Fall Harvest

AGC of Texas Yields Latest Crop of Construction Products

By Aide Uzgiris

The Associated General Contractors of Texas Highway, Heavy, Utilities and Industrial Branch will host its 21st annual Texas Trade & Equipment Show on October 13 and 14 at the Austin Convention Center. This year's theme is "Members Building Value," and more members than ever are expected to participate. Last year's attendance was 3,442, an increase of 500 over 2002. The show is the biggest gathering of professionals and equipment in the Texas construction industry.

"This is the largest event of its kind in the Southern United States," said Tanya Clarkson, AGC of Texas Trade Show coordinator. "There is no other venue this close to home where suppliers in the industry will meet face-to-face with potential customers. The show generates leads, contacts and customers and promises future sales for AGC of Texas members."

This year's show boasts 150 exhibitors in a 169,000-sq.-ft.-plus space. Industry representatives include contractors in highway, general, heavy, industrial, municipal and utilities. Affiliated industries and trade associations will also be present, with representatives in a variety of sectors ranging from aggregate production, computer technology and demolition to trucking, distribution, manufacturing and finance.

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Trade Show Events

The show kicks off again this year with a grand opening luncheon open to the public. The luncheon, sponsored by Hunter Industries Ltd. and Warren CAT, adds to the show's program of events as an informational session. Meet and eat with key industry officials including TxDOT Commissioner Robert Nichols and TxDOT executive director Michael Behrens.

Hosting the opening night reception are Chemical Lime, Hunter Industries Ltd. and Frank Siddons Insurance. Complimentary beverages and appetizers will be offered throughout the exhibit halls.

At the Holt Cat Contractors Luncheon attendees will catch real-time TxDOT highway letting results while they dine. Whitley & Siddons will be displaying the results on big screens.

Associate member H. Richards Oil Co. will once again cook more than 1,200 pounds of catfish for the annual fish fry. Dinner and beverages are complimentary to all exhibitors and show attendees.

AGC Safety Conference

The safety conference is a three-day seminar sponsored by the AGC of Texas Safety & Health Committee, chaired by Ken Smith of Hunter Industries Ltd. The committee has planned a program again this year to meet the safety training needs of every member and associate member in the highway and utility construction industry. Representatives from OSHA, TEEX and contractor safety professionals will present safety issues affecting the construction industry.

The presentations will provide materials to help make workplaces accident free. Handouts can be used to inform members' firms and become part of a firm's safety plan. A certificate of completion will be issued to each participant providing that he or she has attended each session in its entirety. Certificates will be mailed to the participant's employer.

Scholarship Auctions

Silent and live auction items make the AGC booth perennially popular. Proceeds promote vocational education in public schools and maintain the Texas Highway, Heavy, Utilities and Industrial Branch chapter's scholarship program for employees or their dependents. The auction items are donated by branch members. Currently, more than 25 students receive university scholarships of $3,000 per academic year. In 1998 the chapter began awarding scholarships for vocational education. Most recipients concentrate on a course of study related to the construction industry.

Last year's auctions raised $121,000.

Zachary David Hughes is a scholarship recipient entering the honors program at Texas Tech University as a freshman in the fall and plans to study civil engineering.

"This is such an honor and I am so grateful for such a generous gift," said Hughes.

"AGC of Texas is a non-profit association that thrives on membership involvement," said Art Daniel executive vice president of Houston-based BorTunCo and AGC of Texas president. "Auctions are a wonderful investment for any company wanting to help ensure a bright future for Texas construction. We as an industry expect nothing less than excellence, and the best way to achieve this is through education."

Items of interest include a George W. Bush White House jacket and cap, a pair of Zeiss pocket binoculars and a John Deere tricycle.

Join the action at the live auction immediately following the fish fry. The auction is loaded with a variety of goodies including football tickets, rifles and hunting trips. It will also feature a NASCAR extravaganza valued at $2,200. The bidding will culminate with a Canadian fishing trip valued at $15,000. A detailed list of auction items is available on the AGC of Texas Web site.

Attending the Show

The trade show is free and open to the public. Hotel accommodations are offered at a discount subject to availability. Be sure to use the AGC of Texas room block for hotel reservations.

The AGC of Texas will provide a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Austin Convention Center during show hours. The shuttle services Embassy Suites, Radisson Hotel, Downtown Marriott, and the Holiday Inn Town Lake. The shuttle route will also include the Texas Highway, Heavy, Utilities and Industrial Branch office on Barton Springs Road. Shuttles will run until 9:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Information on parking options is available by logging on to agctx.org. The website also includes information on registration and the show schedule as well as a sneak peak at exhibits via a "virtual trade show."

Schedule Details:

All events take place October 12-14 at the Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin. For more information call 512-478-4691 or log on to agctx.org.