AGC’s 2018 Construction HR & Training Professionals Conference wrapped up Oct. 12 after two-and-a-half days of education, sharing of best practices and networking in Fort Worth, TX. The conference continues to be a must-attend event for HR and training professionals in the construction industry.
This year’s conference was preceded by a Federal Construction HR Workshop for construction HR staff responsible for compliance on federal and federally assisted projects. The workshop focused on providing practical information, along with legal and best-practice advice from experts and peers experienced in the area. Session topics included “Meeting EEO/AA Obligations of a Federal (sub) Contractor”, “OFCCP Update 2018”, and “Federal Contractor Pay Practices and Requirements”.
The official opening day of the Conference started off with an entertaining and engaging session led by speaker, trainer and author Pete Smith. Smith’s high-energy and inspiring presentation “Dare to Matter: Rising to the Level of Significance” captivated the audience and set the tone of the conference. Breakout sessions throughout the day covered such topics as creating viable career paths, recruitment and retention, drug policies, teaching a changing workforce, and a labor and employment law panel discussion. There were several engaging and interactive sessions at the conference as well. For example, during the always popular roundtable lunch discussions led by HR and TED Forum Steering Committee members, participants approached recent hot topics in the industry and shared successes, challenges, and best practices. Later in the day, Retired Army Colonel Rob Salome, provided the keynote on the evolution of leadership.
On day two, Matt Abele of Caddell Construction presented a case study on strategic resource allocation with real world and industry instruction on how HR function must and can be fully aligned with company mission. The ensuing morning breakout sessions included topics such as preventing harassment in the workplace, using video and film, an active shooter session, and the future of work. The conference concluded with a compelling panel discussion on workforce development issues and best practices, moderated by NCCER.
The conference was sponsored by the National Center for Construction Education & Research, PAS, Inc., Viewpoint, Cokinos Law Firm, Alliant Employee Benefits, AGC Career Center, and BirddogHR.
The 2019 conference will be held October 9-11 at the Westin Chicago River North in Chicago, IL. Stay tuned for more details.
For more information, contact Claiborne Guy at claiborne.guy@agc.org.