Dr. Sanjeev Adhikari presented and published five papers at ASC
Dr. Sanjeev Adhikari is faculty in the Construction Management program here at Kennesaw
State University, and he joined KSU in 2019. He has presented and published five papers
at the Associated School of Construction (ASC). Despite the difficult circumstances
that Covid-19 has produced, Dr. Adhikari built collaboration with different faculty
around college and outside university and disseminated his research through papers
and presentations. Producing these five papers in a single year is outstanding and
proud for the construction management department. These papers titles are 1) Challenge
of delivering construction courses in an online environment based on faculty experiences;
2) Sustainability Related Issues Among Construction Students: Analyzing Through Source
of Knowledge, Education Preparation and Future Aspiration; 3) Construction Contractor’s
Initial Reactions and Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the South Central US;
4) COVID-19 Impacts on AEC Educators, and 5) Analysis of Construction Study Abroad
Programs Viewed from a Global Perspective
Please join the Construction Management department in congratulating Dr. Adhikari!
Cierra Danforth Receives 2020-2021 NAHB Outstanding Student Award
Cierra Danforth is currently a junior in the Construction Management program here
at Kennesaw State University and the president of our NAHB student chapter. She has
won the recognition of the National Association of Home Builders for her outstanding
leadership of our students’ chapter and the student competition team. Despite the
difficult circumstances that Covid-19 has produced, Cierra was able to build a strong
following of student volunteers and opportunities for them to shine. Under Cierra’s
leadership, nearly 35 students from Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters have participated
in several Home Aid workdays and other volunteer opportunities throughout the Atlanta
metro area. In addition to her volunteer work, Cierra maintains 18 credit hours a
semester, 30 hours per week at J.M. Wilkerson Construction, and was recently selected
to participate in the Southern Living Custom Builder Mentor Program. Please join the
Construction Management department in congratulating Cierra!
Members of K.W.I.C Give Back
Members of the KSU Women in Constriction (K.W.I.C.) student organization recently
participated in the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta Construction Challenge. The main task of the
challenge was to design and construct a piece of furniture utilizing unconventional
materials with a unique design. These pieces will then be put into the Chairish the
Future gala that includes a live and silent auction to raise much-needed funds for
the Furniture Bank. The mission of the Furniture Bank is to create stability for families
and individuals in need by distributing donated furniture to their houses into homes.
CM Alum Receives Most Admired CEO Award
Brent Scarbrough of Brent Scarbrough & Company was recently honored by the Atlanta
Business Chronicle at the 2020 Most Admired CEOs virtual event. The awards honored
Atlanta based CEOs with a strong record of innovation, outstanding financial performance,
and commitment to diversity in the workplace, who have made significant contributions
to the metro community. Most Admired CEO Brent Scarbrough started his company in 1985
while in his junior year at then Southern Polytechnic State University pursuing a
degree in Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management.
Katerra Construction Company Hosts KSU CM Students
Students from Professor Michael Collins’ CM 3110 Residential and Light Construction
class recently visited one of the Katerra Construction Company’s project sites. Professor
Collins felt his students would gain invaluable insight on the materials and methods
of construction by visiting a construction site and worked with Katerra’s staff to
coordinate the visit. Katerra’s facilitation of the event was well received by the
students. The visit covered everything from site preparation and layout to finish
materials. A presentation on the project, including construction methods, prior to
the site visit enabled the students to put the overall operations occurring at the
site into a clearer context. “I was able to visualize means and methods used on the
site in a much more understandable way”, stated Tim Rauton, one of the students who
attended the event. Another student, Steve Scruggs, expressed, “Being able to put
eyes on many of the materials in our textbook was quite valuable. It was great to
have the actual real-life work experiences to supplement our classroom learning”.
National Association of Home Builders has elected Carrie Roeger as chairman of the
NAHB 55+ Housing Industry Council
Carrie RoegerCarrie Roeger, a part-time faculty in the construction management program, was recently
elected by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Professor Roeger, a seasoned home building executive and U.S. Marine Veteran currently
owns and operates White Stone Residential, building in Northwest Georgia. Roeger held
positions of increasing responsibility in a metro Atlanta home building operation,
successfully helping the company grown from start-up to 100 homes per year.
“I am honored to lead the NAHB 55+ Housing Industry Council at this time. Our world
is changing, people are refocusing on quality of life. The 55+ Housing Council is
the only council in the NAHB that is focused on meeting the needs of a specific consumer
demographic. The leadership team of this council has heart and passion for creating
harmonious built environments to meet the needs of an aging population. Our goal is
to teach all builders how to meet these ever-changing needs.”
Professor Roeger has served on the NAHB 55+ Board of Trustees for 4 years, prior to
be elected as the Chairman. Additionally, she has completed a year of service on the
NAHB Professional Women in Building Board of Trustees. She is a member of the Greater
Atlanta Home Builders 55+ Housing Council, a charter member of the Atlanta PWB chapter
and a charter member of the Georgia PWB Chapter.
News Archives
2020
Fall Classes Notification from Dean Payne – An Update!
As we prepare for the fall semester, I wanted to take a moment to reassure you that
we are making contingency plans for courses which include face-to-face instruction,
hybrid methods, and online courses. As of now, these plans are being considered for
making classes as safe and “normal” as possible for our students.
As this global pandemic continues to evolve, the normal of the past may no longer
be a reality. As always, our top priority, is to deliver excellent education to our
students. And, the faculty and staff at the College of Architecture and Construction
Management are committed to that goal.
We’re reconfiguring many spaces and making additional plans to ensure our students
remain socially distant, safe, and engaged. For more information about Coronavirus
and KSU, Click Here.
I look forward to seeing each of you on campus in the future.
Sincerely,
Dean Andrew Phillip Payne, July 2020
The 2020 Construction Outlook Survey Results: Talent, Technology, and Tactics
Bennett Thrasher and Kennesaw State University’s College of Architecture and Construction
Management are proud to share the fourth annual Georgia Construction Outlook Survey
results. The survey captures insights and data from over 100 privately held construction
companies in Georgia, including home builders, heavy contractors, general contractors,
and specialty contractors. The above Pix was taken on the occasion of Fourth Construction
Outlook Survey presentation done for CEOs and CFOs of Construction Organizations at
the Office of Bennet Thrasher.
This survey provides meaningful information for construction companies on how to remain
relevant in an increasingly competitive industry.
Survey Highlights Include:
Financial performance in the construction business
Employee compensation and retention of best practices
Business strategies and concerns
Innovation and use of technology in the workplace
Signing Ceremony at Albion Headquarters
February 27, 2020
From L to R: Dr. Siddiqi (Chair of Construction Management Department Kennesaw State
University), Brian Newsome (Executive Vice President of Albion), and Dr. Andrew Payne
(Dean of the College of Architecture and Construction Management at Kennesaw State
University).
The formal gift agreement and signing ceremony took place in Sandy Springs at Albion
Headquarters to name the proposed construction management building project at Kennesaw
State University, Marietta Campus. The chair of the construction management department
and the dean of the college were in attendance with Brian Newsome, the Executive Vice
President of Albion.
2019
New Shropshire Family Endowed Scholarship
December 20, 2019
Heeding KSU President Pamela Whitten's call to build support for student success,
one new scholarship will be available for Construction Management students starting
in the 2020-2021 academic year.
CMIAB Chair Jeff Shropshire has created the Shropshire Family Endowed Scholarship
for construction management majors who demonstrate active participation in the KSU
Construction Management program. The scholarship will be based on merit and financial
need of the applicant.
A Scholarship is a transformative gift to each student recipient to support their
academic success. An endowed scholarship offers a legacy that will endure in perpetuity.
College of Architecture and Construction Management held a Social Event
December 12, 2019
Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, Interim Dean of the College of Architecture and Construction Management
in collaboration with the Department Chairs of Architecture and Construction Management
Drs. Rizzuto and Meadati organized a Social Event to recognize the contributions and
support of the Industry Advisory Boards of the departments within the college. The
event was held on December 12, 2019 from 6-9 PM at The Loft – an Art Gallery where
KSU Jazz Band performed during the entire event. Industry Advisory Board members
of Construction Management and Architecture had interesting conversations with college
faculty and staff during the event. The event was very well attended by the college
faculty and professional communities belonging to the boards.
The event presented opportunities to the Architecture faculty and staff to interact
with CM board members and the Architecture Advisory Board members were also able to
meet with their counterparts in the CM Advisory Boards. Dr. Siddiqi, on behalf of
College of Architecture and Construction Management would like to thank the Advisory
Brad Members, College faculty and staff for making the event successful through their
participation. Everyone enjoyed the art gallery displays, KSU Jazz Band and the fellowship
on the occasion.
Beazer CEO Alan Merrill Visits Kennesaw State
December 10, 2019
From right to left: Curt Byrd, NAHB Student Chapter president, Dr. Ali Keyvanfar Faculty
in charge of Residential Concentration, Mr. Allan Merrill, CEO Beazer Homes, Dr. Khalid
Siddiqi Interim Dean College of Architecture and Construction Management, Mr. Cory
Taylor Safety Director of Beazer Homes and Member of KSU Construction Industry Advisory
Board and other Beazer Team.
Mr. Allan P. Merrill Chairman and CEO of Beazer Homes visited Kennesaw State University
Marietta Campus and delivered a lecture on Current and Future Trends in Residential
Construction. Beazer Homes USA, Inc. is a home construction company based in Atlanta,
Georgia. In 2016, the company was the 11th largest homebuilder in the United States
based on the number of homes closed. The company operates in 13 states. As of December
31, 2016, the company had 161 active communities. Beazer Homes is also represented
on KSU's Construction Industry Advisory Board through Mr. Cory Taylor.
The lecture event was organized on December 3, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. in the Auditorium
of Design II Building by Dr. Ali Keyvanfar, Faculty-in-charge of Residential Concentration
in collaboration with Kennesaw State Student Chapter of National Association of Home
Builders. Curt Byrd NAHB Student Chapter President greeted the Beazer CEO and shared
KSU NAHB Student Competition experiences with him. Mr. Alan Merrill, who is also the
Chairman of Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies talked about his experiences
and thoughts on the current and future dimensions of trends in residential construction.
