Home > E-Media & Publications > On the Level > Top Management
Current Articles →
The Marcum Commercial Construction Index for the first quarter of 2022 reports that the construction industry faces increasing costs and shortages of both labor and materials as well as rising interest rates. Read More →
I ran across this interesting question: When faced with a morally challenging situation, what helps you stick to your values? You could remind yourself of how well the project is going, so you are not Mark L. Johnson Read More →
Contractors can rely on the specifications and construction documents provided by a project. Then again, they may need to get in the weeds with this stuff. Some recent standards referenced by the model bu Mark L. Johnson Read More →
Cytokinetics San Francisco, California AWCI Member Contractor: Daley’s Drywall & Taping, Inc. The following project was submitted to AWCI’s Excellence in Construction Quality Awards program in 2022 Read More →
Abstract: Inflation is rising faster than any time in recent memory. Businesses must deal with rapid cost increases by managing cash flow efficiently and communicating effectively with customers and suppliers. Phillip M. Perry Read More →
AWCI 2021–2022 President Shawn Burnum (left) presents the gavel to AWCI 2022–2023 President Travis Vap. As the incoming president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, Travis Vap takes Don Procter Read More →
Construction professionals know Grabber for the fasteners that have been singlehandedly boosting productivity and profitability for over 55 years. Maybe choosing a fastener seems like a small decision—but with Read More →
National nonresidential construction spending was down 0.4% in April, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published June 1 by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted a Read More →
Thank you all for the honor to be the president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry for the next year. Did you know that the 50 most active AWCI contractor member companies account for Travis Vap Read More →
After more than 16 years, the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry has unveiled a new logo. The name is staying the same, but the logo now has a more modern and balanced style, utilizes the association Read More →
On April 6, during the annual convention of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, Michael Weber of Island Acoustics was awarded the association’s highest honor, the Pinnacle Award. AWCI’s Read More →
In early April more than 2,100 people packed their enthusiasm and headed to Texas to attend AWCI’s convention and the largest trade show in the wall and ceiling industry. The first convention since 2019, leade Read More →
There are very few of us who like things to change. We get comfortable and don’t want any disruptions in life. Change, however, creates opportunities to grow through new experiences and learning. Now, we can a Shawn Burnum Read More →
The Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.8 months in April, according to an ABC member survey conducted from April 20 to May 4. The reading is up 0.9 months from A Read More →
The Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry’s Excellence in Construction Quality Awards demonstrate the craft and management expertise of AWCI contractors, the products of AWCI manufacturer members and th Read More →
The Dodge Momentum Index moved 6% higher in April to 164.8 (2000=100), up from the revised March reading of 155.0. The index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, is a monthly measure of the initial report fo Read More →
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s April 2022 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and exp Read More →
Firestop framing innovations have increased efficiency and minimized the need for highly skilled labor. Yet further innovation remains a necessity. In the late 1970s, when the need for firestopping dynami Don Pilz Read More →
AWCI’s Distinguished Service Award was presented to George Kutcher for his exemplary volunteer service to the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry. A constant to AWCI for almost 30 years, Kutcher was i Read More →
Construction input prices increased 0.8% in April compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data rele Read More →
A new ASTM International standard will describe in detail the design and specification process for water vapor transmission properties of water-resistive barriers and air barriers(WRB/AB) in building construct Read More →
The construction industry added 36,000 jobs on net in May, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released June 3 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis Read More →
Prices of materials and services used in new nonresidential construction leaped nearly 21% in April from year-ago levels, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government Read More →
Are you using social media to promote your business? The New York Times says, “The major social media platforms are, in some hard-to-define way, essential to modern life.” In other words, social platforms are Mark L. Johnson Read More →
The Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry strengthened its commitment to helping its members be safer and healthier both on and off the job site when the organization hired Pete Chaney as its new direct Pete Chaney Read More →
After more than 16 years, AWCI is unveiling a new logo. The name is staying the same, but you will notice the logo has a more modern and balanced style, utilizes the association branding typeface, and its symm Read More →
In 2003 when Chris Sliskovic opened Life Drywall Systems in Oakville, a suburb of Toronto, Ontario, the timing proved fortuitous. Construction in Canada’s largest city was brisk and the pace still continues to Don Procter Read More →
Beginning in 2023, AWCI’s expo, the largest in the wall and ceiling industry, will be known as “Build: AWCI’s Convention + Expo.” The association also introduced a new logo for the event that implements a mode Read More →
In an industry that utilizes cutting-edge technology to tackle their clients’ most complex projects, construction has struggled to embrace digitalization across their business and jobsite practices. According Matt Jackson Read More →
In a sign that the housing market is now slowing, builder confidence took a steep drop in May as growing affordability challenges in the form of rapidly rising interest rates, double-digit price increases for Read More →
Associated Builders and Contractors reported April 12 that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.3 months in March, according to an ABC member survey conducted March 22 to April 5. The reading is u Read More →
