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BATON ROUGE, LA. – The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors has announced the recipients of its annual Excellence in Construction® Awards. This year’s 25 world-class construction projects display local contractors’ commitment to safety, innovation and quality in planning, executing and delivering the projects.
This year’s award-winning construction projects include ExxonMobil’s Occupied Buildings, the Entergy Churchill Substation, Our Savior's Church Opelousas, the Catholic High School Student Center, @Highland, the St. Charles Parish Railyard Expansion and The Heritage at Cajun Village. Many of ABC Pelican’s EIC projects will go on to compete in the 31st annual National EIC Awards during the ABC Convention 2021. “Our industry is essential in ensuring our economy recovers, and these world-class construction projects are examples of the vital part of that economic engine,” said David Helveston, President and CEO of ABC Pelican. “ABC Pelican members have time and time again met and exceeded the challenges posed by the global pandemic, abiding by the new health and safety standards, employing innovation and new technologies and delivering these projects with excellence in an entirely new reality. Many of these projects began or wrapped while the world grappled with the uncertainty of COVID-19, and these contractors deserve our applause for upholding the prestigious standards set by this competition.” 2020 ABC PELICAN EIC CATEGORIES AND WINNERS: (Excellence indicates first place, merit indicates second place; project video interviews and high-resolution images available upon request) General Contractor > Commercial > $5 to $10 million Merit: MAPP, LLC: @Highland The project included the design assist construction of a three-story, 51,000-square-feet class “A” multi-tenant office building. The project included site clearing and grubbing of approximately seven acres and initial site surcharge of the existing site to get it above the existing flood plain. General Contractor > Federal Government / Military > $10 to $100 million Merit: APC Construction, LLC: New Orleans to Venice, Woodpark Floodwalls NOV-NF-W-06B.1 APC completed approximately a half-mile of critical floodwater structure for the United States Army Corp of Engineers located in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Highlights in the scope of work include a static load test pile program, installation of open-ended steel pipe piles and steel sheet piles, installation of pre-load levee embankments, and construction of 53 floodwall monoliths. General Contractor > Industrial > $15 to $25 million EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries: Shintech - SPP3 Utilities Civil The project is the third large unit and final piece of the civil puzzle to be constructed at the new Shintech SPP3 site in Plaquemine, Louisiana. The utilities unit consists of several large and intricate aboveground water retaining concrete structures. The project, which logged more than 180,000 incident-free manhours, consisted of more than 15,000-cubic-yards of concrete, 1,100 tons of reinforcing steel, and 8,000 tons of limestone. MERIT: Beard Construction Group: South Texas Gateway Terminal Buckeye Partners, L.P. contracted Beard to perform site grading, drainage, fire protection systems, and tank pad preparation at the South Texas Gateway Terminal in Ingleside, Texas. Beard’s work with Buckeye was crucial in expanding their footprint in providing more terminal, storage and processing capabilities. Beard constructed 22 oil storage tanks, measuring 225-feet in diameter with a height of 70-feet. General Contractor > Industrial > $25 to $100 million MERIT: MAPP, LLC: Confidential LNG The Confidential LNG Architectural Blast Resistant Building Project is one of the first liquefied natural gas projects located in the Gulf South that utilized precast concrete panels for the basis of the architectural building design. The focus of the client, CCJV, and the MAPP team, which included the award-winning architectural design firm Gensler, was the elimination of waste by not only utilizing lean practices and quality control measures but also creating a safe working environment. The project was constructed in an active plant with more than 3,000 construction workers onsite and totaled 85,164,158 manhours and 2,208 days of construction. MERIT: Great River Industries: Formosa - CWTP-CCND Loading Arm Expansion Project The project expanded and updated the water treatment capabilities at an existing Formosa facility in Point Comfort, Texas. GRI engineered, procured and constructed four field erected large capacity API holding tanks, three shop built ASME pressure vessels, two water treatment filtration systems, three sanitary waste units as well as the necessary pumps, piping, foundations and I&E components, allowing FPC-TX to grow its wastewater treatment an additional 25%. GRI worked 600,000 manhours with zero OSHA recordables. General Contractor > Industrial > $5 to $15 million EXCELLENCE: GROUP Industries LLC: DOW S1300 Mosaic Project The $7.5 million civil project at DOW Chemical wasn’t difficult on paper, but the number of obstacles thrown in the project team’s path turned molehills into mountains. The project laid the groundwork for a proprietary unit in the middle of the DOW facility. Challenges included underground water issues, numerous discoveries and the COVID-19 pandemic. In the end, the team successfully installed 243 steel pipe piles filled with concrete, 2,000-linear-feet of underground firewater line, 5,000-cubic-yards of structural concrete, 150-linear-feet of 55-foot sheet piles and a limestone roadway. MERIT: RES Contractors LLC: Oleflex Upgrade Project, Honeywell The $6.6 million expansion and revamp of Honeywell’s number two catalyst production line in Shreveport, Louisiana was a complex endeavor burdened by incomplete designs, unexpected underground obstructions and significant rework. The new and improved production line was needed to increase production of Honeywell’s proprietary brand of catalysts. General Contractor > Industrial > Less than $5 million EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries: ExxonMobil BIOX Floating Sludge Mitigation Project Cajun completed the improvement of ExxonMobil’s effluent facilities in the Baton Rouge Refinery. The project included an above ground concrete mixing tank, large excavations for underground pipe, erection of steel, installation of mechanical rotating equipment and electrical and instrument work. The foremost challenge was the intricate accessibility to the construction zone, which warranted attention and ingenuity. Cajun worked alongside ExxonMobil’s project team to sequence critical cutover plans to minimize production impacts during a successful startup. MERIT: Performance Contractors, Inc.: Total Petrochemicals – Effluent Piping Replacement Project Performance used experience, foresight and creative solutions to reduce the project’s duration and exceed the client’s expectations. The project’s success depended on extensive coordination with