September 22nd, 2022
 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Presenter
Josh Lehner

Session Description

The economy is in an inflationary boom. Jobs, incomes, and sales have all grown quickly. However due to supply-side constraints and excess demand, prices are increasing at their fastest pace in 40 years. Looking forward, the outlook calls for higher interest rates to cool, but not tank the economy and slow inflation. Businesses will continue to face a tight labor market due to structural factors like demographics and slower migration. Should inflation continue to be higher and more persistent than expected, a boom-bust cycle is possible.

About Presenter

Josh Lehner is an Economist with the State of Oregon’s Office of Economic Analysis. He develops the quarterly Oregon Economic forecast, including outlooks for employment, income and housing. Mr. Lehner also acts as the state’s de facto vice economist by forecasting revenues for the Oregon Lottery, Oregon Judicial Department, and state marijuana and tobacco taxes. Outside of work, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, traveling the state and consuming Oregon’s craft beverages. 

Mr. Lehner’s economic research has been cited by Calculated Risk, The Economist, Financial Times, National Public Radio, The New York Times, The Washington Post and other local media. Prior to joining the state, Mr. Lehner worked as a research analyst for a local economic development organization and published a paper on the border tax effect between Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Mr. Lehner earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Colorado and an M.S. in Economics from Portland State University. 

September 22nd, 2022
 9:10 AM - 10:20 AM

Presenters
Jason B. Lloyd, PhD, PE & Kim Olson, PE

Session Description

If you are like most in the steel bridge fabrication community, you understand the impact of fracture critical designations on bridge design and fabrication. But did you know that this year, the Federal Highway Administration released a new National Bridge Inspection Standard (NBIS) with significant changes to bridge inspection programs and accepted methods of steel bridge redundancy that have direct impacts on the designation of fracture critical? The changes in terminology can be confusing, but they are a positive change for industry. This presentation will guide participants through these changes and what it means for the fabrication community. Additionally, this presentation will inform on the latest advancements in AEOS Grade 80 steel, new jumbo wide flange offerings for fabricators, and Econiq net-zero carbon steel. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify some key changes to the NBIS, as it relates to the fabrication of steel bridges.
2. Name the new terms used to identify redundant and non-redundant bridge members.
3. Understand why the NBIS changes are a positive thing for the steel bridge industry.
4. Describe benefits of AEOS Grade 80 and new jumbo wide flange shapes in your projects.

About Presenters

Dr. Jason Lloyd is the Manager of Bridge & Infrastructure Solutions at Nucor Construction Solutions Services partnering with fabricators, owners, designers, and erectors for project success. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Indiana. He has over 17 years of professional experience in marketing, training, and public speaking, large scale research, infrastructure testing and monitoring, and contract and construction management. He attained his M.S. and Ph.D. Civil Engineering from Purdue University.

Prior to Nucor, Jason worked at the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) where he promoted the design and construction of steel bridges through marketing, education, and technical collaboration efforts. Preceding his time at the NSBA, Jason spent seven years as a research engineer at Purdue University where he specialized in field testing and remote long-term and short-term monitoring of structures, data acquisition over remote communications, fatigue analysis of existing structures, fracture mechanics, large scale fatigue research, bridge inspection research, steel bridge repair and retrofit, and steel bridge redundancy. Jason currently serves on several technical committees, research technical advisory groups, and technical collaborations, and is a proud former US Navy Seabee officer.

Kim Olson, PE is a structural engineer with over 20 years’ experience. She recently joined Nucor’s Construction Solutions Group after being the HSS Consulting Engineer for the Steel Tube Institute. Prior to joining STI, Kim was a Structural Engineer at FORSE Consulting where she offered support services to architects and engineers as well as consulting services to STI. At Martin/Martin, Inc (Denver, CO), Kim was a practicing engineer for seven years. She managed and designed an impressive variety of structures, from research labs and sporting grandstands to recreation centers and schools. Kim is a licensed professional engineer (PE) and a member of the NASCC Planning Committee, AWS D1.1 TG7 Tubular Committee, AISC TC 10, AISC’s Committee on Manuals and a Director for the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado.

