Through an interactive series of modules, the Alliance administers and designs training institutes to service both businesses and individuals in the construction industry. These programs are as follows:
| • Construction Business Management Institute | |
| • Construction Skills Development Institute | |
| • Alliance Academy |
Construction Business Management Institute
“Several of our employees have increased their construction career knowledge base by attending the Alliance Construction Business Management Institute (CBMI). The CBMI provides participants with a wealth of knowledge.”
Michael Russell
President/CEO
HJ Russell & Company
The Construction Business Management Institute (CBMI) is a business-development training tool that has increased the pool of qualified contractors, vendors and suppliers available to participate in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s capital improvement project as well as regional and city projects. By providing educational assistance to these companies, they can become more knowledgeable of the construction industry. This creates a diverse and more competitive bidder market across a multitude of disciplines in the construction industry.
While contracts are in no way guaranteed to students, the CBMI modules are empowering their businesses by providing education and a greater understanding of the construction industry through classroom instruction. The CBMI instructors come from diverse backgrounds and volunteer their expertise in construction, engineering, architecture, design, law, accounting, insurance and communications. Their combined experience brings years of invaluable knowledge to the classroom.
CBMI provides a broad overview of topics such as: safety, scheduling, estimating, contract administration and project management. This is a six-week, eleven-module program. CBMI classes include a diverse cross section of small businesses not just limited to the construction industry.
In cooperation with Atlanta Metropolitan College, Certificates of Completion and Continuing Education Units are awarded to each student completing all sessions.
Safety
This module emphasizes the importance of establishing effective safety policies as an integral company component.
Contract Administration
This module provides specifics on contract administration and elements of project management such as: project site security, special licenses, permits, contract negotiation, and wage rates for laborers. This administration process will enable students to become more effective negotiators.
Scheduling
This module emphasizes the overall business strategy of scheduling and its importance in an overall business strategy. This module instructs the students to produce projects that are on-time and within budget.
Estimating
This Module stresses effective cost estimates and how they are essential not only in the acquisition of new business, but also in maintaining control over current projects.
Construction Law
This Module provides insight into the overall concept of law specific to the construction industry. It gives an understanding of the manner in which these laws will be incorporated as part of the contract and how they apply to individual construction firms. Topics include federal, state and local government provisions.
Communication and Information Technology
This module evaluates current technology needs and advances affecting the construction industry. Included is a discussion of what construction software is available and how this software can have a positive impact on your business.
Insurance and Bonding
This module explores insurance and bonding requirements within the construction industry. It also provides suggested practices for risk management in construction businesses and projects.
Construction Accounting and Finance
This module explains how to effectively develop and implement construction industry finance and accounting practices, thus efficiently managing your bottom line.
IRS Workshop: Accounting and Special Employee Tax For Construction Contracts
This module provides an overview of accounting
methods (cash, accrual, completed contract and percentage
of completion) and job costs (administrative, cost
capitalization, direct and indirect cost).
It also includes an overview of the business owner’s
responsibility to report payroll taxes for workers
employed in the business. The module includes information
about filing requirements and due dates for forms:
941, 940, W-4, W-5, W-7, W-9, W-2, W-3, 1099 MISC
and 1096. Are the people you hire in your business
employees or independent contractors? Knowing the
proper work status affects the reporting and filing
requirements for federal income, Social Security
and Medicare taxes of both types.
Marketing
This session provides an overview of various marketing strategies for the construction industry and related companies. Also emphasized, is the importance of incorporating a marketing and business development component that helps you stand apart from your competition.
Project Management
The basic philosophies of project management are covered. This includes examples, recommendations and applications.
Construction Skills Development Institute
The Construction Skills Development Institute (CSDI) is designed to recruit, train and retain a workforce from underemployed, unskilled and displaced workers throughout Atlanta. The CSDI provides individuals with the necessary elements to become skilled craftsmen and construction workers. As a training component of the Alliance, the program continues its efforts to increase the city’s construction labor pool while waging a campaign to increase awareness of this critical shortage.
The Alliance, local school systems, Atlanta Technical College and the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) have partnered to increase awareness and promote careers in construction. The summer internship program places eligible Atlanta Public School students with construction companies in the area for hands-on experience either in the office or on a project site.
High school students ages 16-18 interested in construction, many of whom participate in the school system’s construction based curriculum programs, must be recommended by their instructors, test and interview for the program. Qualified students attend a basic construction training course at Atlanta Technical College before starting their construction internships. After successfully completing the training course, interns are placed with companies specializing in the student’s field of interest (i.e. architecture, drafting, CAD, etc.) The Alliance and participating businesses monitor the intern’s progress and students are encouraged to provide feedback. All parties keep an open line of communication to ensure the most positive working environment and experience for both interns and participating firms.
