More companies join NRCA's One Voice initiative
Building Envelope Professionals Group LLC, Oregon, Wis., and Curtainwall Design Consulting, Dallas, have joined NRCA's One Voice initiative and upgraded their associate memberships to "partner member."
The One Voice initiative aims to unite the roofing industry and speak with one voice regarding matters of industry importance, as well as collectively recognize threats to the industry and the opportunities they may present. The One Voice initiative will first focus on developing a national worker training and certification program, legislative efforts to effect meaningful change in Washington, D.C., and advocacy.
Additional information about NRCA's One Voice initiative, including a list of the 21 current One Voice partner members, is available by clicking here.
Former CRCA president passes away
Mansfield |
James C. Mansfield Sr., former president of the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA) and president of James Mansfield & Sons Roofing & Sheet Metal Co., Lyons, Ill., passed away Feb. 2. He was 90.
A third-generation roofing contractor, Mansfield spent his entire life in the roofing industry. He served on CRCA's board of directors from 1967-84, including as president from 1969-79, and was awarded the association's Clyde Scott Award in 1980. Mansfield also served as a director for the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) and received MRCA's 2006 James Q. McCawley Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the industry.
Mansfield is survived by his wife, Bernardine; children, James C. Mansfield Jr. and Jamie; grandchildren, Danielle, Jason and Jeffrey; sister, Gloria; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, William; grandson, James C. Mansfield III; and sister, Anita. Donations in Mansfield's name may be made to the American Heart Association at www.donatenow.heart.org.
NRCA member is executive producer for a new film
NRCA member Rudy Gutierrez, president and CEO of SHELL Roofing Solutions Group, Chino, Calif., recently celebrated the premiere of the movie "FOUND" after serving as executive producer for the film.
The film first premiered at Raleigh Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles and then was shown at the Pasadena International Film Festival in March. Gutierrez worked on the film for two years. His primary role was to finance the film, and he also helped manage the film's cost.
"The film is about a journey of self-discovery through light and darkness," Gutierrez says. "A young man on his 26th birthday is driving through the desert lost in his thoughts and ends up getting physically lost in Death Valley, Calif. During his journey and a series of events, he ends up finding himself."
Gutierrez previously has worked in the film industry and was asked to read the script for "FOUND."
"Once I read the script, I was moved and told Vinny Macias, the film's writer and director, that this movie must be made," Gutierrez says. "I have a background in the entertainment industry, working in set construction many years ago. I owned a pre-production company and worked on projects such as 'Apollo 13,' 'U.S. Marshals,' 'Hook,' 'Total Recall,' 'JFK' and 'Titanic.' Based on my experience, Robert Herrera, the producer, and Vinny asked me to be the executive producer and investor in the film."
Gutierrez says the skillful inclusion of realistic characters in the film's script drew his attention.
"Vinny Macias wrote an exceptional script that brought the characters to life," he says. "The characters in the script seem real—when we see them on the screen, they appear to be people we know and circumstances with which we all are familiar."
Gutierrez says the film has been submitted to film festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada.
"We are looking forward to this journey and hope to sell the project," he says.
OSHA's National Safety Stand-Down is May 7-11
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) fifth annual National Safety Stand-Down will be May 7-11 to raise awareness among employers and workers about the hazards of falls, which account for the highest number of deaths in the construction industry.
OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Center for Construction Research and Training are encouraging employers to pause during their workdays for topic discussions, demonstrations and training regarding how to recognize hazards and prevent falls.
The National Safety Stand-Down is part of OSHA's ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign. In 2012, the campaign was developed in partnership with the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda program. It provides employers with lifesaving information and educational materials regarding how to take steps to prevent falls, provide the right equipment for their workers and train all employees about the proper use of equipment.
More than 1 million workers have participated each year during previous National Safety Stand-Downs. OSHA's National Safety Stand-Down website contains information for employers about conducting a successful stand-down. After their events, employers are encouraged to provide feedback and will receive a personalized certificate of participation.
