What Can an ABC Partnership Do For You?
Green Bites: Water Barrier Infiltration
ABC Brings Back School of Construction Management
ABC Presents Leadership Session on March 7: Don’t Miss It!
Time to Update Your Jobsite Posters
Merit Choice News You Can Use: IRS Issues Guidance on Reporting Health Cover Costs On Employees’ W-2s
With the slowed economy, promoting your company in anticipation of the turnaround has never been so important! Our annual Partnership Program continues to be one of the best marketing opportunities available to our members. Increased visibility among the membership is guaranteed with your company name featured at every major ABC event, in social media and on the ABC Website.
The partnership packages have been given a facelift, to incorporate the addition of social media and electronic communications that ABC uses to reach our members. Not only is your company name reaching your fellow ABC members, but also the public in general.
We have also decided to keep the popular dinner meeting sponsor unchanged. There are many benefits of this sponsorship, but the key advantage is being able to speak directly to the membership about your company. Other benefits include having your company logo on the name badges, a mention on all marketing materials as event sponsor, signage at the event, plus a display table for your marketing materials.
Becoming a partner is a great way to get recognized within the membership of ABC. In order to capture the full potential of becoming a partner, sign up before the 2012 events begin (recommended date February 1st). If you want to become a partner or have any questions, please contact Victoria Klyce at (800) 640-7789.
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It is the trend in this day and age of rising energy costs that contractors build buildings with a tight envelope so the energy consumption is reduced and conditioned air does not escape. However in an effort to not waste energy by it escaping outside, in many instances, water has managed to find a way to infiltrate the building envelope and wreak havoc in new construction.
Many designers have had little to no formal training in envelope technologies and the application and detailing of vapor and water barriers. Detailing wood and metal building framed envelopes are very different. Many in the industry are unaware of the differences, and traditional methods have all but been phased out by new products. Below are two examples of water barrier issues that have been witnessed by ABC members. Learn how to avoid these situation and others.
Example 1:
A great example of this would be a case provided by an ABC member of a project where Phase 2 had one set of drawings that ignored waterproofing issues, but on Phase 3 the owner saw the light and incorporated additional documentation and design requirements for waterproofing. Questions – Find out what was left out that was a problem in Phase 2 and what detailing was put into the last phase to mitigate the water problems?
Example 2:
A good example of an insurance claim provided by an ABC member where a contractor was involved in an insurance claim for failed waterproofing at an office building. XYZ Contractor involved in alleged failed waterproofing for this building. The building is an older 1970’s structure with a large central courtyard area in the middle with underground parking. Water was seeping through the courtyard area and dripping into the garage below. Tenants were becoming increasingly annoyed by the leaking ceiling. Fortunately, XYZ Contractor had a good indemnity agreement in their subcontract with the waterproofer and they were an additional insured on their policy with the policy insurance carrier. Questions – Learn who is covered by insurance and how to mitigate the claim in the first place?
Don’t let water ruin your building envelope! Join us for a free presentation on how to avoid water infiltration claims in your building envelope presented by the ABC Green Council. Learn valuable lessons from the two examples provided above and more:
- how air barriers help designers and builders achieve sustainable design through saving energy and the use of new technology and products
- the technical requirements and science behind water barriers and vapor barriers
- what to look for in drawing to keep yourself out of trouble
- what to look for in proper application of envelope materials
- how to avoid claims and lawsuits due to water infiltration related to materials detailing
- the legal aspects of the claims process what to do and what to avoid, and
- what testing is available to detect leaks and water infiltration.
For more information attend the Green Council Roundtable: Avoiding Water Infiltration Claims in Your Building Envelope on February 2nd from 11:30 – 1:00pm at the ABC Office. To register, contact Kim Trautman at (800) 640-7789.
Example information provided by Clausen Law Firm and HUB International NW, LLC.