Companies that offer internship opportunities in the CSDI program
range from large and small construction firms to female and minority-owned
businesses. These businesses agree to sponsor interns at an hourly
rate 40 hours a week during the internship period. Pay rates and
schedules are set at the discretion of the company.
HOW THE INTERNSHIP WORKS
|
Interns |
Area high
school students ages 16-18 |
|
Student Training |
Basic construction
training course at Atlanta Technical College |
|
Intern Placement |
Based on sponsoring
company’s needs and intern’s area of interest |
|
Internship
Period |
8 weeks —
summer |
|
Recommended
Pay |
$8—$10 per
hr. @ 40 hrs./wk |
The Alliance Academy (Academy) is an innovative technical assistance tool developed in the fall of 2002. The mission of the Academy is to promote enhanced business performance by delivering on-going personalized technical development focused on aggressive growth that builds capacity, capability and increases opportunity for participating firms. Participation criteria for students of the Academy are:
- • The Bonding criteria is $1 million and above
- • Must be from the Atlanta Region
- • Must be certified by the City of Atlanta as a Recognized Certified Business
- • Must possess three verifiable professional references
The objectives of the Academy are to gather a group of firms that are ready to participate in a “managed growth” strategy with the goal of evolving them from sub-contractors to Prime Contractors.
Each module objective is focused on moving the student closer to increasing his/her organizational capability and capacity. By the end of the course, our objective is to provide students with the knowledge and resources that are required to become a more competitive contractor and participant on major construction projects.
Business Development
- This course provides businesses with strategies designed to increase active project lists and contracting opportunities. Participants will receive best practices when making business development decisions, how to network and build valuable relationships and determine which projects are the right projects from a profitable business standpoint.
- Administrative Management
- This workshop is designed to educate executives about the importance of managing contract administration. Participants learn how to manage contracts including provisions, scope, payments and completion, employee and property, insurance and bond termination or suspension of a contract.
Accounting
It is imperative to accurately communicate with lenders and outside stakeholders concerning a firm’s sales and profits. This course assists business owners in implementing proper payables and receivables accounting methods.
Financial Statement
This course explains how to read and analyze
financial statements. Entering into a contract
with limited financial resources can have a
significant impact on profitability. This
course will provide participants with an overview
of how decisions makers score a company’s financial
statement.
Human Resources
Regardless of the number of employees, human
resource management is one of the most important
aspects of business success. This course
will address human resource management structure,
compensation programs, employee handbooks, federal
and state compliance and administrative procedures.
Tax Management
This course is designed to inform participants
of the importance of managing taxes and understanding
new business tax laws pertaining to the structure
of a company.
Commercial Banking
The commercial banking session educates participants on how to effectively utilize banking services to grow business. Students will learn how to acquire commercial loans and effectively build beneficial relationships with commercial banks and loan officers.
-
Insurance and Risk Management
U.S. Department of Transportation Short Term Lending Program (STLP)
This course is designed to educate and inform participants on how a business can participate in the U.S. Department of Transportation Short-Term lending Program. Executives learn how to apply and qualify for funding.- DOT Guaranteed Bonding
This course is designed to educate and inform executives how to properly apply and qualify for bonds up to $1,000,000 or more. This nuts and bolts module will enhance a contractor’s ability to advance.
This workshop will provide participants with a better understanding of the current climate of the insurance industry and its impact on business. Owners will learn how to implement proper insurance strategies to manage cost and maximize coverage.
Construction Law
The contracting process can
sometimes be confusing and contradictory. This course
will educate contractors on best practices for executing
a contract. Students learn construction law and
how to protect contracts.
Safety
Maintaining a safe environment is critical
to the safety of your employees and the company’s
liability. This course will educate executives on
how to manage and design a safety and risk management
plan, resulting in a safe work environment.
Cost Control Management
In every business cost, control plays a
vital role in profitability. The construction industry
is constantly managing direct and indirect cost.
Executives will learn how to cost load a project,
manage cash flow and manage the cost associated
with major projects.
Scheduling
Scheduling serves as a guide for organizing
and controlling the construction process. Students
learn to mitigate financial and legal claims caused
by delays on major projects. There is information
on how to minimize overhead, manage subcontractors
and orders and delivery of materials, cost loading,
cash flow and cost control.
Estimating
This advanced course provides best practices
in determining or evaluating the indirect and direct
cost associated with a project such as manpower
(labor), materials, equipment, value, time, and
other key requirements or resources that are necessary
to complete a predetermined project.
Project Management
All too often, people involved in managing
projects jump into planning activities before they
have defined the project’s needs. Participants learn
to develop skills to define, plan and implement
a project successfully.