Construction employment increased from February 2020—the month before the coronavirus pandemic—to February 2022 in nearly three-fifths of U.S. metro areas, according to an analysis by the Associated General Co Read More →
Construction input prices rose 2.9% in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released April 13. Nonresidential co Read More →
While collecting payment is usually the last part of the project, and while the main emphasis is on doing a great job, late or non-payment of money due can make it difficult to operate and add unneeded stress. David C Phillips Read More →
Prices of construction materials used in new nonresidential construction jumped more than 21% from February 2021 to February 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of g Read More →
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is initiating an enforcement program that identifies employers who failed to submit Form 300A data through the agency’s Injury Track Read More →
As AWCI President Shawn Burnum said in his column this month, AWCI’s Convention & INTEX Expo was truly a great success. I went into it with the mindset that we should prepare for the worst and hope for the bes Laura M. Porinchak Read More →
Construction professionals are familiar with problems occurring in the course of projects. In fact, it may be accurate to say that it is uncommon for a crew to complete a project without at least a few challen Rakesh Gupta Read More →
Besides writing articles and columns for AWCI, I also write and edit articles posted on BuildSteel.org , a website about all things cold-formed steel. I feel it’s good to talk about CFS framing because the ent Mark L. Johnson Read More →
Despite strong buyer demand, builder sentiment continued to slip in February as the industry grapples with ongoing building material production bottlenecks that are raising construction costs and delaying proj Read More →
Construction employment climbed by 60,000 jobs between January and February as hourly pay rose at the steepest pace in nearly 40 years, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America Read More →
The construction industry will need to attract nearly 650,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2022 to meet the demand for labor, according to a model developed by Associated Builders Read More →
Construction spending increased in January compared to both December and a year ago, with strong gains in private nonresidential and residential construction but mixed results for public spending, according to Read More →
While COVID-19 didn’t rear its ugly head until late 2019, it wasn’t until March 2020 that the world took note of the looming pandemic, and many states issued work-from-home orders. On the horizon were words an David C Phillips Read More →
Have you ever made work plans only to ignore them when it comes time to go to work? Maybe I am the only one who works hard to stay organized, but when the unexpected happens, I quickly veer off track in anothe Shawn Burnum Read More →
Business conditions at architecture firms entering 2022 were essentially the same as when they ended 2021, with an Architecture Billings Index score of 51.0 in January, the same as the revised December score ( Read More →
More than two years has elapsed since the coronavirus pandemic began. Everyone has had to adapt to some tough business conditions. What have we learned? We have learned that individual resilience can be c Mark L. Johnson Read More →
National nonresidential construction spending was up 1.3% in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published March 1 by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted Read More →
Can you explain changes to construction waste recovery? Statistics reveal that a copious amount of waste material is generated during the construction, renovation or demolition of a building. There is a he Robert Grupe Read More →
On April 6, during the annual convention of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, Michael Weber of Island Acoustics was awarded the association’s highest honor, the Pinnacle Award. In addition, Geo Read More →
Have you ever completed additional work and didn’t get paid for it? Have you ever swallowed extra costs because they weren’t approved before you did the work? Contractors know they are required to get change o George Hedley Read More →
Today Pete Chaney begins working for AWCI in the newly created position of director of safety, health and risk management. In this role, Chaney runs point on construction safety and health regulations, guidanc Read More →
Business conditions at architecture firms ended 2021 on a high note, with an Architecture Billings Index score of 52.0 in December (any score over 50 indicates billings growth). Firm billings increased every m Read More →
Construction employment dipped by 5,000 jobs between December and January even though hourly pay rose at a record pace in the past year, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of Americ Read More →
The construction industry added 60,000 jobs on net in February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released March 4 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the indust Read More →
The Surety & Fidelity Association of America and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers have jointly developed and launched the surety industry’s new Contractor Bonding Education & Mentoring Program Read More →
While the wonders of artificial intelligence are often hyped beyond reality, AI-powered recruitment software is actually offering real advantages to wall and ceiling contractors. Those businesses now Joe Dysart Read More →
The Dodge Momentum Index declined 7% in January to a four-month low of 152.9 (2000=100), from the revised December reading of 163.7. The momentum index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, is a monthly measu Read More →
The Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry would like to remind all young executives that it has a new training program just for you. Oh, sure, leaders can always turn to books, MBA classes, con Mark L. Johhnson Read More →
Can we do it? Can we actually host an in-person convention? You bet we can. Finally we are going to see each other again face-to-face. For some it may be mask-to-mask, but that is fine. Everyone is welcome, an Shawn Burnum Read More →
At a time when many contractors are sitting tight, waiting for the dust to settle on the pandemic, Heartland Acoustics & Interiors, Inc. has busied itself with bold moves. Along with bringing on several new pr Don Procter Read More →
Loews Kansas City Hotel & Convention Center Kansas City, Missouri AWCI Member Contractor: Performance Contracting, Inc. The following project was submitted to AWCI’s Excellence in Construction Quality Read More →