He discussed these trends in the context of organization, customer demographics, technology,
and finance. Mr. Merrill also shared his thoughts on marketing and sales with a focus
on security, comfort, convenience and maintenance. Alan dwelt at length on the influence
of Technology firms that are changing the landscape in the housing industry.
A large number of students and faculty from College of Architecture and Construction
Management participated in the event. Also present on the occasion were KSU students
belonging to Residential Construction Concentration. Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, Interim Dean
College of Architecture and Construction Management and Dr. Pavan Meadat Interim Chair
Construction Management Department welcomed Mr. Alan Merrill and highlighted the role
of Kennesaw State University’s contribution in developing the work force in the form
of Architects and Construction Project Managers for the Construction Industry. A question
and answer session followed Mr. Merrill’s presentation. The lecture and the QA session
were webcast live and same are also available to watch on YouTube.
Meet the Newest Members of Sigma Lambda Chi
October 24, 2019
The newest members of the Sigma Lambda Chi (SLC) Construction Honor Society of the
Kennesaw State University RHO II Chapter were inducted on Friday evening October 18th.
KSU faculty, alumni, family and friends joined in the induction celebration of the
chapter’s newest members. SLC is an international construction honor society whose
fundamental purpose is to recognize outstanding students in the field of construction.
In addition to recognizing individuals, the chapter provides service to their fellow
students, programs, university, community, and the construction industry.
Pictured (left to right): Myles Cardenas (alumni), Anthony McCoy, Joseph Jibreen,
Keaton Wimbish, Anna Kane, Prof. Irish Horsey (faculty advisor), Sarah Barr, Cory
Reeves, Nigel Thomas, Mason Raburn (alumni)
“Membership in SLC is a prestigious honor reserved for students who excel in the
construction management curricula. These students represent the upper 20% of scholastic
performance and should be recognized for such an achievement,” stated Prof. Horsey,
faculty advisor. The newest inductees for far Fall 2019 are Sarah Barr, Joseph Jibreen,
Anna Kane, Anthony McCoy, Adam Minor, Cory Reeves, Nigel Thomas and Keaton Wimbish.
Women on the Move Organizes a Cookout for CM and Architecture Students
September 30, 2019
Women on the Move an organization under the auspices of AGC of Georgia in collaboration
with KSU’s AGC Student Chapter organized a cook out for all Construction Management
and Architecture Majors on the Marietta Campus on 9/25/2019 from 5-7 PM. Also present
on the occasion were Construction Industry Advisory Board Members including Cherri
Watson, Tyler Isgett, Jeff Shropshire, David Millican, Mike Guinan, and Joe Skelton.
Dr. Siddiqi, Interim Dean College of Architecture and Construction Management, Dr.
Meadati Chair Construction Management and faculty members from the College also participated
in this fun event. The event was sponsored by Student Alumni Relations Committee chaired
by Cherri Watson of AGC Georgia.
A large number of CM and Architecture Students participate in the event organized
by Women on the Move at Marietta Campus. Students present enjoyed the music and the
games arranged by Trucker Trowell, President of KSU AGC Student Chapter.
Construction Management Fundraising Reach New High at 18th Annual Gala
September 20, 2019
In its most successful fundraiser yet, Kennesaw State University’s Department of Construction
Management raised more than $170,000 for scholarships and the development of state-of-the-art
teaching facilities. The 18th Annual Industry Advisory Board Fundraiser Gala, held
at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre September 19, 2019, drew more than 80 sponsorships
from individuals and organizations.
Funds raised this year eclipsed the previous high of $167,000 set in 2018. During
the event, construction management students were awarded $19,000 in scholarships.
The scholarships presented on the occasion included six Industry Advisory Board Scholarships,
two endowed Davidson Family Scholarships, Carl Frinzi Scholarship, and Atlanta Electrical
Contractors Scholarship. Three new annual scholarships were raised during the event
namely Beth Lowry Scholarship, Paul Hogan Scholarship, and Chamberlain Hrdlicka White
Williams Aughtry, a well-known Construction Law Firm.
“We are indebted to our Industry Advisory Board Members who continue to support out
program through their intellectual and monetary contributions”. said Khalid Siddiqi,
Interim Dean of Kennesaw State’s Department of Construction Management. “Through the
generosity of our donors we are able to offer scholarships to our students who wish
to receive a world-class construction education at KSU. I am delighted to see the
growth of the fundraiser revenues every year.” The Construction Industry Advisory
Board has 45 members from different sectors of the Construction Industry, and we attribute
the success of the fundraiser in part to the department’s robust industry advisory
board, Siddiqi said. The board and their members – many of whom are donors – and
its mission is to ensure students meet the educational and career needs of the industry
from an employer’s perspective.
Guest Speakers on the occasion included Mike Kenefsky developer of EHS Software and
Robert Coffey a leader in construction data, software, and services who transformed
construction procurement across the US and Canada. Dr. Kat Schwaig, Provost, Kennesaw
State University spoke on the occasion and shared the growth and community impact
of KSU in the region. Dr. Schwaig also acknowledged the contributions of the Construction
Industry Advisory Board towards enhancing the quality of the program and for the scholarships
they raise for the students. Board members were presented with awards in recognition
of their individual performance towards the board mission.
Margo Wimbish father of Keaton Wimbish, who was a recipient of Construction Industry
Advisory Board Scholarship said “I wanted to reach out to you and thank you again
for welcoming us to last night’s Construction Management event. Your hospitality
made a definite impression. I appreciate all of the hard work that went into planning
and hosting the dinner and fundraiser. It was an excellent opportunity for students
to network and for stakeholders to meet faculty and staff members. More importantly,
it was a guided lesson for the students who will be tomorrow's business leaders.
Hopefully the students enjoyed the evening, appreciated the recognition, and recognize
the importance of giving back and supporting emerging leadership. Prior to this event,
I had no true connection with KSU. Thanks to you and your staff, I can now say that
I am a proud KSU Owl Parent.“
AEE Kennesaw State Chapter Wins Three 2019 National AEE Awards!
September 7, 2019
The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) corporate office recently announced that
the AEE Kennesaw State University chapter is the recipient for both the 2019 Best
Student Chapter Meeting award and the 2019 “Best Overall Student Chapter Performance”
award in the US! Additionally, AEE KSU Chapter Marketing Officer, Addie Thornton,
is the recipient of the “Outstanding Student Chapter Member” award in the US. These
are national awards given by AEE corporate annually. AEE is an internationally recognized
organization that has chapters across the world.
2019 Best Student Chapter Meeting Award in the U.S
AEE student chapters across the nation nominate one of their most successful chapter
meetings for the academic year and AEE corporate determines which student chapter
is most deserving of the award. The KSU AEE chapter and advisors nominated the November
2018 “Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sustainability Tour” meeting for this award and KSU AEE
is happy to report that this meeting was chosen as the national 2019 Best Student
Chapter Meeting Award. This is the second year in a row that KSU AEE has been chosen
for this award. Last year, KSU AEE won this award for the February 2018 American Wind,
Inc. meeting.
On November 3rd, 2018, the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Kennesaw State Chapter
hosted a Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sustainability Tour in Atlanta, Georgia. Students in
attendance had a variety of majors, including Civil Engineering, Construction Management,
Electrical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering,
Environmental Science, Geography GIS, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Technology and Psychology. 34 Kennesaw State students attended the tour.
The stadium is LEED Platinum and has a rain water harvesting system, recycling center,
garden and photo-voltaic arrays. This was an opportunity to tour the new stadium,
learn more about the sustainability efforts during the construction and understand
how developers have continued sustainability initiatives today.
2019 Best Overall Student Chapter Performance Award in the U.S
KSU AEE was also selected as the recipient for the Best Overall Student Chapter Performance
Award in the U.S. This award takes into account nominations for KSU AEE chapter’s
community service, chapter events and student involvement. KSU AEE’s events last school
year included the following: “KSU Move-In Cardboard Recycling” volunteering“Pros of Project Management” meeting
with Celena EvansKSU students attending the 2018 World Energy Engineering Congress
(WEEC) in Charlotte, NC“Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sustainability” tour in Atlanta, GA“Electric
Vehicle Research” meeting with Richard Simmons“The Energy Factor” meeting with Michael
Migliaccio“Seasons 4 HVAC” tour in Douglasville, GA“Building Automation System Integration”
meeting with Essex ConsultingKSU students attending AEE Atlanta, Georgia chapter monthly
meetingsOther recruiting / marketing events at KSU
As for community service, KSU AEE members volunteered throughout the Fall 2018 – Spring
2019 school year for tasks such as football coaching, cardboard recycling, laying
sod for a new home, handing out water to 5K runners, side walking for therapy horse
riding and participated in the set up and cleanup for events. Among these volunteering
services, former AEE KSU chapter President, Adam Minor, took home the lead with over
100 logged volunteer hours.
Additionally, five KSU students were awarded with AEE scholarships in Fall 2018.
Addie Thornton2019 “Outstanding Student Chapter Member” Award in the US
KSU AEE student member, Addie Thornton, was chosen to receive the 2019 “Outstanding
Student Chapter Member” Award in the US. Addie has been an AEE KSU chapter member
since 2016 and served as the President from Fall 2016 – Spring 2018, the Secretary
from Fall 2018 – Spring 2019 and now serves as the Marketing Officer this school year.
Addie is a senior at KSU majoring in Civil Engineering, minoring in Construction Management
and pursuing a Land Surveying Certificate.
AEE corporate chose Addie as the recipient of this award due to her hard work and
dedication in helping to “start-up” the AEE student chapter again in 2016 as it fell
inactive during the KSU / SPSU merge. Addie will be attending the AEE World conference
and expo (formerly WEEC) in Washington, DC this September to accept this award and
the other two chapter awards on KSU AEE’s behalf.
KSU AEE is honored to be taking home three awards this fall. The chapter has made
great strides over the past three years to provide students with interesting meetings
and tours, as well as foster a community of energy professionals and enthusiasts.
