WBCS Member Creates Program to Help WBEs Reduce Energy Costs

WBCS Member Creates Program to Help WBEs Reduce Energy Costs

Melinda Zito O’Brien, Founder and Owner of Energy Utility Group, started working in the energy sector after seeing a new opportunity emerge as energy became deregulated in the U.S. And now she’s on a mission to help fellow Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) reduce their energy costs while incorporating sustainability into their operations.  Join us as…

Texas DOT stops construction of $800M FIGG-designed Harbor Bridge

Texas DOT stops construction of $800M FIGG-designed Harbor Bridge

The Texas DOT (TxDOT) has halted design work on the $803 million replacement of the Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, Texas, amid reports that FIGG Bridge Engineers Inc. has been removed from the project, according to KRIS-TV. The National Transportation Safety Board last month named FIGG’s design errors as the probable cause of the deadly March 2018 pedestrian bridge…

AIA updates construction management contract documents

AIA updates construction management contract documents

 The American Institute of Architects has announced that it will issue 13 new and updated documents for its Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) and Construction Manager as Adviser (CMa) series. The updated CMc documents will be available Nov. 15, while the CMa series will be released in February 2020. Changes to the CMc documents, used…

Working to Make A Difference— UH HUB Program Provides “Change Agent” Opportunities for Vendor Participation

Working to Make A Difference— UH HUB Program Provides “Change Agent” Opportunities for Vendor Participation

With a mission to be a valuable change agent toward increasing contracting opportunities for historically underutilized businesses (HUBs), the University of Houston HUB program provided the chance for attendees to learn more information about key construction projects at the Construction Projects Informational Meeting held last month, which included panelists and contractors supporting the UH College…

Business for All: Inside Bexar County’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Department

Business for All: Inside Bexar County’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Department

Since 2001, Bexar County’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Department has made it their mission to create an environment where small businesses can thrive, leading to a more sustainable economic future for Bexar County. The department works to increase small, minority and women owned business participation in county projects and procurement through public, non-profit and private…

Rice & Gardner Consultants Inc.

Rice & Gardner Consultants Inc.

When Rice & Gardner Consultants Inc. was founded in 2005, it began as an opportunity for Jim Rice and Kevin Gardner to merge a set of complementary services: program management and building commissioning. However, more importantly, the company’s inception was based on a vision: to truly serve their clients and the communities in which they…

City of Houston-OBO

City of Houston-OBO

OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY The Office of Business Opportunity is committed to cultivating a competitive and diverse economic environment in the City of Houston by promoting the success of small businesses and developing Houston’s workforce, with special emphasis on historically underutilized businesses and disenfranchised individuals.

Entergy

Entergy

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 9,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues…

Sunshine Personal Solution, LLC

Sunshine Personal Solution, LLC

Staffing solutions that work for your business. Providing prompt service in order to staff your needs is a priority for Sunshine Personnel Solutions, LLC. We have staff in place that is specialized in providing you with the right candidate based upon your needs. www.sunshinepersonnelsolutions.com/

Moving Forward: Future of Houston Transit Focus of 2019 State of METRO

Moving Forward: Future of Houston Transit Focus of 2019 State of METRO

With Greater Houston’s population expected to grow by 10 million over the next 40 years, the future of the region’s transit and mobility needs led the discussion at this year’s State of METRO event.  The transit agency’s METRONext Moving Forward plan, slated for the November election ballot, is designed to ease traffic congestion and help meet…

Sen. Ted Cruz Supports Houston Ship Channel Expansion Project

Sen. Ted Cruz Supports Houston Ship Channel Expansion Project

Sen. Ted Cruz voiced strong support Tuesday for the Houston Ship Channel Improvement Project, after being briefed by Port Houston leadership and top executives representing industry along the channel. Sen. Cruz said the widening and deepening project is important to Texas and the nation and lauded the leadership of Port Houston and the business community…

TxDOT Seeking Input on Texas Transportation Plan

TxDOT Seeking Input on Texas Transportation Plan

TxDOT planning the future of transportation in Texas   The future possibilities are intriguing, and TxDOT wants to know what Texans think will be the most pressing transportation needs for the next 30 years. TxDOT is hosting a second round of public meetings to gather public input that will be essential to developing the state’s long-range…

New OSHA weighting system could lead to more inspections

New OSHA weighting system could lead to more inspections

Effective Oct. 1, OSHA put a new weighting system in place for workplace safety and health inspections for fiscal year 2020. The new OSHA Weighting System (OWS) replaces the former time-centric program, which was implemented in 2015.  OSHA said that the new OWS, which was based on an evaluation of the existing program and on recommendations…

CONTRACTORS:  SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT GETTING YOUR BUILDING PERMIT

CONTRACTORS: SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT GETTING YOUR BUILDING PERMIT

So, a contractor just finished the punch list on their customer’s renovated building; and they are feeling good that they wrapped up the project early and managed to make a good profit.  After a few weeks, as the customer starts the process to sell their building, a fear rushes over them because they are unable…

The Utility of Arbitration Agreements in the Construction Industry

In today’s ever-evolving world of employment law, it is far from an easy task for construction industry employers to operate their business while successfully navigating all of the potential legal potholes that continue to abound and multiply seemingly with every passing day. This is particularly true in the face of the onslaught of claims lodged…

How technology can help contractors prevent lawsuits

How technology can help contractors prevent lawsuits

Adoption of project management and data collection technology will not only make contractors’ operations more efficient but could reduce the risk of litigation as well, according to Resolution Management Consultants of Marlton, New Jersey. Three main construction technology categories that have the biggest potential to reduce the chances of contractors and owners fighting it out in court…