SEAA is pleased to announce Garrison Wynn as the Keynote Speaker for its 2024 Convention and Trade Show in Glendale, Arizona, April 2-5. Wynn is an established Fortune 500 leader, professional stand-up comedian, and an Amazon #1 bestselling author.  

In his teens, Wynn helped debut the world’s first video console gaming system, Odyssey, and went on to become the youngest department head in a Fortune 500 company’s history. There he researched and designed processes for 38 company locations nationwide, and developed and marketed products still being sold in 30 countries. 

Wynn’s presentation, “Winning the Talent War,” shows leaders at all levels how to consistently create a sustainable culture of employee loyalty. The session is designed to provide leaders with actionable ideas and solutions that will assist in driving a sustainable culture that will help your organization to achieve its goals by keeping and attracting the people you need to succeed.

2024 Convention & Trade Show Registration opens this November.

SEAA has opened the submission forms for 2024 Project of the Year, Safety Excellence, and Craft Training Excellence Awards! The awards programs are for members only and there is no cost to submit. Winning companies are recognized during the Awards Ceremony at SEAA’s 2024 National Convention & Trade Show in Glendale, Arizona, and will be invited to participate in panel discussions. Winners are also featured in in-depth profile articles in Connector magazine, the official publication of SEAA. Read more.

The application deadline for Project of the Year is December 31, 2023, and the deadline for Safety Excellence and Craft Training Excellence awards is January 31, 2024.

In the last few months, SEAA has welcomed more than 20 new members to its SteelStrong Community! "We have already seen a huge amount of growth in the last few years, but with the introduction of our Trailblazer Award in May, we have hit a record number of member companies for the association. Our purpose is to connect industry leaders to create a strong network of support, community, and resources for companies of all sizes, and we are proud to say that we are doing just that," said Jack Nix, Chairman of Membership.

See the list of new members in the Fall issue of Connector.

Know a company that would be a great addition to the SteelStrong Community of Ironworkers, Fabricators, General Contractors, Rebar Contractors, and Metal Decking Contractors? Refer them using the Trailblazer Referral Page! Anyone that recruits three or more new members in a calendar year will receive the Trailblazer Award at the 2024 Convention & Trade Show.

The construction industry has a suicide rate four times the national average for working-age adults. Within the construction industry, Ironworkers and Rebar Contractors rank in the top three construction occupations impacted by suicide.

Consider for a minute the number of fatalities due to falls in steel erection (11 in 2021, according to BLS data), and think about how much emphasis the industry puts on fall prevention. Suicides on the job equaled the same number of people who died from falls (11 in 2019.) Read More and check back for a November webinar on the topic with a guest speaker from the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. 

D.S. Duggins Welding, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has a tight-knit crew of about 45 skilled workers available to work on steel erection and miscellaneous metals projects in North Carolina. If your company has projects lined up in the next few weeks and could use some extra hands, reach out to D.S. Duggins Welding at (336) 837-8894. 

EquipmentShare, one of the nation’s fastest-growing equipment rental and technology solutions companies, has purchased an 11.6-acre site in Trotwood, Ohio, where it will be developing its Dayton region facility. This will be the companies third location in the state of Ohio.

“After seeing the market respond positively to the EquipmentShare difference at our two other Ohio locations, we were driven to serve even more customers throughout the state. We plan to show Trotwood what we’re all about: reliable customer service and next-generation fleet equipped with construction technology that accelerates productivity,” EquipmentShare CEO and co-founder Jabbok Schlacks said. Read more.

Kito Crosby, a leading manufacturer of lifting and securement solutions, is pleased to announce its Lifting for the Troops campaign for 2023, supporting the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.

From September 1 through October 31, 2023, Kito Crosby will donate $500 for every Crosby, Harrington, Acco, and Peerless training event the company hosts in the US. In addition, all proceeds from the Crosby User’s Guide for Lifting online training course during this time will be donated to this honorable cause. Read more.