KSU AEE is looking forward to another great year and hopes to bring home more awards
for this upcoming school year!
CM Department Hosts Elite Sponsors Day at Marietta Campus
August 28, 2019
The Elite Level sponsors of the 2019 Construction Management Skeet Shoot were invited
to participate in a special career fair held by the department on August 28, 2019.
The invited 2019 Elite Sponsors included:
Batson-Cook Construction
C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc.
Fortune and Johnson, Inc.
Hogan Construction Group
Holder Construction Group
Inglett and Stubbs Electrical Construction
Martin Concrete Construction, Inc.
Parrish Construction Group
The Beck Group
Turner Construction
Albion
Brooks Berrie Haynie & Associates
America’s Home Place
Swofford Construction
Brasfield and Gorrie
Brasington Bailey Construction
CT Darnell Construction
JE Dunn
Joe Hughes
Juneau Construction
Max Air
Mill Creek Residential
Oxford Properties
The Radco Companies
Dennis Taylor & Company
United Electric
Warren Hanks Construction
Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission was invited to participate by special
invitation from the Construction Industry Advisory Board
These companies had the benefit of meeting all of the interested construction management
students and recent graduates in a small setting, allowing them to have extended one-on-one
time with each student. The Construction Management Department ensured that all CM
students aspiring for an internship or a full-time position had the opportunity to
come to the event so there will be a wide variety of applicants to suit the needs
of recruiting organizations.
This year’s upcoming Annual Skeet Shoot is scheduled to take place on March 20, 20
at Garland Mountain Waleska information on participation and sponsorship opportunities
for the 2020 event please contact Cherri Watson at watson@agcga.org or (678) 298-4104
Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams Aughtry Scholarship for CM Students
Attorney Nicholas Papleacos, on behalf of Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams Aughtry,
a well-known Construction Law Firm, has instituted a $4000 scholarship for Construction
Management students at Kennesaw State University. The scholarship will be awarded
to a full-time deserving Construction Management major who is either a citizen or
US resident who meets the donor criteria for the scholarship.
Construction Management Fundraising Efforts Reach New High at Annual Gala
In its most successful fundraiser yet, Kennesaw State University’s Department of Construction
Management raised more than $167,000 for scholarships and the development of state-of-the-art
teaching facilities.
The 17th Annual Industry Advisory Board Fundraiser Gala, held last week at the Cobb
Energy Performing Arts Centre, drew more than 72 sponsorships from individuals and
organizations. Funds raised this year eclipsed the previous high of $140,000 set in 2017. During
the event, construction management students were awarded $14,500 in scholarships.
“We are so very grateful to see this level of support from our industry partners throughout
the region,” said Khalid Siddiqi, chair of Kennesaw State’s Department of Construction
Management. “Through their generosity, we are able to lessen the financial burden
of students who wish to receive a world-class education at KSU. I am thrilled to see
how much this event has grown since its inception.”
The gala started from humble beginnings, raising just $7,000 in its first year. Its
recent success can be attributed in part to the department’s robust industry advisory
board, Siddiqi said. The board has 42 members – many of whom are donors – and its mission is to ensure
students meet the educational and career needs of the industry from an employer’s
perspective.
2019 Diamond Sponsors Day
The Diamond Level sponsors of the 2018 Construction Management Industry Advisory Board
Annual Fundraiser Gala were invited to participate in a special career fair held by
the department in February 2019. The Diamond Sponsors present included: Atlanta Paving
ConcreteBatson-Cook ConstructionBeck GroupBrent Scarbrough Co.C.W. MatthewsFortune-Johnson,
Inc.Hogan Construction GroupHolder ConstructionHorizon ConstructionHudson Parrot WalkerInglett
StubbsParrish ConstructionThreads for the SouthTurner Construction These companies
had the benefit of meeting all interested construction management students and recent
graduates in a small setting, allowing them to have extended one-on-one time with
each student. The Construction Management Department ensured that all CM students
aspiring for an internship or a full-time position had the opportunity to come to
attend. A wide variety of applicants fit the needs of the recruiting organizations
who sponsored this successful event.
This year’s upcoming Annual Fundraiser Gala is scheduled to take place on September
20, 2018.
Spring 2019 Cookout
The annual Spring Cookout was held on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
Thank you to our sponsor, the Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association (AECA) and
Chuck Little. This was sponsored in conjunction with Cherri Watson, Chair of our Industry
Advisory Board Alumni and Student Relations Committee.
In addition, CM Construction Industry Board members in attendance were Jeff Shropshire,
Mike Guinan, Tanner Wilson, Duane Petersen and Keith Rothwell.
The weather was ideal! Food, fun games and networking for the students, faculty and
staff from the College of Architecture and Construction Management and several of
our campus partners also joined in from Student Affairs, UITS, and Public Safety.
Alumnus Abree provides gifts to endow scholarship, benefit construction management
building
July 16, 2019
Kennesaw State University alumnus Reza Abree ’78 recently provided two gifts to KSU,
one an endowed scholarship and the other a contribution to a construction management
building on Kennesaw State’s Marietta campus.
“As a child growing up, I learned you should never forget where you came from and
how you got there,” Abree said. “KSU has been one of the vehicles that brought me
where I am.”
The Reza Abree Endowed Scholarship provides financial support to an undergraduate
student majoring in construction management, civil engineering, construction engineering
or environmental engineering, with preference given to those studying civil engineering.
Abree established the scholarship with a gift of $25,000 that was matched by the former
Southern Polytechnic Foundation of KSU, making the total commitment $50,000.
Additionally, Abree gave $20,000 to benefit the University’s future construction management
building, with the intent of naming a faculty office within the new structure.
To be eligible for the scholarship, the KSU student must also be an undergraduate
enrolled full time with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0.
After working at various construction companies around metropolitan Atlanta, Abree
founded United Consulting in 1990 and serves as chief executive officer. Abree, a
registered professional engineer in Georgia, has built Norcross-based United Consulting
into one of the top engineering firms in the area. He earned his Bachelor of Science
in civil engineering technology in Marietta, Georgia, at what was then called Southern
Technical Institute.
“The scholarship gift of Reza Abree will enable KSU students to overcome their financial
difficulty and complete their studies faster,” said Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, interim dean
of the College of Architecture and Construction Management at Kennesaw State. “It
is alums like Reza who give back to their institution to create another success story,
and this is one way of creating their own legacy. I have known Reza for some time
and I am greatly impressed by his involvement in community development activities.
“Reza has a great story to tell because he started from scratch and has been able
to create a successful consulting firm which specializes in geotechnical engineering
and his operations spread all over the southeastern United States. We appreciate the
scholarship endowment created by Reza to benefit KSU students.”
On April 19, 2019, Abree was on Kennesaw State’s Marietta campus for a scholarship
signing ceremony and luncheon. After lunch, he toured the Southern Polytechnic College
of Engineering and Engineering Technology, along with the Department of Construction
Management.
Kenny Cole, President/CEO of Inglett & Stubbs and Joe Wheeler, Vice President of Healthcare at
Inglett & Stubbs invited Dr. Siddiqi to tour the headquarters of Inglett & Stubbs
to meet with key staff and to have lunch together on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Inglett
& Stubbs is a great example of an organization that invests in the professional development
of their workers. The success of their organization is a case-in-point for effective
leadership. A larger number of KSU Alumni serve in Inglett & Stubbs. Inglett & Stubbs
is a recognized leader in the electrical construction industry today and is consistently
ranked among the top electrical contractors in the United States.
Interim Dean of the College of Architecture and Construction Management meets with
Delegation of Hubei Business College, Wuhan, China
July 12, 2019
Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, Interim Dean of the College of Architecture and Construction Management,
met on July 8, 2019, with the Delegation of Hubei Business College, Wuhan, China.
The purpose of this meeting was to set forward a collaboration between the two universities,
focusing on the below for the Hubei students:
A Bachelor in Science in Construction Management in which students from Hubei Business
College complete 3 years at their home institution then transfer to Kennesaw State
University for completion of their degree.
A Masters of Science in Architecture or Construction Management in which students
from Hubei Business College complete their Bachelor Degree at their home institution
and apply to Kennesaw State University for admissions to obtain a Masters
The two institutions will commence the process of mapping a course curriculum for
the Hubei Business College students to ensure that the courses completed at their
home institution will transfer to Kennesaw State University.
Rodney Smith, President, Parrish Construction Group
Paul Hogan, President, Hogan Construction Group, LLC
Brett Fortune, Principal, Fortune Johnson General Contractors
Bob Sussenbach, CGLS Architects, Inc.
The first official College Advisory Counsel meeting will be held in August with a
focused agenda of formalizing the bylaws and identifying their top three priorities.
Retired Dean, Rich Cole, Awarded "Professor Emeritus of Architecture"
July 8, 2019
Retired dean, Rich Cole, AIA, NCARB, was awarded "Professor Emeritus of Architecture"
by the Kennesaw State University President, Dr. Pamela Whitten, on July 1, 2019. Professor
Emeritus Cole will be added to the list of emeriti faculty who have distinguished
themselves at Kennesaw State University through their achievements, service, and dedication.
Professor Emeritus Cole began his teaching career at Southern Technical Institute
in 1982 and served 32 years as a full-time faculty member. He was appointed dean in
2012 and retired on July 1, 2019.
Atlanta Business Chronicle: Construction Industry More Than Nuts and Bolts
June 2019
Construction Ambassador
Alum applies management experience to U.S. embassies worldwide
Thank you to Cherri Watson and her Committee on Student Alumni Relations for organizing
the best ever Skeet Shoot at Garland Mountain Sporting Clays Facility on April 26,
2019. The weather was excellent and all the teams had a great time. Cherri was ably
supported by Chuck Little and Tanner Wilson, her fellow committee members. Carl Frinzi
(Batson Cook) was an Elite Sponsor of the 2019 Skeet Shoot and assisted Cherri on
the occasion. Keith Johnson took photos of the winning teams and winners of raffle
draw. In addition to a Benelli shotgun, two $100 gift cards were also given away to
the raffle winners.
