant. But we go above and beyond that. All superintendents are OSHA certified. We require safety talk sand reviews weekly on our projects. We demand safety equipment be used whether glasses, high visibility vests, or safety barricades. I clean site is a more safe site. we demand our projects are kept clean daily. Our supers have authority to immediately stop any work activity that they deem unsafe. We have a chief safety officer to check jobsites monthly.

What role does technology play in your planning and execution? We use live cameras on our bigger projects. this allows us to constantly monitor the activity and progress.
We also use project management software which helps us with scheduling, communication and tracking of things like material ordering.

Can you describe a recent project that stood out to you?We had a gas station in GA that went extremely well. We finished well ahead of schedule. I attribute this to strong field leadership, constant attention to safety and cleanliness, and planning in the office. On project cameras allowed us to better anticipate material deliveries and allowed is to update our scheduling. PM software helped us keep subcontractors updated on scheduling as well as issues that arose that needed immediate attention so it didnt delay other aspects of the construction.

What advice would you give to someone entering the construction field?I would say do it! Become a plumber or electrician, really any of the trades. Many larger firms have training programs or intern programs. There are some companies that have apprenticeship programs where they will hire you to work AND put you thru the training. Then you have an actual state license when you complete the program. We are continuing hiring interns in the office and to work in the field to gain experience and sometimes that counts towards certain college credits.