Louisiana DOTD, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coastguard and the owner, Total Petrochemicals. The project team innovated a solution to minimize the barge crane costs by utilizing a newly invented “Bobby Jack” that was installed on the pipe rack to then be able to install pipe rollers. General Contractor > Institutional > $10 - $25 million EXCELLENCE: The Lemoine Company, LLC: Our Savior's Church Opelousas The project included the construction of a more than 43,000-square-foot sanctuary, youth ministry facility, and cafe along with 247,279-square-feet of asphalt pavement and associated earthwork. MERIT: Arkel Constructors: Catholic High School Student Center The project is a 32,000-square-foot, two-story structural steel building composed of materials that complimented the look and feel of the existing campus but with a contemporary updated design. In order to complete the project a month ahead of the contract date, Arkel quickly implemented COVID-19 safety protocols and closely coordinated with all subcontractors. General Contractor > Mega-Projects > More than $100 million EXCELLENCE: EXCEL Group: Exxon / XTO Energy Cowboy CDP Project EXCEL successfully completed the construction of a $378 million grassroots cryogenic gas plant located in an isolated area of New Mexico. The project encompassed three million manhours and EXCEL overcame numerous obstacles, including novel hindrances posed by COVID-19. General Contractor > Pre-Engineered Building > Up to $100 million MERIT: Arkel Constructors: Highway Transport Service and Training Center This facility, located in Geismar, Louisiana, was designed as a one-stop shop for all of Highway Transport’s Gulf Coast Fleet. Arkel worked alongside the design team to identify cost saving options and create an expedited schedule to ensure a smooth transition from design to construction. General Contractor > Residential > Multifamily and Condominium EXCELLENCE: The Lemoine Company, LLC: The Heritage at Cajun Village Located on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Campus, this upper-classmen apartment community consists of five residential buildings that create a pedestrian-friendly living environment with direct connection to the core of the campus. General Contractor > Special Projects > $2 to $100 million EXCELLENCE: Barriere Construction Co. LLC: St. Charles Parish Railyard Expansion The $11.6M project involved the successful fulfillment of contingencies in a lease-to-own agreement between the Port of South Louisiana land and a DOW Chemical company subsidiary that owns and operates DOW’s manufacturing plant in Hahnville, Louisiana. The mission was to construct a new rail yard for storage and maintenance of DOW’s rail cars and related infrastructure on 16 acres of port land adjacent to DOW’s existing facility and to connect the new facility to a DOW-owned rail spur. Specialty Contractor > Electrical: Industrial > $2 to $10 million EXCELLENCE: MMR Constructors, Inc.: Gray Wolf Compressor Station MMR performed the electrical and instrumentation portion of construction for the Greenfield Gray Wolf Compressor Station in Douglas, Wyoming. Much of the project took place in sub-zero temperatures in a remote location with numerous engineering challenges due to the complex design of the systems. These challenges were overcome with zero safety-related incidents during the more than 17,000 work hours needed to finish the project. MERIT: Westgate, LLC: Dow Chemical Glycol II Sub West & Sub 9 E&I Pre-work and Outage Located at the DOW Chemical Plant in Plaquemine, Louisiana, the project was a large undertaking for Westgate, which was broken into more than nine different job tasks. Working through the threat of COVID-19, Westgate went above and beyond by keeping the focus on crew safety and completing the work. Specialty Contractor > Electrical: Industrial > Less than $2 million EXCELLENCE: MMR Constructors, Inc.: GSU 1,2 & 3 Bus Duct Replacement Project MMR demoed existing bus ducts from three GSU units and replaced them with a cable system. A temporary transformer was required for GSU-1 due to worldwide delays in shipping and production for key components. MMR worked diligently and strategically while facing multiple hurtles due to the coronavirus pandemic. New and innovative safety measures were developed to ensure the crews health and safety. MERIT: MMR Constructors Inc.: Project Eddie MMR was contracted by Southern Ionics to provide construction management, execution and commissioning assistance for the electrical and instrumentation portion of their new greenfield addition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. MMR performed approximately 98% of the scope of work, and ABC members encompassed 80% of the volume of items purchased or rented by MMR. Additionally, the piling contractor, civil contractor, and structural steel contractors were all fellow ABC members. Specialty Contractor > Exteriors EXCELLENCE: Classic Industrial Services: Sofidel America: Autumn II Gray Construction built a new integrated paper production plant for a manufacturer in Inola, Oklahoma. The plant consists of five buildings, covering more than 60 acres, and Classic Industrial Services erected the exterior cladding out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The owner requested 17 different panel types, which included fire-rated panels, complex color transitions, custom curved panels, horizontal and vertical exterior panels and interior insulated metal panels. Specialty Contractor > Specialty Construction - Commercial > Less than $10 million EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries: Entergy Churchill Substation Cajun installed 468 concrete piles, designed and installed 100 helical piles with seven large concrete foundations, installed 48 timber piles, and set two permanent air bridges for a new substation by utilizing Cajun’s vast and diverse capabilities in all piling disciplines. Cajun’s crews overcame extreme weather and site conditions and a global pandemic to complete this project with zero safety incidents and within schedule. Specialty Contractor > Specialty Construction - Industrial > Less than $10 million EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries: CF Industries - Nitric Acid Storage Tank & Suction Chiller Project Cajun’s detailed test pile program provided an economical pile design that met all the client’s needs. This design build project had a tight schedule and required two rigs installing DDP piles simultaneously. MERIT: Sealevel Construction, Inc.: Koch Methanol Piling Project Sealevel was subcontracted by Brown and Root Industrial Services to install numerous pilings and drilled shafts at a new Koch Methanol Facility along the Mississippi River. Once galvanized, Sealevel’s fabrication division spliced all pipe piles before delivering them to the job site. The scheduling of the project was a process that everyone had to contribute to, including the suppliers, general contractor and Sealevel’s fabrication, trucking and installation teams. Specialty Contractor > Specialty Construction - Industrial > More than $10 million EXCELLENCE: Moore Industries: ExxonMobil Occupied Buildings- BRCP CPMO & Lab Hardening Moore Industries was awarded this $15 MM contract from ExxonMobil to harden an existing 50-year-old 104,000-square foot, four-story main office building and two-story laboratory by installing a structural steel exoskeleton. Moore self-performed 80,000 of the 154,000 project manhours. The project was completed without a single first aid or recordable incident. About the Excellence in Construction® Awards: ABC’s Excellence in Construction® Awards has become the premier competition within the construction industry that recognizes outstanding construction projects across the nation. The EIC Awards honor the skill and creativity of the entire team--contractor, owner, architect and engineer--responsible for an outstanding merit shop construction project. About ABC Pelican: The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors was incorporated in 1980, covers 52 parishes in Louisiana and is one of 69 chapters across the country. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by supporting their mission, to promote and protect the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system in the construction industry.
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BATON ROUGE, LA. – The Associated Builders and Contractors of Louisiana today released the following statement on the recent passing of Louisiana’s 53rd Governor:
“The Merit Shop Construction Industry and state’s business community lost a friend and an ally in Governor Mike Foster,” said John Walters, Vice President of Governmental Relations for ABC of Louisiana. “His pro-business leadership strengthened free enterprise and open competition throughout the duration of his two terms and his focus on craft, technical, and higher education gave many Louisianans countless opportunities to better themselves, provide for their families, and grow our economy. The membership of ABC of Louisiana sends our deepest sympathies and prayers to the entire Foster family; the 53rd governor of Louisiana is leaving behind a resounding and powerful legacy.” The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Louisiana represents more than 500 construction and construction related firms across the state of Louisiana. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by promoting and protecting the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system. Learn more at abclouisiana.org. ABC Pelican Member companies cook, assemble and serve 3,000 meals to capitol region healthcare workers and nonprofits
BATON ROUGE, LA. – The Pelican Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors today hosted Workforce Feeding Frontlines, a community event for the Merit Shop construction workforce and other ABC Pelican Member companies to show their appreciation to local frontline healthcare workers and nonprofits by preparing and delivering them meals. The nearly 40 ABC Pelican companies that participated in Workforce Feeding Frontlines, which took place in the open lot of the Baton Rouge General’s Bluebonnet Campus, served meals to healthcare workers and custodial staff on the campuses of Baton Rouge General, Ochsner Health, Our Lady of the Lake and Woman’s Hospital as well as local nonprofits focused on feeding those in need. Erik Showalter, President of the Baton Rouge General Foundation, said the frontline workers at the Baton Rouge General are grateful for Workforce Feeding Frontlines. “It means everything to them,” Showalter said. “To not only to receive the food, but to see the community out here supporting what they do, feeding them and showing them the support, it means the world to them. It gives them so much morale and it keeps them going.” These nearly 40 ABC Pelican Member companies participated in the form of donations, cooking, volunteering, assembling, transporting and delivery the meals: 24HR Safety, ACE Enterprises, Arkel Constructors, Arthur J. Gallagher, Baker Gulf Coast Industrial, Beard Construction, Barriere Construction, Bengal Crane and Rigging, Better Pumps and Solutions, Brown & Root Industrial Services, Bottom Line Equipment, Cajun Industries, Catering Cajun, The Cook Hotel at LSU, Eastern Services, Eustis Engineering Services, EXCEL Group, Five-S Group, Great River Industries, ISC Constructors, LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors, Merit Electrical, MMR Group, On-Site Medical Solutions, Patriot Construction, Performance Contractors, Prime Occupational Medicine, Primoris Services Corporation, Rauch-Milliken International, Sochem Solutions, Safety and Environmental Management Systems, Southern Earth Sciences, Tiger Industrial Rental, Trillium Construction, Turner Industries, Westgate, Wood Group, and Workbox. Stephen Toups, President of Turner Industries and former chair of ABC Pelican, said events like Workforce Feeding Frontlines are a powerful reminder that while we are all in this pandemic together, the healthcare community is charged with the enormous task of beating this virus. “This is a way to give back,” Toups said. “A whole bunch of great volunteers got together and decided to do what we know how to do, and that’s get together in a crisis situation, figure out the logistics and serve where we are needed most.” Safety was a priority and focus of the event. Each volunteer and participant had to visit a wellness tent upon arriving, where they were assessed by medical services providers who also took their temperature. Attendees were also required to wear face coverings and specific PPE if they came in contact with the food. “Today, we were privileged to bring together many of our members in a safe environment to show thousands of frontline healthcare workers how grateful we are for their service,” said David Helveston, President and CEO of ABC Pelican. “ABC Pelican is voice of the Merit Shop Construction Industry across much of Louisiana, and we used that unified voice today to say, ‘thank you’ to the true heroes of the pandemic.” The day began early for our cooks as they prepped thousands of servings of Cajun cuisine for the heroes. Dozens of volunteers then arrived to assemble the entrée, sides and desserts and then load them on to trailers, SUVs and pickup trucks. Delivery volunteers then drove all over the Baton Rouge area to provide lunch for and to thank the health care heroes. Celebrating its 40th year, the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) represents the merit shop construction industry in 52 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by promoting and protecting the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system. BATON ROUGE, LA – The Pelican Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors has announced it will host Workforce Feeding Frontlines, a community outreach event for the Merit Shop construction workforce and other ABC Pelican Members to show their appreciation to local frontline healthcare workers and nonprofits by preparing and delivering them meals. Workforce Feeding Frontlines will take place this Thursday, May 28 in the open lot next to the Baton Rouge General’s Bluebonnet Campus.