Henry Painter of Turner Construction was the lucky winner of Benelli shotgun donated
by Dennis Taylor, who was an Elite Sponsor at the event. Tanner Wilson, of Mill Creek
Residential, fielded three teams on behalf of Mill Creek and they were the Lunch Sponsors.
We'd also like to thank Brooks Berry and Haynie, who fielded three teams and sponsored
a station, and Swafford Construction who sponsored a station as well. We are additionally
grateful to Keith Johnson who fielded a team on behalf of CT Darnell.
The KSU Department of Construction Management would like to thank all the Industry
Advisory Board members and Construction industry organizations who participated and
contributed toward making the 2019 Sporting Clays Fundraiser a great success. This
year, 33 teams participated (last year we had 26 teams) with about one hundred thirty
shooters who participated. A team of four CM students, led by Hank Stricland (KSU
AGC Student Chapter President), also participated in the event. The awards were presented
to the winners by Mr. Paul Hogan, Past Chair of the Construction Industry Advisory
Board, KSU Football Coach Brian Bohannon and Dr. Khalid Siddiqi.
Best Shooter Award Winner
Joe Wheeler from Inglett and Stubbs
Winning Teams of 2019 Skeet Shoot
First Place: Inglett and Stubbs
Second Place: Brasfield and Gorrie
Thank you to our Elite Sponsors
Albion
Americas Home Place
Batson Cook Company
Brasfield and Gorrie
Brasington Bailey Construction
Brooks-Berry-Haynie
CT Darnell
CW Matthews
Fortune Johnson
Hogan Construction Group
Holder
Hughes Cornerstone
Inglett and Stubbs
Juneau Construction Company
Kennesaw State Athletics
Martin Concrete
Maxair
Mill Creek Residential
Oxford Properties
Parrish
The Radco Companies
Turner
United Electric
Warner hanks Construction Company
Dennis Taylor
Building Industry Recognition
Construction management student, organization earn national honors
April 29, 2019
Mac Calhoun came to Kennesaw State University without knowing which major to pursue
or what career path to follow after graduation.
That all changed when he took an aptitude test during a freshman seminar course which
introduced him to the University’s construction management degree program, convincing
him that he could have a future in homebuilding.
“It was a program that was growing tremendously and had deep industry connections,
so it seemed like a natural fit,” said Calhoun, who recently received the Outstanding
Student Award from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The prestigious award recognizes student members of NAHB based on their academic
standing, involvement with their student chapter and interest in pursuing residential
building.
With Calhoun at the helm, the KSU chapter has seen membership grow exponentially in
its five-year history, leading the organization to receive NAHB’s Outstanding Student
Chapter of the Year Award for going the “extra mile” in engaging with local home builders,
the community and the student body.
“It’s really special to receive that kind of recognition,” said Calhoun, who works
part-time for David Weekly Homes while finishing his degree. “We have a lot of good
industry professionals we connect with and a great core of students who are really
interested in the industry, and the award validates the kind of work we put in to
better ourselves.”
For the last three years, Calhoun has also represented KSU’s Department of Construction
Management in NAHB’s annual student competition, designed to give students the opportunity
to apply their newly acquired skills on a real-life management project. As a team,
the students submit and defend development proposals to a group of construction executives
who act as judges.
KSU’s team submitted a 100-page proposal detailing a worksite development and marking
plans similar to that of a professional builder. Out of 37 universities competing
this year, Kennesaw State placed fifth. The student chapter won the three-day competition
in 2017.
“The students who get to participate in this are really able to get a leg up on the
competition when joining the workforce,” Calhoun said. “For me, it brings together
everything I’m learning in the classroom and has taught me the intricacies of homebuilding
and developing a plan.”
Irish Horsey, assistant professor of construction management and advisor to the NAHB
student chapter, said Calhoun’s commitment to the organization was integral to the
team’s success this past year.
“Mac is a model student,” she said. “From spending long nights and weekends to prepare
the team for competition to hosting on campus events, his dedication was stellar.
Mac is on his way to being an exceptional leader having secured positions with leading
residential builders and exceeding employer expectations.”
Written by Travis Highfield, Photos by David Caselli, Original Story
AGC KSU Student Chapter News
April 23, 2019
On April 17th, the Associated General Contractors (AGC) KSU student chapter celebrated their last meeting of the Spring 2019 semester by inviting Kevin Kuntz
(President of Southeast Division McCarthy Building & Outgoing President at AGC of
Georgia) and Mark Woodall (Governmental Affairs at AGC of Georgia) to discuss the
benefits of being an AGC member. Not only does the AGC provide an endless amount of
networking and education opportunities, but the organization also campaigns for the
needs, interests and concerns within the construction industry. During the Fall 2018 – Spring 2019 school year, the AGC student chapter hosted 12
events. These events included presentations from leading construction industry professionals,
an office visit to JE Dunn Construction and Holder Construction, two volunteer events
at the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, a Kennestone Hospital site visit and a cookout sponsored
by New South Construction. The student chapter even hosted an AGC hat design contest
and gave away an AGC of Georgia Young Leadership Program (YLP) membership to a KSU
student. There is no doubt the AGC student chapter has been active this school year!
The AGC KSU student chapter is also excited to announce that all three AGC scholarships
given in the state of Georgia were awarded to students at Kennesaw State University.
These students are Joe Congemi (Undergraduate Construction Management Major – Senior),
Addie Thornton (Undergraduate Civil Engineering Major – Senior), and Misikir Mengistu
(Graduate Construction Management Major- Senior). These students plan to graduate
in 2020.
The AGC student chapter had a fantastic year and looks forward to another great year
starting this fall.
Above right: AGC student chapter with Mark Woodall and Kevin Kuntz from AGC of Georgia
Above left: AGC scholarship recipients- Joe Congemi (Undergraduate Construction Management
Major – Senior), Addie Thornton (Undergraduate Civil Engineering Major – Senior),
and Misikir Mengistu (Graduate Construction Management Major- Senior), Cherri Watson
(Director of Safety, Education & Workforce Development at AGC of Georgia)
Dr. Khalid Siddiqi to serve as Interim Dean following the retirement of Richard Cole
April 22, 2019
Effective July 1, Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, professor and chair of the Department of Construction
Management, will serve as interim dean following the retirement of Richard Cole this
summer after many years of service.
Dr. Siddiqi: "I am grateful to the University for providing me the opportunity to serve as Interim
Dean of the College of Architecture and Construction Management. My goal, and subsequent
actions with our CoACM leadership team, will be focused on student success. I believe
we have an exciting opportunity to help our students succeed within the framework
of our new CoACM initiatives, including the College's roadmap to becoming a top-tier R2 institution, its Quality Enhancement
Plan, and its CoACM Workload Policy."
Dean Cole: "Dr. Khalid Siddiqi has served the Department of Construction Management competently,
professionally and with outstanding leadership for 18 years. Dr. Siddiqi has led his
department through numerous successful accreditations, formed one of the most effective
Industry Advisory Boards in the region and has been tireless in developing scholarship
opportunities for his department’s students. He is truly dedicated to student success.
I have worked closely with Dr. Siddiqi in my time as Dean of the College of Architecture
and Construction Management (CoACM) and I have full confidence that Dr. Siddiqi will
confidently lead the CoACM in his new leadership role as Interim Dean."
College Admin, Cathy Smith, Retires
April 18, 2019
Catherine (Cathy) Smith, Administrative Associate to the Dean and College of Architecture
and Construction Management, is retiring from Kennesaw State University at the end
of April 2019.
Cathy began her employment at Kennesaw State University as an admin from 2005 to 2008
in the Department of Sociology, Geography, Anthropology and Criminal Justice. She
left her position to pursue her dream of finishing a bachelors degree at KSU from
the summer of 2008 to May 2011. Cathy graduated Magna cum laude from KSU with a BS
in Sociology in Spring 2011.
Cathy returned to Kennesaw as the admin for the Department of Architecture in January
2012, when it was Southern Polytechnic State University, and worked as the department
admin for over 4 years. She became the Administrative Associate to the Dean and the
College in October 2016.
We wish Cathy a fantastic retirement and she will be missed.
Welcome New Advisory Board Member, Don Clerici
April 2, 2019
The Kennesaw State University Construction Management Department is pleased to announce
the recent addition of Don Clerici to its Industry Advisory Board.
Don is the owner and founder of Owner/Company Founder of BM&K Construction and Engineering
in Canton, GA. He has over 26 years of experience experience in program management,
project management, engineering and construction management and has provided oversight
for over $2 billion dollars of public infrastructure projects for multiple owners.
These public projects include: transportation, parks, institutional, public Safety
and wastewater distribution and collection. Don has also worked in private development
projects specializing in the areas of office, retail, commercial and industrial. Don
has also worked in private development projects specializing in the areas of office,
retail, commercial and industrial.
NAHB Student Chapter Honors Industry During Competition Debrief
March 27, 2019
Members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Chapter held a
competition debriefing session to honor industry sponsors on Wednesday, March 20,
2019. The session was out of appreciation for industry partners and faculty support
of the student chapter and competition team. Leaders of the team reviewed highlights
of this year’s competition, which took place late February in Las Vegas. The 2019
achievements included: 5th Place Student Competition, 1st Place Outstanding Student
Chapter, Outstanding Student Award to Mac Calhoun, and One to Watch Award to KSU alumnus,
Miles Cardenas.
The KSU NAHB Student Chapter has won awards for five consecutive years of competing
in student competitions. Consistently ranked in the top 10 for the competition and
first place for student chapter of the year for three years, KSU remains the team
to beat. Our students are second to none, as we have sequentially won Outstanding
Student awards since 2015.
CM Spring Cookout 2019
March 22, 2019
The annual Spring Cookout was held on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
In addition, CM Construction Industry Board members in attendance were Jeff Shropshire,
Mike Guinan, Tanner Wilson, Duane Petersen and Keith Rothwell.
The weather was ideal! Food, fun games and networking for the students, faculty and
staff from the College of Architecture and Construction Management and several of
our campus partners also joined in from Student Affairs, UITS, and Public Safety.