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The popular ABC School of Construction Management spring session is scheduled to begin March 6th in Bellevue. This course always gets rave reviews and becomes an important peer-sharing opportunity for the participants. The school is designed to provide introductory instruction in the skills it takes to run a successful construction firm and provide an opportunity to meet others in your industry. The goal of the school is to improve the skills of those looking to move into higher management positions within established construction companies. Knowledge from the school, plus networking opportunities in class and at other ABC events, will enhance your ability to become part of the overall construction community.
ABC’s School of Construction Management is for you if you want to improve your knowledge in the broad spectrum of skill areas needed to run a profitable and successful construction company in today’s competitive environment; or if you have “up and comers” on your staff whom you think would benefit from some additional classroom training in a variety of construction areas – to improve their knowledge and help them move up in your company.
The class runs two nights a week, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:00pm-8:00pm for seven weeks at the ABC office. Below is a list of topics that will be covered in the classes:
- Leadership skills
- Developing a business plan
- Finances and budgeting
- Office operations
- Estimating/bidding
- Project management
- Building the business team
- Legal issues and contracts
- Human resources
- Insurance and bonding
- Relationships
- Liens and disputes
- Employee relations
- Safety
- Marketing and business development
- Labor Law
Class size is limited to ensure personal attention and encourage camaraderie among classmates. You or a member of your management team must be able to attend every class. Students are encouraged to attend other ABC events to improve contacts within the industry, network and expand their knowledge.
Contact Kim Trautman at (800) 640-7789 to register or for more information. (Minimum of 10 students required to hold class.)
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Whether times are good or challenging, organizations headed by a skilled and inspiring leader will thrive. ABC of Western Washington is excited to present a special session with ABC National President Mike Bellaman the afternoon of March 7 at ABC. We don’t have all the details yet, but we wanted to get this on your radar – and your calendar. We do know it will be educational, inspiring and interactive. Mike was hired to serve as the president of ABC National last February. Prior to that he spent 23 years with Lend Lease, having most recently served as CEO of Americas for Bovis Lend Lease. Mike knows construction, he knows organizations and he knows leadership. Don’t miss this opportunity to hone your leadership skills and share your experiences as a leader. Details to follow.
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ABC is your jobsite poster one-stop shop. The updated 2012 All-In-One posters are in stock and ready to be sent out. If you get caught with an outdated poster, the fines are hefty and easily avoidable.
The most recent update to the jobsite poster is the minimum wage increase of 37 cents to $9.04 an hour effective January 1, 2012. If you purchased a poster after March 2011, chances are, all you will need is an updated minimum wage sticker which ABC can provide free of charge, to update your poster(s). If your poster was printed prior to March 2011, you may be missing the updated Notice to Employees section on your poster (effective March, 2011), in which case, ABC recommends purchasing an updated 2012 poster.
ABC offers members the All-In-One poster (combining the mandatory OSHA federal and Washington labor law information) for $20.00 each and non-members $30.00 each. This price also includes the cost to mail out the posters. ABC also offers the All-In-One poster in Spanish. Contact Kim Trautman at (800) 640-7789 to order posters or minimum wage update stickers.
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By Joe Rossmann, Insurance Trust CEO
Newly released Internal Revenue Service guidance resolves additional questions employers have raised about a health care reform law provision that will require them to report the cost of health care coverage on employees’ W-2 wage and income statements.
Under that requirement, health care cost information will have to be reported on 2012 W-2s, which will be issued in 2013. Under previous IRS guidance, smaller employers—those that distribute fewer than 250 W-2s in 2011—are exempt from this requirement until at least 2014 and possibly longer.
Some Exemptions to Reporting Rule:
The latest guidance makes clear that employers can but are not required to report contributions to health reimbursement arrangements in calculating health care costs.
In addition, the cost of providing coverage through employee assistance programs, wellness programs or on-site medical clinics is not required to be reported if the employer does not charge premiums for the coverage to COBRA beneficiaries.
The latest guidance also reiterates that the cost of coverage that is taxable to employees, such as for a child over age 26, must be reported on the W-2 and that contributions employees make to flexible spending accounts are to be excluded from the health care cost figures.
Additional Guidance:
IRS Notice 2012-9
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