“Since the pandemic hit our state, ABC Pelican and its members have actively sought ways to serve the healthcare community however we could,” David Helveston, President and CEO of ABC Pelican. “From PPE donations to serving meals to volunteering, our members have stepped up and met the need. We look forward to bringing many of our members together in a safe, socially distanced environment to show these frontline healthcare heroes how grateful we are for their dedication and service.” “ABC Pelican Members enjoy giving back to the communities that we build, and one way we do this well is by cooking,” said Carlos Guidry of Turner Industries, who serves as the 2020 Chair of the ABC Pelican Board. “As the voice of the Merit Shop Construction Industry across Louisiana, we say, ‘thank you’ to the men and women who are ensuring we win the fight against COVID-19.” What: Workforce Feeding Frontlines, a community service outreach event where ABC Pelican Member companies will cook, prepare and transport meals to frontline healthcare workers and nonprofits in the Baton Rouge area. Who: Participants from ABC Pelican Member companies, including 24HR Safety, ACE Enterprises, Arkel Constructors, Arthur J. Gallagher, Baker Gulf Coast Industrial, Beard Construction, Bengal Crane and Rigging, Better Pumps and Solutions, Brown & Root Industrial Services, Cajun Industries, The Cook Hotel at LSU, Eastern Services, Eustis Engineering Services, EXCEL Group, Five-S Group, Great River Industries, ISC Constructors, LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors, Merit Electrical, MMR Group, On-Site Medical Solutions, Patriot Construction, Performance Contractors, Prime Occupational Medicine, Primoris Services Corporation, Safety and Environmental Management Systems, Southern Earth Sciences, Tiger Industrial Rental, Turner Industries, Westgate, Wood Group, and Workbox; healthcare workers and custodial staff on the campuses of Baton Rouge General, Ochsner Health, Our Lady of the Lake and Woman’s Hospital; local nonprofits like Three O’Clock Project. When: Thursday, May 28, 2020 (recommended media arrival time is 8:30a)
Where: The open lot of the Baton Rouge General Campus at the corner of Bluebonnet Boulevard and Picardy Avenue. *Media registration: Contact Erika Walter at ewalter@abcpelican.com* Celebrating its 40th year, the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) represents the merit shop construction industry in 52 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by promoting and protecting the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system. WESTLAKE, La. – The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors hosted a craft competition today at its Southwest Training Center for 100 Louisiana FFA Area III high schoolers from Avoyelles, Evangeline, Allen, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Acadia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion Parish. The students competed in welding and small engine while ABC Pelican Members participated in a jambalaya cook-off.
“Congratulations to these local, rising stars in our industry, and thank you for choosing ABC Pelican to show off your impressive craft techniques,” said David Helveston, President and CEO of the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors. “Each of the Area III craft competitors did an outstanding job of displaying their skill sets, technical understanding and safety know-how at today’s competition. Opportunities for the next generation of craft professionals like these are possible because of our strong partnerships with educational programs like Louisiana FFA.” Here are the winning teams of the Louisiana FFA Area III Craft Competition in small engine and welding:
While high school students competed in the Area III Louisiana FFA craft competition in welding and small engine, these ABC Pelican Member companies participated in a competition of their own-- a jambalaya cook-off: 24HR Safety, Aptim, Performance Contractors and Turner Industries. The cuisine prepped by the companies fed competitors, educators and attendees. ABC Pelican Member companies also discussed careers in construction with these students. Here are the winners of the cook-off:
Celebrating its 40th year, the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) represents the merit shop construction industry in 52 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by promoting and protecting the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system. WESTLAKE, LA. – The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors hosted a craft competition today at its Southwest Training Center for nearly 70 Louisiana FFA District 9 high school students competing in the categories of electrical, small engine and welding. The students who competed represented Allen, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis Parish, and the winners will advance to the Louisiana FFA Area III Craft Competition.
“Many careers in or related to construction are projected to grow around 11 percent between 2018 and 2028, and this growth can only happen when are doing our part to educate future craft professionals about their career options in this industry,” said David Helveston, President and CEO of the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors. “ABC Pelican is proud of our strong partnership with educational programs like Louisiana FFA to ensure these rising stars in our industry have opportunities to display their impressive techniques and learn about how they can make a career out of their skill set.” Here are the winners of the District 9 Louisiana FFA Craft Competition that will advance to the Louisiana FFA Area III Craft Competition. The welding and small engine portion of the Area III competition will take place on March 5 at ABC Pelican.