Georgia Construction Outlook Survey: Construction labor shortage increasingly severe
as backlogs grow
Bennett Thrasher and Kennesaw State University release annual survey results of the state’s privately-held construction companies
February 27, 2019
The third annual Georgia Construction Outlook Survey indicates that labor shortages
and reliability from sub-contractors continues to be a looming concern for 83 percent
of the state’s privately-held construction companies.
The survey was conducted by Bennett Thrasher, one of the country’s largest full-service
public accounting and consulting firms, in collaboration with Kennesaw State University’s
Department of Construction Management. Designed to provide benchmarking data of the
state’s general contractors and subcontractors, the survey is led by Scott Hazy and
Tom Jollay, co-leaders of Bennett Thrasher’s Construction Practice, along with Khalid
Siddiqi, chair of Kennesaw State University’s Department of Construction Management.
Results are based on responses from 149 Georgia-based privately-held construction
companies in categories including compensation, recruiting and retention strategies,
profitability, healthcare costs and benefits, innovation, business challenges and
project backlog.
“The labor shortage has become increasingly acute over the last three years. It’s
no surprise that recruiting and retaining qualified individuals remains the top challenge
for the construction industry,” said Siddiqi. “However, it is encouraging to see that
the number of organizations focusing on innovation and technology continue to rise
as we address this significant issue.”
“In our third year of this groundbreaking survey, the number of participating firms
continues to increase. We are excited to have significant benchmarking data available
to show the strength of the construction industry and address the challenges, technology
and best practices that are evolving within the industry,” added Hazy, co-leader of
Bennett Thrasher’s Construction Practice, along with Jollay.
Other major takeaways from the survey include:
84.38 percent of respondents projected an increase in revenue in the next year, which
is up from 77.78 percent in the previous year.
Respondents reported an average gross profit per full-time equivalent employee of
$45,289, a 32 percent increase from the previous year.
Respondents reported an average gross profit margin of 11 percent.
57 percent of companies reported a higher backlog over the last year.
83 percent of the companies surveyed said recruiting and retaining qualified individuals
was their biggest business challenge.
68 percent of the privately held construction companies in Georgia are located in
metro Atlanta.
67 percent of the companies surveyed said they are a family-owned business and 58
percent of surveyed participants said they have a succession plan in place.
The average salary increase was slightly lower than in the previous year, but companies
reported paying out higher bonuses and other benefits not reflected in salary.
The survey also compiled data on compensation, including average salaries for all
contractors:
Bennett Thrasher LLP is one of the country’s largest full-service certified public
accounting and consulting firms. The firm creates significant value and a unique positive
experience through collaboration—with and between clients, partners, associates and
the community. Founded in 1980 by Rick Bennett and Ken Thrasher, Bennett Thrasher
today has a dedicated, experienced team of partners and associates who believe in
creating value by working “Better Together.” For more information, please visit Bennett
Thrasher’s website at www.btcpa.net.
Welcome New Advisory Board Member, Keith Johnson
February 20, 2019
Keith Johnson serves as Vice President of Business Development at CT Darnell Construction, a general contractor headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, and licensed throughout the
US. Keith drives client development and new venture opportunities for the firm and
also oversees talent recruitment.
Keith is honored to be on the Industry Advisory Board and to have a role in shaping
the future leaders of the construction industry. He is also a proud alum of Kennesaw
State University, where he earned his MBA. His connection to KSU goes deeper still:
He received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Southern College of Technology, which,
in 2013, would become part of KSU.
In addition to his more than 20 years’ experience in client development in the construction
industry, Keith is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Georgia.
Welcome New Advisory Board Member, Duane Petersen
February 12, 2019
The Kennesaw State University Construction Management Department is pleased to announce
the recent addition of Duane Petersen to its Industry Advisory Board.
As a Business Group Leader/Vice President with The Walsh Group, Mr. Petersen is responsible
for leadership of the company’s water infrastructure business throughout the southeast.
Duane has twenty-three years of construction industry experience, the past nineteen
years with The Walsh Group. His extensive experience covers complex project types
throughout the United States, including hydroelectric power, deep tunnels, airport
runways/taxiways, environmental protection and water/wastewater facilities totaling
nearly $2 Billon in value. His experience includes a broad range of delivery types
including Design Bid Build, CMAR, Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build. Duane
graduated from Montana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction
Engineering Technology degree and is a General Contractor Qualifying Agent in Georgia
and Tennessee.
Chapter News from AEE KSU Student Chapter
February 6, 2019
On Thursday, January 31st, the AEE Kennesaw State University (KSU) Student Chapter hosted an event on electric vehicles
at the KSU Marietta Campus. Presenting was Dr. Richard A. Simmons, a Senior Research
Engineer and Mechanical Engineering Instructor at Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute.
Dr. Simmons’ presentation was called “Energy Use in EVs and Advanced Vehicles” and
he touched on his research regarding electric cars and automotive processes. Included
in his presentation were his ideas on sustainable development and meeting the planet’s
energy demands, while also discussing alternative fuels and intelligent systems, policy
standards in regard to fuel and renewable fuel, energy density and the functions of
turbo systems. Simmons also had one of his former Georgia Tech research students,
Chelsea Calhoun, present her research project titled, “Investigation and Optimization
of Multiple Performance Objectives Using Small Scale, Low-Cost, Remotely Controlled
Vehicles”. Calhoun was able to show attendees the amount of energy consumed at various
constant speeds (low, medium, fast) as well as speed changes that mocked an urban,
city-like environment, i.e. a “stop and go” environment.
This event brought in over 30 attendees, these individuals being AEE student members,
KSU students, KSU professors and AEE Atlanta, Georgia members. Due to the nature of
the topic and the popularity of this event, the KSU Student Newspaper The Sentinel
had one of their writers and photographers attend and cover this event. The chapter
is proud that their event was featured in The Sentinel- the article can be found here.
Welcome New Advisory Board Member, Tony Brown
January 30, 2019
The Kennesaw State University Construction Management Department is pleased to announce
the recent addition of Tony Brown to its Industry Advisory Board. Tony is currently
the Director of Project Management for American Structural Concrete and has accumulated
35 years of diverse experience in the construction industry throughout his career,
including the market segments of health care, retail, hospitality, education, federal
government, industrial, multi-residential and sureties.
During his career he has held positions of laborer, carpenter, superintendent, project
engineer, project manager, senior project manager, process engineering manager, project
management director and construction firm owner. Tony has gained invaluable experience
in bonding, design build, contract negotiations, risk management, training, estimating,
scheduling, purchasing, standard operating procedures, public relations, recruiting,
mentoring and business development.
Tony earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction from Southern Polytechnic State
University and is a General Contractor qualifying agent in Georgia, North Carolina
and Tennessee. Away from work, Tony enjoys spending time with his family: Dawn, wife
of 32 years, son Madison, 17 and daughter Maci, 15. He also enjoys hunting, fishing,
camping and knife making.
GUCA Invests in the Future and Awards Scholarships to Construction Management Students
January 28, 2019
Construction Outlook Survey Results Luncheon
January 25, 2019
Join us on Wednesday, February 13th as Khalid Siddiqi, Ph. D., Chair of Kennesaw State
University's College of Architecture and Construction Management, in conjunction with
Bennett Thrasher, unveils the results of the 2019 Georgia Construction Outlook Survey.
We will also be showcasing a C-Suite panel of KSU Advisory Board Members and other
construction industry influencers to gain insight on the future of the Georgia construction
industry.
The 2019 Construction Outlook Survey was conducted with participants from privately-held
construction companies across the state of Georgia.
Register now for an exclusive look into the best practices and trends in the Construction
Industry. Space is limited and lunch will be served.
The Kennesaw State University Construction Management Department is pleased to announce
the recent addition of Joe Tuggle to its Industry Advisory Board. Mr. Tuggle is from
Carrollton, Georgia and graduated from Auburn University in 1982 with a Bachelor of
Science in Building Construction. Tuggle has worked in the Metro Atlanta construction
market since 1984 and is currently President and Chief Operating Officer of Swofford
Construction, Inc., member of the Associated General Contractors of Georgia Board
of Directors and has been an active member of Peachtree City United Methodist Church.
Announcing New Industry Advisory Board Members
January 14, 2019
The Kennesaw State University Construction Management Department is pleased to announce
the recent additions of Griffin Hall and Keith Rothwell to its Industry Advisory Board.
Griffin Hall is a Preconstruction Director in the Atlanta office of McCarthy Building
Companies, Inc. serving as the preconstruction lead on healthcare and large projects.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee’s College of Civil Engineering, Griffin
has spent most of his career working on correctional and healthcare facilities for
clients including Tennessee Department of Correction, St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital, Erlanger Health System, and Kaiser Permanente.
Keith Rothwell graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor
of Civil Engineering degree and an Undergraduate Certificate in Building Construction.
Mr. Rothwell was employed with RJ Griffin & Company and Post Properties prior to being
one of the original Oxford Properties employees at the company’s founding in 2002.
He originally served in the role of Project Manager before being promoted to Vice
President of Construction Operations in 2004. He was promoted to Senior Vice President
in 2007 and President in 2016.
Mr. Rothwell is a licensed general contractor in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, and Virginia. He also holds LEED certification as a Green Associate. Mr.
Rothwell is responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of Oxford’s preconstruction
and construction departments, including the management of all construction employees.
He has been involved in the construction management of over 10,000 apartment units
that are either complete or currently under construction, with a total value in excess
of one billion dollars.
2018
Fall Cookout 2018
October 22, 2018
Every fall semester, the Department of Construction Management hosts a cookout to
offer students the opportunity to network and enjoy a free dinner, music, games and
giveaways. This semester's cookout on October 18th was generously sponsored by JE Dunn Construction and organized with the assistance of Cherri Watson, Chair of our Industry Advisory Board's Committee on Student Alumni Relations.