Back at the Lonnie Poole Golf Club, the annual fundraiser will be held on October 13, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The fundraiser supports the association's Craft Training Grants and other Safety and Education Projects. More than $40,000 has been awarded in grants and put towards the development of training videos. In addition, World Class winners of the Craft Training Excellence Award each receive $1500 for future craft training programs.

Interested in sponsoring the golf tournament? There are more than a dozen sponsorships for the fundraiser including an on-course promotional tent, company logo on the golf balls, beverage carts, team sponsors, unlimited tee/hole sponsors, and much more. Read More

Register by August 15 to receive Early Bird pricing.

During its annual convention in April 2023 in St. Augustine, Florida, Geoff Kress, President of Gardner-Watson Decking, Oldsmar, Florida, and Bryan McClure, Partner in Trivent Safety Consulting, Westminster, Colorado, received two of the association’s most prestigious recognitions.

Kress received the William Davis Service Award, and McClure was named Person of the Year. The William Davis Service Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated a life-long commitment to service in the steel construction industry. The award is the association’s highest honor and is not issued annually. Recipients of the Person of the Year award have dedicated many hours supporting the association and providing their expertise. Read More

Tom McAleese, Account Manager for Mazzella Companies, and formerly of Indusco Wire Rope & Supplies, recently retired from a lifelong career in the rigging supply business. He first got involved in SEAA in the late 1980s. During that time, he served as a SEAA Director for more than 20 years.

“Tom’s extensive experience in crane ropes, block applications, rigging and fall protection enabled him to offer valuable information to erector members over the years,” said David Deem, President of SEAA. “He has been my go-to guy when it comes to rigging inspection and safety.” Read More

In 2021, it was reported that U.S. bridges had accrued a $125 billion backlog of critical maintenance needs. That was because 42 percent of them had been in service for more than 50 years. The same report found that it could possibly take 50 years to complete the backlog of critical bridge maintenance projects that would be required. That sobering news most likely encouraged elected officials to prioritize expediency related to repairing or replacing bridges in America. The bipartisan infrastructure bill provides $5 billion per year for bridge maintenance and repair until 2026. That funding is encouraging state and local officials to reimagine how they deliver bridge projects. Read More.

SEAA has partnered with member company Flawless Steel Welding to form a new peer group in Denver, Colorado. This Denver Peer Group aims to bring together individuals that are passionate about the steel industry to foster collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing. Whether you have years of experience or are just starting out in the field, this group provides a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, exchange ideas, and stay updated on the latest industry trends.

If you're interested in kick-starting this peer group, we encourage you to join us on August 23rd at the Raices Brewing Company from 5-8 PM. We welcome Union or Non-Union Erectors, Fabricators, Project Managers, Safety Coordinators, Engineers, Architects, Vendors, and all steel professionals to join us on this exciting journey.

To get involved or learn more about the SEAA Peer Group in Denver, please reach out to Victor Garcia at Victor@fsw-denver.com. Don't miss out on this chance to connect with industry peers, expand your professional network, and contribute to the growth of the steel erection community in Denver.

MKE Iron Erectors recently used TyBOT, an autonomous rebar-tying robot, to complete a bridge project in Wisconsin, a first for the state. Developed by Advanced Construction Robotic, TyBOT performed 17,823 ties in two shifts across a 7,775-sq-ft area on the IH-39 Structure B-11-166 bridge in Columbia County, north of Madison. That’s more than 1,100 ties per hour.

The bridge MKE was repairing is in a congested area, so shutting down traffic lanes was a problem. “It would have been a very tight job and required a lot of manpower to get the work done,” said MKE CEO and President Barbara Sheedy. “So, not only the ability to have the TyBOT tie so quickly compared to human ties, but the ability to have the TyBOT work second shift was important to us.” Read More

Magni Telescopic Handlers has announced Taylor Machine Works Inc. as an authorized equipment dealer. This arrangement allows Taylor to offer the complete range of Magni’s telehandlers, including the rotating telehandler (RTH), heavy lift (HTH), and fix boom telehandler (TH) models, to its customers in Mississippi, Western Arkansas, New Orleans, La., and Eastern Louisiana parishes. Magni telehandlers are renowned for their performance, versatility, and advanced features that cater to various industries such as concrete construction, masonry, steel erection, framing, and more. Read more

A little bit of friendly competition never hurt anyone, which is why SEAA is launching a new Member Referral Program starting NOW. Individuals employed by member companies will be recognized for referring companies to join the association. 