Avoyelles, Evangeline, Allen, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Acadia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion Parish will be represented at the Area III Louisiana FFA Craft Competition. While high school students compete in the Area III Louisiana FFA craft competition in welding and small engine, ABC Pelican Member companies will participate in a jambalaya cook-off. Helveston remarked: “While the Area III craft competitors show off their technical understanding and safety know-how, industry leaders will discuss careers in construction with these students and vie for first place in the Cajun culinary category.” 2020 Louisiana FFA Area III Craft Competition details: What: Craft competition for the winners of the Louisiana FFA District 8, 9, 10 and 11 welding and small engine craft competitions. The welding winners of this competition will advance to the state competition on March 24, hosted by the ABC Pelican Baton Rouge Training Center. Who: Louisiana FFA high school students from Avoyelles, Evangeline, Allen, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Acadia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion Parish. Business and community leaders will also attend and participate in the cook-off. When: Thursday, March 5, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: ABC Pelican Southwest Training Center (222 Walcot Road, Westlake, Louisiana 70669) *Media registration: Contact Erika Walter at ewalter@abcpelican.com or 225-448-3348* Celebrating its 40th year, the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) represents the merit shop construction industry in 52 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by promoting and protecting the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system. BATON ROUGE, LA. – The Pelican Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors honored 156 craft students at a graduation ceremony on January 23 for completing craft training programs in electrical (11), heavy equipment (4), millwright (13), mobile crane (19), instrumentation (11), pipefitting (7), project supervision (16), site safety (12) and welding (63) last fall at its Baton Rouge Training Center. The ceremony took place at L'Auberge Baton Rouge.
“Construction makes up an impressive 13 percent of the employment in our region and the projected demand for skilled craft professionals is up in our area,” said David Helveston, President and CEO of the Pelican Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors. “ABC Pelican proudly prepares craft students like these 156 graduates with both book knowledge and hands-on experience to ensure the workforce meets the demand of our industry.” Carlos Guidry, 2020 ABC Pelican Chairman and Senior Vice President of Construction at Turner Industries, delivered keynote remarks to the graduates. Guidry is a former student of and instructor for ABC Pelican’s Baton Rouge Training Center. “When I was sitting in your spot, never in my wildest dreams would I have believed my career would lead me to where I am today,” Guidry shared with the graduates. “It’s earned, and you earn everything in life. Never forget that.” Ten of ABC Pelican’s Fall 2019 graduates are women, one of which is Tannah McAlister of Independence, LA. McAlister, 21, is a PALA employee who received her Mobile crane and rigging certifications through ABC Pelican. This past fall, McAlister scored the highest on her final exam in Mobile crane. “This is a huge accomplishment to me, and I’m proud of myself,” McAlister said. “I’m not sure who was more excited: my mom or me. I prepped extensively for the exam, creating well over 100 flashcards for myself, and that exam is still proudly hanging on my fridge.” McAlister first learned about ABC Pelican through her PALA colleagues in her current job at ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge. The three certifications she received through ABC Pelican have helped accelerate her career in construction “at a pace quicker than I ever imagined.” “ABC Pelican’s Baton Rouge Training Center, the staff and the instructors have done more for me than words can express,” McAlister recounted a couple weeks before graduation. “Through ABC Pelican’s education and PALA’s opportunities, I have accepted job positions just this YEAR that I envisioned would take me YEARS to achieve. My hope is that this certification will lead to my DREAM career of working as an ExxonMobil employee.” Another ABC Pelican student who has been a craft professional since he was 18 is Baton Rouge native Benjamin Noble. “Big Ben,” as his friends and family call him, completed craft courses with us last year and is now an electrician with Triad Electric & Controls. Noble, 36, began his career as a craft professional right after high school as a welder’s helper. “I did this for a while but wanted to make more money, so I taught myself how to be a welder,” Noble said. “I became a great welder, but that wasn’t enough for me.” Noble then became a truck driver for eight years. “This was something I wanted to do since I was a little kid but driving a big truck can be intimidating to those who haven’t done it. Then one day, I saw an elderly woman hop out of the driver’s side of a truck, and she instantly boosted my confidence.” To this day, Noble is proud of his driving experiences. Searching for a new craft to master, Noble enrolled in electrical classes at BRCC. After he completed the second course, he earned a job with Triad. Triad then sponsored him to complete the third and final electrical courses at ABC Pelican. Noble applauds his mentors at Triad for encouraging him to finish the program because he now knows the electrical trade and takes home a bigger paycheck. “My experiences at ABC Pelican have been great, and I have learned a lot and met some quality people,” said Noble. “When I talk to new employees at Triad, I tell them ‘check out ABC Pelican, it’s a good investment.’” At this graduation, Noble was recognized for completing NCCER’s Construction Site Safety Technician program, and he believes his learning is not complete yet. Celebrating its 40th year, the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) represents the merit shop construction industry in 52 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by promoting and protecting the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system. BATON ROUGE, LA. – The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors has announced the details, winners and recipients of its annual Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards and Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Banquet. The banquet will honor 25 award-winning construction projects, 40 companies’ impressive safety practices and local craft competition winners. These projects, companies and individuals will be honored this Wednesday evening at the L'Auberge Baton Rouge.