National nonresidential construction spending fell 0.7% in December 2021, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published Feb. 1 by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjust Read More →
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing amendments to its occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulation, 29 CFR 1904.41 . The current regulation req Read More →
Trade shows are great for discovering new goods and services, and for making profitable contacts. But businesses face the challenge of getting the most bang for their buck spent attending such events. Smart fo Phillip M. Perry Read More →
The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate plunged 4.6% in December 2021 from a year ago, down from 9.6% to 5%, while all 50 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, a Read More →
Years ago I read a Harvard Business School book about the company of the future. The author said future leaders would need to be brave, wise, persistent and visionary. Of course, I agreed. But I have Mark L. Johnson Read More →
While architecture firms reported an increase in billings for the 10th consecutive month in November, the pace of growth continued to moderate from its peak in the summer. An ABI score of 51.0 for the month st Read More →
AWCI has officially launched its Wall and Ceiling Central Blog , another vehicle that the association will use to expand outreach and education among professionals in the construction industry. The ne Read More →
AWCI’s Emerging Leaders Program, which works to actively engage the construction business leaders of tomorrow, kicked off last fall with a virtual meeting in November that informed about what to expect from th Read More →
Things certainly are not static in the world today. My question is: Are today’s changes making us a better community, or fracturing us as a society? My answer: It depends. What can we do to influence the best Shawn Burnum Read More →
Associated Builders and Contractors reported Jan. 11 that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.2 months in December, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Dec. 16 to Jan. 4. The reading is d Read More →
Construction contractors expect increasing demand for numerous types of projects in 2022 despite ongoing supply chain and labor challenges, as most firms plan to add workers this year, according to survey resu Read More →
On Dec. 21, Associated Builders and Contractors released its seventh annual Merit Shop Scorecard, a ranking based on state policies and programs that encourage workforce development, grow career and technical Read More →
Heartland Acoustics & Interiors has once again expanded its footprint to a new market. The specialty subcontractor headquartered in Colorado announced Jan. 4 the acquisition of Seattle based Forrest Soun Read More →
Can you explain OSHA’s involvement in heat-related illness? Heat-stress continues to be a concern of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the agency has recently entered a preliminary ru Robert Grupe Read More →
Construction input prices rose 3.5% in January compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data rel Read More →
The construction industry added 22,000 net jobs in December, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released Jan. 7 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry h Read More →
I know a certain consumer food retailer that has been around for over 100 years, has great customer loyalty and is a heritage brand. Customers have been on the company’s customer file for decades. Today, h Mark L. Johnson Read More →
Online registration and hotel reservations are now open for AWCI’s Convention & INTEX Expo, April 4–7 in Grapevine, Texas, at the Gaylord Texan Resort (pictured above) . Join your colleagues at this e Read More →
In the last two years we have seen the demise of restaurants, entertainment venues, retail outlets and other markets in the construction industry, largely due to the changes imposed by COVID-19 and the resulti David C Phillips Read More →
To some of you it might be difficult to think about events in the spring now as we hunker down this winter, but it is this spring when AWCI will be hosting its annual convention. I hope you will give some seri Shawn Burnum Read More →
Low existing inventories and strong buyer demand helped push builder confidence higher for the third consecutive month even as supply-side challenges—including building material bottlenecks and lot and labor s Read More →
Construction employment increased by 31,000 jobs between October and November as nonresidential construction firms added workers for the third month in a row, according to an analysis by the Associated General Read More →
Total construction spending edged higher in October, as gains in public and private project types outmatched decreases in single- and multifamily residential outlays, according to an analysis of federal constr Read More →
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds employers that the agency began collecting calendar year 2021 Form 300A data on Jan. 2. Employers must submit the form elect Read More →
Abstract: Family businesses can find their future imperiled when an unanticipated crisis such as death, disability or divorce affects the ownership of corporate shares. A “buy-sell agreement” can ensure the su Phillip M. Perry Read More →
Wall and ceiling contractors strangled by the dangers of the coronavirus can now guarantee a relatively safe return to offices and similar public spaces with digitized, highly verifiable “vaccine passports.” Joe Dysart Read More →
The Marcum Commercial Construction Index for the third quarter of 2021 reports that the construction industry’s recovery slowed during the summer in the face of labor shortages and rising material prices. Nonr Read More →
Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing improved in the third quarter, according to results from the Multifamily Market Survey released Nov. 18, 2021, by the National Association of Home Builders. Read More →
National nonresidential construction spending was up 0.9% in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published Dec. 1, 2021, by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adj Read More →
As the year begins, every business faces a series of potentially disruptive trends converging all at once: climate change, globalization and growing social inequality. As a result of these trends, we Mark L. Johnson Read More →
Suddenly 2022 is upon us. A new year brings the hope of a new start. The last year has certainly been an eventful one for the United States and for the nation’s construction industry. As the holidays David C Phillips Read More →
AWCI members' product information collection for 2022 More →
July 07 more info →