To receive a Trailblazer award, you must recruit three or more member companies in a calendar year. The individual that recruits the most members in a calendar year will receive the Top Trailblazer Award.

Looking for resources to send to a prospective member? Check out the SEAA website under Membership or click here.

The 2023 Trailblazer Award Winners will be announced at the 2024 Convention & Trade Show in Glendale, Arizona, April 2-5, so you better get to recruiting!  

SEAA announces it has entered into an agreement to collaborate with Crane Risk Logic, a technology and data service provider dedicated to global crane risk improvement. As such, SEAA supports member company participation in the Crane Risk Logic Federation, which is a joint venture administered by Crane Risk Logic with the Crane Safety Research Lab at Texas A&M University on behalf of crane users, OEMs, trade groups, and related industry stakeholders. 

Crane Risk Logic and the Crane Safety Research Lab uses an innovative information exchange between crane designers, manufacturers, and owners, and organizations that transport, erect, and dismantle cranes, as well as site supervisors and safety managers of crane operations. Read More.

The association is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Project of the Year, Safety Excellence, and Craft Training Excellence Awards! Click here to see the list of winning companies.  

CrewTek, a non-profit organization that was announced in the April issue of Crane Hot Line, was formed by Barnhart Crane & Rigging, Industrial Training International (ITI), and ProLift Rigging Co. to recruit, prepare, and help place the next generation of skilled workers for the crane, rigging, and related industries, such as petrochemical, aerospace, manufacturing, and construction. 

According to the article, CrewTek will offer an intensive eight-week training courses to teach the technical skills needed to start a career in entry-level roles like heavy-rigging trainee, lifting and transport trainee, apprentice mechanic, apprentice equipment operator, parts specialist, and dispatcher. CrewTek will not only provide training, it will also work to pair students with potential employers. Read More.  

ASTM International’s composite materials committee (D30) has developed a new standard specification for the latest generation of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement bars. 

According to ASTM International member Francisco De Caso, this new standard (D8505) is a milestone after several decades of collaboration to further integrate these composites into infrastructure. “The higher performance specified for bars, results in a significant improvement of design and construction of concrete structures reinforced with non-metallic FRP bars," says De Caso, principal scientist at the University of Miami, Florida. “This translates into more efficient and sustainable design of concrete structures." Read More.  

RedIron Construction, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has crews available to travel throughout the U.S. for work. Crews are experienced in both PEMB and Structural Steel Decking. If you are interested in using RedIron's crews as supplemental labor, please contact Ranae White at ranea@redironconstruction.com or directly at 225.485.0857.  

SEAA is proud of our member companies that participated in OSHA’s 2023 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction earlier this month. Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 378 of the 986 construction fatalities recorded in 2021 (BLS data), and the National Stand Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries. SEAA is committed to the cause and works to provide our members with the knowledge and resources to help them keep safety at the top of mind. 

Tony Mazzella, CEO of Mazzella Companies, is proud to announce that his sons, Matt Mazzella and Adam Mazzella, have been named Presidents of Mazzella Companies. Matt Mazzella is now President of Mazzella—including Mazzella’s rigging, engineered products, and service businesses for the overhead lifting and material handling industries. Adam Mazzella is now President of Sheffield Metals International, a manufacturer and distributor of coated and bare metal products for engineered metal roof and wall systems, and New Tech Machinery, a manufacturer of portable roof panel and gutter machines. Read More.

Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. has added Liebherr’s newest LRT 1130−2.1 rough terrain crane to its Perfect Fleet®. This powerful German-engineered crane features 140 US-ton lifting capacity and the longest telescopic boom of any 2axle rough terrain crane globally. 