This year’s award-winning construction projects include the redesign of the LSU Football Operations Facility, the Nicholson Gateway Development, the Falgout Canal Flood Control Structure, the Comeaux High School Performing Arts Academy and the Phillips 66 Lake Charles Gasoline Isomerization Project. Of the 40 ABC Pelican member companies that will be congratulated for their outstanding commitment to safety, 22 of them are at least 680% safer than the industry average. Some of the craft professionals, who competed with about 40 others last Friday in ABC Pelican’s craft competition, will also be recognized as the individuals representing ABC Pelican at the 2020 National Craft Championships. “These construction projects, safety practices and talented people exemplify the best of the best in the industry,” said David Helveston, President and CEO of the Pelican Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors. “Construction is one of Louisiana’s strong suits because of the long-term career opportunities it offers, the economic activity it invites and the robust local resources it utilizes. Each award that we present symbolizes the countless hours and endless dedication that the men and women in our workforce commit to innovation, quality, safety and excellence, ensuring that construction remains a pillar of this state.” 2019 ABC PELICAN EIC CATEGORY EXCELLENCE AND MERIT WINNERS: (Excellence indicates first place, merit indicates second place; project video interviews and high-resolution images available upon request) GENERAL CONTRACTOR > MEGA-PROJECTS > MORE THAN $100 MILLION EXCELLENCE: The Lemoine Company, LLC: Nicholson Gateway Development LSU’s largest on-campus project to date, Nicholson Gateway Development transformed a 28-acre underdeveloped tract of university owned property into a campus landmark. Completed in just over 20-months, the mega-project created over 1-million square feet of bustling space with zero lost-time incidents. GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INDUSTRIAL > LESS THAN $5 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries, LLC: Shell Convent - Firewater Reliability Compliance Cajun safely executed Shell’s Firewater Reliability Compliance Project, operating multiple disciplines from land and water to overcome the site’s restricted access. It entailed installation of a major pump structure over Shell’s Firewater Reservoir inclusive of marine, piling, civil and mechanical. MERIT: Performance Contractors, Inc.: Cornerstone – Alkylation Tank Farm Project Cornerstone’s Alkylation Tank Farm Project was a true challenge with the client expediting the schedule upon award of the project to half of original planned duration. Performance successfully completed the project on schedule, working seven days a week, through the holiday season, without injury. MERIT: Performance Contractors, Inc.: Valero - SRU 30 Waste Heat Boiler Turnaround The Valero SRU 30 Waste Heat Boiler Turnaround included removing structural columns and beams while still supporting the main structure, along with making one of the largest welds that Performance has ever made at 415 inches. GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INDUSTRIAL > $5 TO $15 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries, LLC: Rubicon AP HyCO The project at Rubicon in Geismar, La included more than 100,000 manhours and was completed in only 12 months. Cajun completed a challenging project with no recordables, while upgrading an operating plant in difficult space limitations on time and within budget. MERIT: Performance Contractors, Inc.: Westlake Chemical R201-D LCN EDC Cracking Furnace Westlake updated its EDC Cracking Furnace with a new Linde Modular furnace. Construction of the furnace required 14 critical lifts in an extremely congested live unit and three months of work under confined space conditions. GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INDUSTRIAL > $15 TO $25 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC: Veolia - Burnside Converter Replacement & Capital Expansion Project Brown & Root completed the converter replacement and major capital expansion project while integrating into an existing chemical process and overcoming a historic high river, complex logistical footprint and accelerated timeline. The project was executed on-time with zero recordable injuries. MERIT: Barriere Construction Co. LLC: Mosaic Uncle Sam Secondary Containment and RCRA BHT Piping Project The project brought the Uncle Sam phosphate production facility into environmental compliance while remaining operational throughout civil construction of a secondary containment area as well as reconfiguration and repurposing of related process piping and pumps. This project represented Barriere’s first mid-scale mechanical contract. GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INDUSTRIAL > $25 TO $100 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Performance Contractors, Inc.: Phillips 66 - Lake Charles Gasoline Isomerization Project To achieve the Lake Charles Gasoline Isomerization Project’s goal of consistently producing premium-grade gasoline for the demanding market, Performance executed civil and general mechanical work simultaneously to meet milestones of the aggressive project schedule. MERIT: Primoris Services Corporation: Shintech Plaquemine Plant 3 Primoris overcame record rainfall, high river stages and excessive groundwater to successfully complete its work on Shintech’s third local expansion. The project comes nearly 20 years after Primoris performed multiple scopes on the client’s first PVC facility in Louisiana. GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INFRASTRUCTURE: HEAVY > UP TO $100 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Sealevel Construction, Inc.: Falgout Canal Flood Control Structure Self-performing 95 percent of the work, Sealevel installed the levees, piles, riprap and automated barge. This infrastructure completes the southern portion of the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Plan, providing 1025 linear feet of flood protection for Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes. GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INSTITUTIONAL > $5 TO $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: The Lemoine Company, LLC: Comeaux High School Performing Arts Academy The Performing Arts Academy is a 21,350 square foot addition to the existing Comeaux High School. It was completed early and under budget with no safety issues. This Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) project required extensive coordination with the owner, architect, and CMAR. GENERAL CONTRACTOR > INSTITUTIONAL > $10 - $25 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Arkel Constructors, Inc.: LSU Football Operations Addition and Athletics Nutrition Center The design assist remodel and 32,000 square-foot expansion of the LSU