About 300 Construction Management and Architecture students, as well as alumni, came
out to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather. JE Dunn’s Scott Boden and Morgan Bowles,
both KSU alumni were instrumental in organizing the event. Scott also serves on the
Construction Industry Advisory Board and has been instrumental in forging a stronger
relationship between KSU and JE Dunn. Board member, Tanner Wilson was also present
to represent the Student Alumni Relations Committee.
KSU CM's Dr. Siddiqi Keynote Speaker at GUCA Regional Meeting
October 15, 2018
Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, Chair of the KSU CM Construction Management Department, was honored
as the keynote speaker at the GUCA Northwest Georgia (Georgia Utility Contractors Association, Inc.) Industry Meeting, held on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at the Hudson Grill in Kennesaw,
GA.
Dr. Siddiqi gave an overview of the current demand for workers in the construction
industry and stressed the need for developing a corporate strategy for hiring and
retention. He also outlined the key features needed by organizations to hire and retain
the talent and advised to attract more women to the industry to overcome the worker
shortages currently prevailing. The presentation was followed by questions and answers
session.
Dr. Siddiqi thanked GUCA for awarding yearly scholarships to KSU CM students over
the last two decades. He also thanked the industry for supporting educational initiatives
at Kennesaw State University.
Paran Homes and KSU CM Students Build Custom Playhouse to Benefit HomeAid Atlanta
Volunteers from Paran Homes and NAHB student chapter members from the Kennesaw State University’s Construction
Management program have begun building a saltbox-style custom playhouse to benefit
HomeAid Atlanta, the designated charity of the Greater Atlanta HBA.
Fifteen volunteers spent a morning last month completing the framing of the playhouse.
An online raffle to win the playhouse will begin Nov. 23 and run through Dec. 13.
HomeAid Atlanta will announce the winner Dec. 14.
It’s the first playhouse raffle the charity has held in eight years, said HomeAid
executive director Mandy Crater.
“We had such success with the event from 2004-2010 that it is a dream come true for
us to begin construction on this miniature, custom home. We are beyond grateful for
the support and enthusiasm of Paran Homes, KSU, and all of the other donors for making
Project Playhouse’s return a reality in 2018,” she said.
Top right: The saltbox-style playhouse was designed by architect Mike Hart of The Hartwin Group. Bottom left: Volunteers from Paran Homes and KSU gather for a photo.. Original Story
Construction Management Fundraising Efforts Reach New High At Annual Gala
Donations will support scholarships and the development of teaching facilities
September 24, 2018
In its most successful fundraiser yet, Kennesaw State University’s Department of Construction
Management raised more than $167,000 for scholarships and the development of state-of-the-art
teaching facilities.
The 17th Annual Industry Advisory Board Fundraiser Gala, held last week at the Cobb
Energy Performing Arts Centre, drew more than 72 sponsorships from individuals and
organizations.
Funds raised this year eclipsed the previous high of $140,000 set in 2017. During
the event, construction management students were awarded $14,500 in scholarships.
“We are so very grateful to see this level of support from our industry partners throughout
the region,” said Khalid Siddiqi, chair of Kennesaw State’s Department of Construction
Management. “Through their generosity, we are able to lessen the financial burden
of students who wish to receive a world-class education at KSU. I am thrilled to see
how much this event has grown since its inception.”
The gala started from humble beginnings, raising just $7,000 in its first year. Its
recent success can be attributed in part to the department’s robust industry advisory
board, Siddiqi said.
The board has 42 members – many of whom are donors – and its mission is to ensure
students meet the educational and career needs of the industry from an employer’s
perspective.
Written by Travis Highfield, Photos by Ashley Schenck | Original Story
Dr. Siddiqi Addresses ABC Members on Construction Workforce Crisis
August 20, 2018
Dr. Siddiqi recently spoke to the participants of Construction's Workforce Crisis
- Georgia's Industry Trends Symposium, organized by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Georgia. The event was held at Maggiano’s Little Italy, Cumberland Mall on August 7, 2018.
A large cross-section of Atlanta’s construction industry organizations participated.
Cynthia Mills, founder and Principal of leadership development consulting group The
Leaders’ Haven, along with Laura Ashby, an experienced litigator with Miller & Martin,
Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, Chair of Kennesaw State University’s Department of Construction
Management, and Margaret Rauber, Vice President of Operations at Winter Construction,
addressed ABC of Georgia members on ways and means of tackling the issue from both
a theoretical and a practical perspective.
Dr. Siddiqi shared the results of his research paper “Best Practices for Attracting
and Retaining Female Construction Project Managers”, which he co-authored along with
Kennesaw State MS CM Program Graduate, Casey Stockbridge and Tom Jollay of Bennett
and Thrasher.
Their research showed the challenges of not just recruiting women into construction
management but retaining them. “Women leave the industry at a much higher rate than
men,” Siddiqi explained. “Our research revealed some of the reasons why.” Siddiqi
listed the top 5 key differences between men and women when it comes to views about
their employer. While some of these differences involved common tenets of company
policy, such as anti-sexual harassment policies and alternative work schedules, others
were more surprising (for instance, 82% of males but only 59% of females care about
a company vehicle.) Dr. Siddiqi shared some proven best practices for attracting and
retaining female project managers in construction industry organizations.
CM Student Awarded with $4,000 Foundation of the Association of Energy Engineers Scholarship
August 15, 2018
The KSU chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) is pleased to announce
that the 2018 – 2019 AEE KSU chapter president, Adam Minor, has been chosen to receive
a $4,000 scholarship from the Foundation of the Association of Energy Engineers (FAEE).
Adam was awarded the Albert Thumann scholarship, an award which honors the late founder
and Executive Director of the Association of Energy Engineers, Mr. Albert Thumann.
This scholarship is regarded as the top honored scholarship the Foundation of the
Association of Energy Engineers provides. Along with this scholarship, Adam has also
been awarded with a one-year national AEE membership and the opportunity to attend
the 2018 World Energy Engineering Congress (WEEC) conference and expo this October.
Not only does Adam excel academically, participate in extra-curricular activities
and volunteers his time, but he also plans on making a positive impact on the world
by expanding his studies into energy efficiency and sustainability. Adam is a U.S.
Marine Corps / Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran with a degree in Heating, Ventilation,
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology from Lincoln Tech. Currently, he is
working toward a Construction Management degree with a concentration in Land Development
at Kennesaw State University.
In addition to Adam's award, four KSU AEE students were also selected to receive a
$1,000 scholarship from the Foundation of the Association of Energy Engineers.
Photo, L to R: Jacqueline Stephens (KSU Construction Management Department Assistant
Professor and AEE Atlanta Chapter Member), Adam Minor (Construction Management Major),
Khalid Siddiqi (KSU Construction Management Department Chair)
KSU AEE Wins the 2018 "Best Student Chapter Meeting" Award
July 24, 2018
The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Corporate has announced that the Kennesaw
State University chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers is the recipient for
the 2018 "Best Student Chapter Meeting" award for their "American Wind, Inc." meeting
held in February 2018. This award is a national award given by AEE corporate annually.
Robert Yost, inventor of the MicroCube mini-turbine, and his son, Dan Yost from American
Wind, visited KSU Marietta to discuss the added benefits that their mini-wind turbines
can offer as compared to large turbines on wind farms. These benefits included increased
renewable energy created in less space with lower wind speeds and the possibility
for wind walls to retract into ground bunkers during bad weather conditions to prevent
product damage. American Wind also discussed topics on magnetism and air turbulence,
and even demonstrated a MicroCube in action. Recently, American Wind, Inc was named
#1 in Energy CIO Insights magazine's "Top 10 Energy Start Ups". Read more by clicking
here.
With 19 individuals attending, this was the most attended meeting KSU AEE has had
thus far. American Wind also invited KSU students and advisors to visit their headquarters
in Huntsville, AL in the future. Notable attendees at this meeting were Ruth Whitlock,
Executive Administrator at AEE Headquarters, Jacqueline Stephens, KSU AEE Faculty
Advisor, and Dan Shabo and Darrell Sandlin, AEE Georgia Chapter Advisors.
The KSU AEE student chapter is so proud to make an impact at Kennesaw State University
by providing students with opportunities to meet with some of the most experienced
professionals in the energy industry. The chapter is especially thankful to all of
the students who attended this meeting, their advisors for helping to connect them
with experienced energy professionals and to all of the individuals who helped to
set up the meeting.
KSU Construction Management Students Prepare for the Workplace with Industry Technology
June 28, 2018
Construction managers are highly skilled in problem solving and technology use for
efficiency in construction project management best practices. Kennesaw State University
Construction Management students are currently benefiting from the generosity of three
software and technology firms - Bluebeam, Procore and Raken.
Bluebeam has gifted the department their Revu 2018 software for over 150 CM lab computers. In addition, students
in select CM classes will receive a free download of the software valid for the academic
year. This is the 5th year that Bluebeam has collaborated with our program. In the
classroom, students create PDF documents, markup drawings and prepare quantity take-offs
and estimates. Out of the classroom, Bluebeam Studio allows the students to collaborate
on group projects and competition teams.
In a new partnership with Procore, KSU CM professors are introducing the online Project Management system to our students.
The software, tools and apps will provide the students with training in project management
tasks such as document control, submittals, requests for information and change orders.
Students will also be eligible to receive a digital badge upon completion of the Procure
Student Certification program.
Raken is providing their Daily Reporting App to CM students participating in the summer
internship program. The students use the app to record and report their weekly hours,
as well as document their daily tasks with written descriptions and photographs. Using
this app helps the students to understand the importance of a daily journal for a
construction professional.
The CM department is proud to equip our students with fundamental project management
skills and current construction technology. The academic partnerships with firms like
Bluebeam, Procore and Raken help to prepare them for success as future leaders of
the construction industry.
Top photo: Student works in Bluebeam software Bottom photo: Sample daily report created by CM student Jasmine Ward
Twice the Number of Industry Leaders Participate at CM Department Skeet Shoot at Garland
Mountain Sporting Clays in 2018
May 1, 2018
The KSU Department of Construction Management would like to thank all of those who
participated and contributed toward making the 2018 Sporting Clays Fundraiser a great
success. Twenty six teams with one hundred two shooters participated, almost doubling
the number of participants in 2017. A team of five students, lead by Hank Stricland (KSU
AGC Student Chapter President), also participated in the event beside Dr. Siddiqi.