To learn how to partner with OSHA for the stand-down, click here. The page provides details about how to conduct a stand-down; receive a certificate of participation; and access free education and training resources, fact sheets and other outreach materials in English and Spanish. To learn more about preventing falls in construction, click here.
NLRB vacates joint-employment ruling
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has vacated a recent joint-employment ruling, Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors Ltd. and Brandt Construction Co., which means the Browning-Ferris standard for joint employment under the National Labor Relations Act is in effect again, according to www.constructiondive.com.
The Browning-Ferris standard was established during the Obama administration and expanded the definition of "joint employer" to companies that have "indirect control" over workers. Many employers strongly opposed the standard because they said it threatened well-established franchising relationships.
NLRB's inspector general questioned the validity of Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors Ltd. and Brandt Construction Co. based on board member Bill Emanuel's relationship with Littler Mendelson P.C., San Francisco, the firm that was involved in the original Browning-Ferris case; Emanuel formerly was an attorney with the firm, and because of the conflict of interest, the inspector general said Emanuel should have recused himself from the case. This led to the decision to vacate Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors Ltd. and Brandt Construction Co.
For the construction industry, reinstating the Browning-Ferris standard means certain subcontractors once again are protected from general contractors' control and oversight. The Associated General Contractors of Washington says the regulation's rollback could have made contractors tapping employment agencies or contingent workers more vulnerable to charges that concern unfair labor practices involving other employees.
At the end of 2017, the NLRB had a Republican majority and moved quickly to pass numerous decisions before former NLRB Chairman Philip Miscimarra ended his term Dec. 16, 2017. Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors Ltd. and Brandt Construction Co. was among the decisions, reversing the controversial Browning-Ferris standard.
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which was set to review Browning-Ferris, already has remanded the case back to the NLRB. In response, some business groups have turned their attention to the Save Local Business Act, a bill currently in the Senate that intends to codify the "direct control" joint-employer standard into law.
Cobra BEC and Flynn Group of Companies to merge
NRCA members Cobra Building Envelope Contractors (BEC) Inc., Spokane, Wash., and Flynn Group of Companies, a Toronto-based building envelope trade contractor, have entered into a letter of intent to combine their operations.
With offices in Boise, Idaho; Dallas; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; and Spokane, Cobra BEC is a family business with more than 250 employees. After merging with Cobra BEC, Flynn Group of Companies will have more than 5,500 employees at 35 locations in Canada and the U.S.
"[Cobra BEC's owners] bring with them a group of high-quality leaders and employees at all levels," says Doug Flynn, Flynn Group of Companies' CEO.
"We think that by combining our teams of people, we are perfectly positioned to take advantage of growth opportunities in the region," says Travis Dix, co-owner of Cobra BEC. "Providing advancement for our people is particularly important to us; teaming up with Flynn offers our employees opportunity we could not otherwise provide."
Innovative roofing products to be featured on Discovery Channel
On Oct. 30, recycled products from GreenMantra® Technologies, Brantford, Ontario, and Malarkey Roofing Products, Portland, Ore., will be featured during an episode of The Discovery Channel's "Made by Destruction" show.
"Made by Destruction" highlights ways used materials are recycled in extraordinary ways. During the Oct. 30 episode, GreenMantra Technologies' unique process for recycling dried-up markers will be shown. GreenMantra Technologies receives used markers from grade schools participating in the Crayola® ColorCycle program, separates polyolefin casings from the markers and grinds them into flake before using its thermo-catalytic system to convert the plastic flakes into a polymer designed as an additive for asphalt modification. The show then will highlight how Malarkey Roofing Products uses the additive as an ingredient in its sustainable asphalt roofing products, including asphalt shingles.
The episode will air Oct. 30 at 8:30 p.m. EST on Discovery Channel Canada.
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