football operations building, while remaining occupied, was completed on time, with additional major scopes added throughout. Daily coordination with owner, architect, user, and subcontractors made it successful. SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > ELECTRICAL: INDUSTRIAL > $2 TO $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: ISC Constructors, LLC: ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants Company-2019 Legacy Event ISC was contracted by the ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company to perform the electrical and instrumentation work associated with upgrading the Pipe Stills-9 & HIPPS system (PSLA-9), West Coker (WCDR), Sulfur Recovery (SRLA-400), Feed Prep (PHLA-2) and Tail Gas (TGS) units. MERIT: Triad Electric & Controls, Inc.: Valero Diamond Green Diesel Expansion Project This project was a world-class construction endeavor that has once again endorsed Triad’s reputation for excellence in the industry. With more than 119,000 manhours performed in a very compressed time frame, this project was completed with a perfect safety record. MERIT: ISC Constructors, LLC: Marathon Garyville-10/22 Substation Installation Project This project was awarded to ISC as part of the Substation Replacement Program designed to strategically improve the electrical infrastructure of select process units by replacing single-ended and radially fed substations with new secondary-selective substations fed from Main Substation 35-7. SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > ELECTRICAL > MORE THAN $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: ISC Constructors, LLC: MEGlobal BOOKRAMEG Project ISC was contracted to perform all electrical and instrumentation scopes for their new world class monoethylene glycol facility in Freeport, Texas. ISC, the sole E/I contractor for the ISBL and OSBL areas, installed all electrical equipment, raceway, cabling, and instrumentation. MERIT: Triad Electric & Controls, Inc.: Shell Tiger AO4 Project Triad was awarded a $30 million contract for electrical and instrumentation construction for the Shell Tiger AO4 Project as part of a grassroots expansion at Shell’s Geismar refinery. Triad successfully completed 757,698 manhours without an OSHA recordable. MERIT: MMR Constructors, Inc.: Ethylene Plant Restart Project The Indorama Ventures Olefins LLC Project consisted of the complete revamp of mothballed ethane cracker. The plant was idled in 2001 and sustained damage during several hurricanes. Over 433,000 safe Electrical and Instrumentation manhours were spent on the multi-year project. SITEWORK / LANDSCAPE / HARDSCAPE MERIT: Beard Construction Group, LLC: Drax – LaSalle Bioenergy – Sitework and Rail Yard Construction Drax Bioenergy awarded Beard a contract to perform sitework and to complete construction of a rail yard at their facility in Urbania, LA. Beard faced several obstacles in the completion of the project, including substandard material, demanding site conditions and permitting delays. Beard performed the work with zero safety incidences and on budget. SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > SPECIALTY CONSTRUCTION - COMMERCIAL > LESS THAN $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries, LLC: Cleco Bayou Vista-Terrebonne T-Line Cajun installed 128 battered helical piles and steel grillage foundations for six transmission towers by using land equipment and barge equipment resources. This project consisted of a year and a half for conceptual planning and nine weeks of construction. MERIT: Boh Bros. Construction Co., LLC: Four Seasons Hotel and Residences New Orleans – Piles Boh Bros. was selected as the piling subcontractor for the conversion of the World Trade Center into a Four Seasons Hotel. The project required driving four types of piles with five crews next to an existing building, around an active railroad, and under low overhead conditions while racing a rising Mississippi River and was executed with zero accidents. SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > SPECIALTY CONSTRUCTION - INDUSTRIAL > LESS THAN $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Group Industries: DOW Fender Control Building Dow Beaumont’s “shelter in place” facility serves three purposes -- administrative offices, laboratory and control room. Proactively tackling the project, the design-build team determined the most efficient way to create the 100 percent-sealed structure, while battling logistical and design challenges. MERIT: Cajun Industries, LLC: ExxonMobil Dock 5 Project Cajun’s accomplishments on the ExxonMobil Dock 5 Retrofit project were due to a state-of-the-art safety program, exceptional due diligence, quality craftsmanship, thorough communication, and flawless execution. Despite difficulties, Cajun completed the multi-phased endeavor in two locations with a successful startup. SPECIALTY CONTRACTOR > SPECIALTY CONSTRUCTION - INDUSTRIAL > MORE THAN $10 MILLION EXCELLENCE: Cajun Industries, LLC: Zachry @ Lyondell Chemical Company PO/TBA Cajun was contracted to provide a variety of turnkey deep foundation scopes including design/build for LyondellBasell’s new Propylene Oxide and Tertiary Butyl Oxide Plant in Channelview, TX. Once completed, this will be the world’s largest facility of its kind. 2019 ABC PELICAN STEP RECIPIENTS: ABC Pelican STEP recipients excel in all areas of ABC’s STEP Safety Management System, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to safety. Participating companies score their level of achievement for each component on a weighted point scale and document their incident rates (TRIR and EMR). Companies receive recognition level of Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze or Participant based on this data. Diamond Level Companies: Apache Industrial Services, Ardent Services, Barriere Construction Company, Beard Construction Group, Bengal Crane & Rigging, Brown & Root Industrial Services, Cajun Industries, Classic Industrial Services, Claymar Construction, Insulations, ISC Constructors, Merit Electrical, MMR Constructors, New Industries, PCL Industrial Construction Co., Primoris Services Corporation, REPCON, Southern Earth Sciences, The Lemoine Company, Triad Electric & Controls, Turner Industries Group, and Westgate Platinum Level Companies: Aggregate Technologies, Arkel Constructors, EXCEL Group, Group Industries, Mammoet USA South, MAPP, Moore Industries, PALA-Interstate, Trade Construction Co., and Worley Gold Level Companies: APTIM, Bluewater Constructors, Bottom Line Equipment, Ernest P. Breaux Electrical, Kostmayer Construction, Performance Contractors, and SJB Group 2019 ABC PELICAN CRAFT COMPETITION WINNERS: These ABC Pelican craft students competed in the ABC Pelican craft competition on December 6 at the Baton Rouge Training Center. Some of these craft students will represent the chapter in the 2020 National Craft Championships in Nashville.