September 23rd, 2022
 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Presenters
Scott Norman & Angela Richie

Session Description

This session will take a look at recent legal developments in the construction industry and using the lessons learned from these turbulent last couple years to set up good contract language to help us get paid timely for our base contract work, get paid for change order work, and to keep swimming to avoid sinking like a stone. This session will also take a look at various methods we can employ (Prevention Doctrine, First to Breach Doctrine, Right to Stop Work) when contract amounts and change orders are not being timely processed and paid.

Learning Objectives:

• Key contract terms to modify in your contracts to address recent developments, including a proposed addendum of new modifications you can easily incorporate into your contracts.
• Legal doctrines you can use when seeking payment for unpaid change orders.
• New changes to the 2022 Code of Standard Practice.

About Presenters

Angela M. Richie is a Partner in the Louisville office of Gordon & Rees and is a member of the Construction practice group. She frequently consults with steel fabricators and other members of the structural steel industry on issues such as: claims for non-payment; allegations of defective fabrication and erection of structural steel; OSHA violations and related retaliation actions; application of the Buy America(n) statutes and regulations; and contracts between steel fabricators, general contractors, and downstream detailers, structural engineers, and erectors. Ms. Richie is a frequent presenter at regional steel fabricator association meetings nationwide.

R. Scott Norman is an experienced litigator in the Louisville office of Gordon & Rees and a member of the Construction, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law, and Real Estate practice groups. He represents and advises contractors, steel fabricators, subcontractors, and design professionals nationwide in all phases of commercial and residential construction, including contract review and negotiation, construction and design claims, payment disputes, workplace injuries and OSHA violations, labor and employment issues, mechanics’ liens, and other construction disputes. He brings an unconditional commitment to providing his nationwide clients with prompt and strategic professional services to achieve favorable and cost-effective outcomes.

September 23rd, 2022
 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Presenter
David A. Fennell, MBA

Session Description

This course will cover the economic conditions in the US and how it relates to the overall health of the construction industry.  It will discuss different measurements and indices that are used to gauge where the market is headed and how that will affect construction activity.  It will also discuss the evolving mix of the construction market in terms of what is getting built and the materials being used.

Learning Objectives:

• Overview of where the US economy stands today and how the construction market relates
• Discuss different metrics used to measure the health of the construction industry, such as the Architectural Billing Index and Dodge Momentum Index
• Illustrate the types of projects beings built, how this has evolved, and what we would expect to see in the future
• An analysis of material usage and how that relates to supply, prices, and lead times.

About Presenter

David Fennell is the Structural Steel Specialist in the greater Seattle market for the American Institute of Steel Construction. He is committed to helping architects, engineers, general contractors and owners achieve better project outcomes by using domestically produced and fabricated structural steel on their building projects. He has multiple years of general contracting experience with various organizations throughout the country on a wide range of project deliverables. David is a graduate of Purdue University’s Construction Engineering and Management program as well as earning his Master of Business Administration at Northwood University.

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), headquartered in Chicago, is a non-partisan, not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States.

September 23rd, 2022
 11:10 AM - 11:55 AM

Presenter
Jerod Hoffman, PE, Peng

Session Description

This presentation will give relevant information from the perspective of a connection engineering specialist working coast-to-coast on large steel projects.  Trends and newer things in the marketplace will be shared, from the use of large castings to specific technology and related process changes.  Important updates from recent codes will be highlighted and thoughts on effective process improvements for the betterment of the overall steel industry will be revealed.

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to name 2 important code updates from the 2016 or 2022 AISC 360 Specification that affect connection engineering and/or fabrication
• Be able to name 3 current trends in the industry related to connection engineering
• Be able to name 2 potential process improvements compared to current standard practice

About Presenter

Jerod Hoffman, PE, is Managing Director at Meyer Borgman Johnson (MBJ) a national structural design firm. Jerod is one of three executive team members of MBJ, where a decade ago he pioneered, and continues to lead, one of the largest delegated connection engineering practices in the U.S. He also directs MBJ’s overall construction engineering services, including erection engineering, BIM to FAB integrated steel processes, and connected model delivery.