The awards were presented to the winners by Mr. Paul Hogan, past Chair of the Construction
Industry Advisory Board. Student Alumni Relations Committee members present on the
occasion included Cherri Watson, AGC Education Director (Chair), and Chuck Little,
Director Education of Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association.
This year's event took place on Friday, April 27th at Garland Mountain Sporting Clays
in Waleska, GA and was organized by Cherri Watson (Committee Chair, Student Alumni
Relations of the KSU CM Industry Advisory Board). Fundraiser proceeds will support
the Department of Construction Management activities and programs.
Awards Given on the occasion at Garland Mountain Sporting Clays Clubhouse at Waleska
First Place: Inglett & Stubbs
Second Place: American’s Home Place
Best Shooter: Kenny Coleman with Taylor Commercial
Raffle Winner: Jason Lewis with Brooks-Berry-Haynie & Associates, Inc.
Sponsors
Raffle Prize Sponsor: Dennis Taylor and Company, Inc.
The Student Chapter recently spoke to children in the program on five main sustainability
initiatives including, water usage, food, recycling, energy and power conservation
and solar power technology. They also led hands-on activities, including creating
a solar powered vehicle out of a recycled tin can, and presented a PowerPoint explaining
various sustainability concepts.
Student Chapter participants very much enjoyed having the opportunity to share information
regarding sustainability with the future generation and teach them that despite their
age, they have a role to play and can make a positive impact for the environment.
Graduate Program Students Present Papers at ASC Conference
April 25, 2018
Gunjan Garg and Adanegn Woldemichael accompanied Dr. Siddiqi, Chair of the Construction
Management Department KSU, to the 54th ASC Conference in Minneapolis, MN. The Associated Schools of Construction Conference is the premier
conference for Construction Management discipline where national and international
peer-reviewed papers are presented.
Ms. Garg presented a paper entitled "EarthCraft Homes Costs more than Conventional
Homes". The objective of this study was to identify the construction cost differential
between EarthCraft and conventional homes, and included a comparison of projects completed
by the EarthCraft homebuilders and conventional builders. Mr. Woldemichael presented
a paper entitled "Unions Electrical Workers are not Against Prefabrication". The study
identified the best practices for prefabrication feasible for electrical workers who
are part of unions.
Dr. Siddiqi presented a paper entitled "Best Practices for Attracting and Retaining
Female Construction Project Managers" and shared the findings on gender differences
for retaining for construction organizations. The paper was co-authored by Casey Stockbridge,
who graduated in December 2017 from KSU’s Construction Management Graduate Program.
The third author of this study was Tom Jollay from Bennett Thrasher accounting firm.
The fourth paper presented by KSU at the conference was "Barriers to Net Zero Housing
in the US", co-authored with Faiza Mahdi, who is also a graduate of KSU's Construction
Management program and works in the construction industry. The objective of this study
was to identify the major barriers to large-scale adoption of Passive Housing concept
in the United States.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Women lag in participation in the booming construction
industry
April 23, 2018
By Anastaciah Ondieki
The last five years have been great for the construction industry with spending at
an all-time high of close to $1.3 trillion. The industry’s growth places a high demand
for a skilled workforce and further reveals a gap in the number of men and women working
in construction.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, women represent only 9 percent of
the total labor force in the construction industry, traditionally viewed as a male
dominated field. Women working in the industry are concentrated mainly in the sales
and office sector with fewer occupying the professional and management sector. Representation
of women on the construction trades side is also low.
Economist Andrew Flowers with Indeed Hiring Lab, a team of economists who provide
insights into the labor market said the difference in numbers could be a question
of whether women are interested in the field, or whether companies create a culture
of workplace balance that accommodates women.
Flowers says the demand for workers could be an opportunity for women to explore the
thriving industry, because jobs posted are not being filled fast enough.
“More women would be potentially drawn into the construction industry because of how
tight the labor market is,” said Flowers.
Flowers says overall construction industry job postings on his team’s website are
at the highest point in six years.
Better Pay, shorter line
The gender gap for women in the construction field is mirrored by the enrollment rates
of female versus male students in technical colleges within the state. Data from the
Technical College System of Georgia shows that last year, only 836 of the 10,730 students
enrolled in construction related courses were female.
The biggest problem, according to Professor Khalid Siddiqi, chair of the Construction
Management department at Kennesaw State University’s college of Architecture and Construction
Management, is the lack of exposure of the program at the high school level.
“I feel really challenged that I cannot get the message to the schools where these
students are coming from,” Siddiqi said.
The number is even worse for women because of age-old roles assigned to women.
Last Fall, only 11.6 percent of 388 students enrolled at KSU to pursue a degree in
Construction management were female. Siddiqi however says the school has in the last
five years increased the number of women in the program by 1,000 and hopes to see
the numbers rising.
With the growing demand for skilled labor, Siddiqi sees a big opportunity for female
students in the estimation and scheduling professions and the quick absorption of
graduating students into the work force.
“None of our students have to look for a job…they get into full time employment because
they already have the skill sets needed to hit the ground running,”says Siddiqi of
the ready market for well trained industry workers.
The construction jobs prospects in Atlanta and the state in general are reflective
of the booming construction industry nationwide.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the city of Sandy Springs ranked
9th nationwide last year among metropolitan areas employing the highest number of
construction managers in the nation, with 4,690 jobs created at an average hourly
wage of $56.43.
The state ranked fourth nationwide among highest paying jobs for construction managers
with the yearly wage at $113,930. The average hourly wage for a construction workers
as of last month was $29.43, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
That, according to Siddiqi is indicative of growing prospects for those interested
in the construction management field.
“I see a very strong possibility that females are going to be joining the construction
industry because of not only lucrative pay but the realization that the jobs they
prefer can make a difference in the city’s skylines,” said Siddiqi on the favorable
job prospects.
Even in the wake of public outcry over gender pay discrepancies , jobs in the construction
field have the narrowest wage gap with women earning 95.7% of what men get, according
to the U.S. Department of Labor . This is much higher than the median gap of 20%.
Corporate efforts in closing the gap
Some construction companies and developers are involving themselves with ongoing efforts
to bring gender parity in the industry through strategic policies.
Kevin Kuntz, President of the Southeast division of McCarthy Building Company Inc.,
which employs close to 2,000 people said his company is committed to diversifying
its workforce to give equal opportunities to all employees to rise through the ranks
based on performance regardless of their gender.
“When you bring in people of diverse backgrounds, they bring in diverse perspectives
and with diverse perspectives comes very creative ideas and solutions” which Kuntz
says result in better services.
According to company data, female employees accounted for 31.5 percent of the new
hires the company took in last year, with most of the jobs in project engineering.
Women account for 24% of the total workforce for the company.
As data points to continued growth, industry insiders hope that the face of the typical
construction worker also gets to evolve to allow women a chance to tap into the growth,
as well as, the lucrative salaries that accompany the profession.
Daphne Bryson Jackson, the co-founder of the Women in Construction, Engineering and
Related Services (WICERS) says having more younger women introduced to STEM-related
courses will help boost the number of women in the field.
“This kind of generation has women who are bold. They come in and go full throttle,”
adds Jackson.
Olivia Fru, project manager for a $90 million active adult community being built in
Atlanta was not greeted by a growing economy or thriving construction industry when
she graduated in 2007 from Southern Polytechnic State University. At the time, there
were no jobs, and getting her foot into the door as a project engineer was “very difficult”.
But she hit the ground running when she landed her first job, despite reservations
about her capabilities by one company president. She credits her start in the field
to a vote of confidence on her behalf by a company VP who gave her a chance to prove
her worth. Ten years later and close to 20 projects down, Olivia who is now managing
a multi-million-dollar project where she oversees over 70 sub-contractors, the project
schedule and finances says it has taken wits, hard work and ignoring some stereotypes
to find her footing in the industry.
“Over the years I have let my abilities speak for me,” she says adding that she ensures
that those working around her judge her by her abilities rather than the fact that
she is a woman.
She is aware of the gap between men and women in the field and hopes for parity in
numbers.
“Even with undergrad, it was maybe 5 women in the program,” she said adding that she
has grown accustomed to working in a field where women are minorities.
At 31, Fru does not fit the profile of your typical project manager with a general
contracting company.
“You don’t see people my age doing this. Companies are really looking to hire,” she
said of current job market.
Her sights are set growing her career to become the vice president of a construction
company some time in the near future. She sees no roadblock to her goals and hopes
to see more women join the lucrative career.
“If more people get used to seeing people in these roles and even higher, then it
becomes normal…” Fru said.
Above Photo: New South Construction project manager Olivia Fru poses for a portrait
at the construction site for Peachtree Hills Place, a 55+ living community in the
Peachtree Hills Atlanta neighborhood , Wednesday. Fru, a graduate from Southern Polytechnic
State University, says she became interested in construction at a young age. She says
she enjoyed watching structures go up while living in Cameroon. “It’s like playing
Lego,” says Olivia. ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia schools work to ease skilled-trades shortage
April 18, 2018
By Arlinda Smith Broady
Construction projects are cropping up all over metro Atlanta as it has emerged from
the Great Recession, but one challenge is filling the demand for workers.
Industry leaders say there is a serious shortage of skilled workers, though local
high schools are partnering with businesses, technical colleges and four-year universities
to produce the necessary workforce.
High schools throughout the state had already begun adding “pathways” to careers such
as construction jobs, as well as those that require post-secondary training and college
courses. According to the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia, the state’s
public schools have over 150 skilled-trade construction and metals programs with 17,000-plus
students enrolled.
Educators have shifted in the past decade from the idea that everyone graduates from
high school and heads to college. “Our focus now is that everyone graduates with a
plan,” said Kelly Walter, assistant principal at Berkmar High School in Gwinnett County.
“Whether it’s a university, tech school or straight to work, we want students to have
an idea what they want to do when they leave here.”