Bigge has long been committed to providing their customers with the highest quality cranes from top manufacturers and this newest addition is no exception. The Liebherr LRT 1130−2.1 offers the same quality, performance, and strength that have come to be expected from Liebherr while also being economical to transport and safe to operate. Read More.

SEAA announces that it has partnered with BBSI to provide a special insurance program in which SEAA members receive an automatic 10 percent discount on their workers' compensation premium, as well as an opportunity to earn back 5 percent based on claims performance.  

BBSI is a leading provider of organizational infrastructure solutions that are customized to the unique needs of business owners in all 50 states. Member companies will be assigned to a dedicated team to provide support for loss control, human resources, employee recruiting and retention, payroll, and timekeeping. Other benefits include access to group health insurance, 401k, a learning management system, and more. Contact Tucker Smith or memberservices@seaa.net for more information on the SEAA program. 

In January, SEAA held its second Career Fair to spread awareness about the career opportunities available in the steel construction industry. Hosted by member company GMF Steel Group in Lakeland, Fla., the Career Fair brought together approximately 100 students from five local high schools and 70 students from technical colleges. “As an association, one of our goals is to invest in the future of the steel construction industry. One way we can do that is by working with our member companies to host these types of educational events,” said Pete Gum, SEAA’s Executive Director. Read More.  

SEAA is excited to announce the launch of its new Learning Management System, SteelPros Training Portal, exclusively for members. Developed in partnership with Industrial Training International (ITI) and built on ITI’s Learning Hub platform, SEAA members now have easy access to custom content for ironworkers and other related training materials. 

Every SEAA member will receive one free account and one license to access this member benefit. Additional licenses can be purchased for $35 each per year. “This is a vital resource for your safety directors or training managers—a member benefit valued at more than $10,000 per member,” said Jack Nix, Membership Committee Chairman. To set up your free account contact memberservices@seaa.net.

The National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) conducted interviews with 176 tradeswomen and analyzed 770 responses to a survey directed to women in the industry. The results have been compiled into a white paper, In Her Own Words: Improving Project Outcomes, which will assist employers with recruiting, hiring, and retaining women in craft positions.

Download the Whitepaper.

In less than two months, more than 5,000 construction and design professionals will gather in Charlotte, N.C., to learn the latest techniques and innovations and see the newest products at NASCC: The Steel Conference.

This year’s Steel Conference incorporates QualityCon, with more than 20 sessions about quality and AISC Certification, as well as SafetyCon, which features a dozen sessions about the most important part of any jobsite. Read More. 

CONEXPO-CON/AGG is finally here! While SEAA will not have a booth at the show, more than a dozen SEAA Members will be proudly representing the association. Be sure to stop by their booths to show your support.  

OTH Pioneer Rigging has partnered with Ludwig System GmbH & Co. KG, creator of the remote-controlled lifting system, LudwigHook, to bring the solution to North America. The LudwigHook lifting device is an alternative to traditional lifting hooks. It is proven in steel erection and building supply delivery applications as a way to speed up the rigging process and reduce risk to workers by keeping them from manually unhooking rigging. Read More.

Simpson Strong-Tie, Pleasanton, Calif., has promoted Mike Olosky, the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Olosky joined the company as Chief Operating Officer in 2020 and succeeds Karen Colonias at the CEO position as part of a planned leadership succession.

Last year, Simpson Manufacturing’s board of directors unanimously elected Olosky to succeed Colonias as CEO effective January 1, 2023. Read More.

Skyjack, Guelph, ON, has opened a new manufacturing facility in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, which will take over production of the company’s telehandler and boom lift product lines. In January, Skyjack unveiled 200,00 sq ft of the facility, with the remaining 490,000 sq ft to open in Q3 of 2023.  

“We have been at physical and labor capacity at our Canadian facilities for some time now and we have invested heavily in vertical integration there with a focus on DC slab scissors, vertical masts, and rough terrain scissors. Moving the telehandler and boom range to the Ramos Arizpe plant will help pave the way for that Canadian based growth and allows us to answer the increased demand we have for our telehandler and boom range,” said Ken McDougall, President of Skyjack. Read More.