About the Excellence in Construction (EIC) awards: ABC National’s Excellence in Construction program has become the premier competition within the construction industry that recognizes outstanding construction projects across the nation. The EIC Awards honor the skill and creativity of the entire team--contractor, owner, architect and engineer--responsible for an outstanding merit shop construction project. About the Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP): Established in 1989, ABC’s Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) is a safety benchmarking and improvement tool that dramatically improves safety performance among construction industry participants, regardless of company size or type of work. About the 2020 National Craft Championships: ABC presents the National Craft Championships annually to highlight the achievements of the men and women who represent the future of the construction industry. Craft trainees and apprentices travel from across the country to demonstrate their superior skills, training and safe work practices and compete for top honors in their chosen craft. In March 2020, the National Craft Championships will take place in Nashville, TN. About ABC Pelican: The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) was incorporated in 1980, covers 52 parishes in Louisiana and is one of 69 chapters across the country. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by supporting their mission, to promote and protect the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system in the construction industry. GONZALES, LA. – In celebration of Careers in Construction Month, ABC Pelican, along with 60 construction and industry companies and businesses, hosted about 1,000 high school students from across south Louisiana at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center to learn about the career possibilities that are available in construction and industry. This was the largest Build Your Future Day that ABC Pelican has hosted in its chapter history.
Sarah Varner with Brown and Root Industrial Services represented her company at Build Your Future Day 2019. Varner is a third-generation construction worker who said industry in Louisiana has never been bigger and better. “Ultimately the future of industry in Louisiana is dependent on this up and coming generation. The only way we can do the work we do is the people, and finding those people starts at the high school level. This event allows them to see how industry can be done from a craft all the way to the engineer.” The educational event was filled with approximately 60 construction-related demonstrations and exhibits. Briar Lane, a junior at Doyle High School, attended Build Your Future. He is also the son of an electrician and said he couldn’t wait to get home to tell his dad what he had experienced. “Today I saw that you can be good at something, and that something can be construction,” Lane said. The ninth through twelfth grade students safely interacted with various pieces of heavy equipment and simulators so that they can better understand how the equipment operates. They also viewed power tool demonstrations. Hoyt Ponder is a welding, electrical, agriculture and core teacher at Albany High School. He brought his students to today. “On our way to Build Your Future, I told my students that this experience would raise their awareness of the job opportunities that are out there for them,” Ponder shared. “At Albany, we focus on welding and electrical, and at Build Your Future, my students get to see firsthand pipefitting, instrumentation, scaffolding and heavy equipment demonstrations, so that they can get a well-rounded view of what construction is.” Austin Heap, an eleventh-grade student at Dutchtown High School, hopes to be part of the construction workforce in the future. “I don’t know what craft I want to go in to, but I hope to find out today.” In addition to the demonstrations, several local contractors set up on-site performance verification trailers to show students the various components to crafts such as electrical, instrumentation and pipefitting. Tony Gulino of ISC Constructors was one of the contractor representatives at Build Your Future. “I enjoy teaching kids one craft, and that’s electrical,” Gulino said. “I am living proof that a singular family member can change the trajectory of a whole family tree simply by learning a craft. The electrical trade changed our entire family.” Louisiana is the state with the fifth highest demand for craft professionals, so the need to recruit the next generation of craft professionals is great. Savannah Partrich, a sophomore at Livionia High School, said she learned that industry has job opportunities available for her. “So many companies came to talk to high school students like me,” Partrich said. “I’ve learned that there is a lot of opportunity in the construction industry for me.” One of the core missions of ABC Pelican is to introduce young Louisianans like Partrich and Heap and Lane to the countless long-term, well-paying career opportunities available in industry. This was Hunter Reid’s second time to attend Build Your Future. Reid, a core and welding teacher at Covington High School, brought his students. “I told my students that multiple industry career opportunities are represented at this event,” Reid said. “My students aren’t looking to go to college. Instead they are going straight to work, so this is a great opportunity to get a head start at what job they want after high school.” The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) was incorporated in 1980 and covers 52 parishes in Louisiana. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by supporting their mission, to promote and protect the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system in the construction industry. WESTLAKE – The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. invites you to cover Build Your Future Day 2019 in Southwest Louisiana, an educational event filled with construction-related demonstrations and exhibits that approximately 400 high school students from Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes will attend to learn about careers in construction.
“Louisiana is the state with the fifth highest demand for craft professionals, so the need to recruit our state’s next generation of craft professionals is great,” said David Helveston, President and CEO of the Pelican Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors. “In order to keep young talent here, it’s our responsibility to educate them to the many long-term, well-paying career opportunities available in the construction industry. Join us for Build Your Future Day and watch local industry leaders show students what a day in the life of a craft professional really looks like.” What: October is Careers in Construction Month, a nationwide campaign that educates the public about the lifelong opportunities available for a craft professional. As part of Careers in Construction Month, the Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. invited high school students from across Southwest Louisiana to learn from industrial professionals what careers in the construction industry looks like. Students will see and interact with at least 20 exhibits and demonstrations, such as hands-on exposure to a crane simulator, heavy equipment, welding, pipefitting, electrical, instrumentation and millwright. Who:
When: Wednesday, October 30, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Where: West Cal Arena (401 Arena Road, Sulphur, LA 70665) Media registration: Contact Erika Walter at ewalter@abcpelican.com or 225.448.3348 The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) was incorporated in 1980 and covers 52 parishes in Louisiana. It is a diverse, non-profit, trade association of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals who have joined together to advance the construction industry by promoting and protecting the Merit Shop Philosophy and the principles of the free enterprise system. |
AboutPelican Chapter, ABC is a non-profit organization based in Baton Rouge, LA. For information on Pelican Chapter communications and media contact Erika Walter, 225-448-3348. Archives
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