Research shows that not everyone is college material. And with the increased need
for skilled workers, state funding has been allocated to make sure everyone who wants
to learn a trade has the means to do it. A state initiative that went into effect
in January ensures that students who opt for high-demand careers can earn a decent
living without student loans or other educational debt. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
data show that most construction jobs in Georgia pay $30,000 to $75,000 annually.
Berkmar has had an architectural and construction pathway for four years. With funding
from the state and county, the school turned the old in-school suspension area into
a wing for architecture, electrical, carpentry and masonry work. This year it will
graduate its first group to complete the cycle, who will be qualified to go straight
to work.
“My main goal is to bring the construction work-site experience to the students and
bring the students to real-life construction companies,” said John Tronolone, construction
academy coach at Berkmar.
It’s a traditionally male-dominated industry, so the opportunity to try it out before
graduation appealed to juniors Isis Crossley and April Rodriguez as well as senior
Kenia Gutierrez.
“I kind of fell into this by accident and now I know this is what I want to do,” said
Crossley.
Rodriguez has a brother in the construction field, and he urged her to give it a try.
“He told me there are many opportunities for women in construction so I wanted to
see for myself.” she said.
Gutierrez plans to attend Gwinnett Tech in the fall and wants to somehow incorporate
a construction career with cosmetology. She said she likes the fact that her options
are limitless.
The academy partners with local businesses that donate money, materials and most importantly
time.
“In order to be competitive in the real world, our students need to see what the real
world is like,” said Tronolone. “They can go through coursework, but seeing how those
skills they’re learning turn into real buildings makes a lot of difference.”
In a survey of construction businesses by accounting firm Bennett Thrasher and the
construction management department at Kennesaw State University released in June,
87 percent of construction firms called the search for skilled workers their top problem.
“The industry is definitely in need of more people,” said Ashton Watt, personnel and
recruiting manager at Eckardt Electric, a company that has more than 80 years in metro
Atlanta specializing in large-scale projects such as hospitals and universities. “When
I came on in 2011 we had about 70 employees. We just recently hired our 400th.”
“We have deep roots in the area and we’re looking for ways to grow the next generation,”
said Watt. “A lot of students who want to try their hand at entry-level jobs have
lots of room for advancement.”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that in 2005 there were 11.5 million workers
in the construction industry, and the unemployment rate hovered around 8.2 percent.
That number dropped to 10.6 million in 2010, and unemployment jumped to 18 percent.
Even though employment has improved, the workforce has not rebounded to pre-recession
levels. In 2015, unemployment was 7.1 percent but the construction workforce contracted
further to 10.4 million, according to a report from BuildZoom, a site that focuses
on construction data.
In Georgia, the construction industry needs about 15,000 new workers every year —
with half of those in metro Atlanta, according to the BLS.
The industry may have an image problem. A recent survey of 18- to 25-year-olds from
the National Association of Home Builders revealed only 3 percent were interested
in construction as a career. Most surveyed wanted a less physically demanding job
and perceived construction as difficult.
Scott Shelar, president of the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia, said
most young people have misconceptions of what the industry entails. “Construction
is more than a guy with a hammer,” said Shelar. “There is very sophisticated technology
in place. You can’t build something like the Mercedes Benz Stadium without highly
skilled and highly trained workers.”
CEFGA recently sponsored its annual Career Expo, which links students and professionals
in construction, utilities, highways, electrical, mechanical, energy, mining and more.
The event also features the SkillsUSA State Championships, a competition that invites
students to showcase their skills in a number of construction-related disciplines.
Another highlight is a job fair with businesses willing to hire 16- and 17-year-olds
as well as recent grads. Several hundred students brought resumes and met with companies,
and virtually all received offers.
According to analysis by Construction Industry Resources Inc., one of the most in-demand
construction jobs in Georgia is craft laborer. The current need in the state is 52,783
workers through August 2021. Laborers perform many basic tasks on construction sites
and mostly work full time. Although the pay is at the bottom of the range at about
$30,000, the job has some of the most potential for advancement. Training is available
through technical schools, community colleges, registered apprenticeship programs
and industry training programs.
Filling the need for skilled laborers takes a group effort, said Mike Dunham, CEO
of Associated General Contractors of Georgia Inc.
“Nothing can get done without the construction industry,” he said. “You need to build
the facilities for new business, expand existing businesses, maintain aging buildings
— construction is linchpin for growing new business and maintaining existing business.”
Dunham pointed out that there aren’t enough skilled workers to replace those retiring.
“For every 4.5 people who retire in the construction industry, there’s just one person
taking their place,” he said. “After a while, you don’t have anyone left.”
Dunham said there are state initiatives to turn those numbers around.
To encourage employers to bring younger workers into the field, HB 402 was passed
in the 2015-2016 legislative session. It allowed companies a reduction in insurance
costs so students 16 or older who are enrolled in work-based program at an accredited
school can work for them. This allowed construction companies especially to employee
youngsters and get them started in a real-world environment.
The Hope Career Grant was expanded in January to offer students greater career opportunities
in five of Georgia’s fast-growing industries, increasing the number of programs that
qualify for this grant to 17. Majors in the construction field the grant will now
cover include air conditioning technology, carpentry, construction management, electrical
construction and maintenance, masonry and plumbing.
Industries covered by the HOPE Career Grant were identified by Governor Deal’s High-Demand
Career Initiative as strategically important to the state’s economic growth. The grant
is among the many forms of financial assistance available through the Georgia Student
Finance Commission.
And it’s never too late. There is no age limit to be eligible for the grant.
Above Photo: Banks Hathcox, 16, left, competes against other schools as he represents
his school, Calhoun High School, during the SkillsUSA State Championship, Friday March
23, 2018, at the Georgia International Convention Center, March 23, 2018. (John Amis)
Approximately 250 Construction Management and Architecture students came out to enjoy
the Department of Construction Management's annual Spring Cookout on Thursday, April
12, 2018. This year's event was sponsored by New South Construction and Sinclair Construction
Group and organized with the assistance of Cherri Watson and the Industry Advisory
Board's Committee on Student Alumni Relations. New South's Tyler Isgett and Sinclair's
Jason Adams were instrumental in organizing the event. Also present were Chuck Little,
representing the Student Alumni Relations Committee and Mike Guinan, alum and Chair
of the Accreditation and Assessment Outcomes Committee. Thank you to all those who
came out to enjoy this great event with us!
Radco Companies Institutes Endowment Scholarship
April 9, 2018
On Friday, March 30, 2018 Dr. Siddiqi, Chair of the Construction Management Department,
attended the opening reception for the new KSU permanent exhibition "Paul Radow: Life
of Innovation, Legacy of Service".
Radco Companies has instituted the Norman Radow Building Better Living Endowed Scholarship
for Construction Management students. Seen pictured here is Dr. Khalid Siddiqi thanking
Norman Radow, CEO of The Radco Companies.
Georgia Contractor Magazine: Corporate Strategy Essential to Retain Project Managers
Industry -- University partnerships needed to grow talent pipeline
March 23, 2018
Click below image to read the article.
Carroll Daniel Construction organizes Cookout for CM Students
March 19, 2018
The Associated General Contractors (AGC) Student Chapter of Kennesaw State University organized a Cookout for Construction
Management students on March 13, 2018. Hank Strickland, Vice President of the Student
Chapter, organized the event through the support and sponsorship of Carroll Daniel
Construction.
In addition to the numerous CM students, faculty and alumni and in attendance, also
present were:
Tyler Isgett, New South Construction, KSU alum Cherri Watson, Education Director of AGC of Georgia David Stone, Divisional Manager at Carroll Daniel Construction and KSU/SPSU alum and
his colleagues
Dr. Siddiqi thanked the AGC student chapter and Carroll Daniel for organizing and
supporting this networking event for the CM students. Students also enjoyed music
and games.
National Association of Women Meets at the CM Department
March 13, 2018
The National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) Atlanta Chapter held an informational meeting at KSU on March 13th hosted by the Construction Management
Department. The event was an opportunity for students and faculty of architecture,
engineering and construction programs to connect with NAWIC and create a network of
professional support within the construction industry. The industry panelists consisted
of the NAWIC Atlanta Chapter president and board members who engaged attendees in
an interactive dialogue about the endless opportunities for women in the construction
industry. Guests were impressed with the students, faculty and building programs offered
by KSU. Students and faculty expressed enthusiasm and appreciation for the NAWIC organization,
and all attendees are looking forward to working together to create a more diverse
construction workforce.
KSU CM Team Attends 2018 ACCE Industry Advisory Board Best Practices Event
February 28, 2018
The KSU Department of Construction Management recently attended the 2018 American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) Industry Advisory Board Event in Tucson, AZ on February 21, 2018. Along with
Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, Department Chair, Industry Advisory Board members, Rodney Smith
(President, Parrish Construction Group), Jeff Shropshire (Vice President, Roadway
Division, C.W.Matthews Contracting) and Donovan Charles (Senior Director of Development,
KSU University Development) attended the event on the department's behalf. The team
received Visiting Team Member Training (MiT), which is a requirement to visit other
programs on behalf of the American Council of Construction Education as a Visiting
Team Member after the initial trainee visit. The goal for attending this event was
for the department to be able to use knowledge gained and training received to improve
the quality of construction education offered for future graduates.
CM Department Hosts Diamond Sponsors Day
February 12, 2018
The Diamond Level sponsors of the 2017 Construction Management Industry Advisory Board Annual Fundraiser Gala were invited to participate in a special career fair held by the department on February
7, 2018. The invited 2017 Diamond Sponsors included:
Batson-Cook Construction
C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc.
Fortune and Johnson, Inc.
Hogan Construction Group
Holder Construction Group
Inglett and Stubbs Electrical Construction
Martin Concrete Construction, Inc.
Parrish Construction Group
The Beck Group
Turner Construction
These companies had the benefit of meeting all of the interested construction management
students and recent graduates in a small setting, allowing them to have extended one-on-one
time with each student. The Construction Management Department ensured that all CM
students aspiring for an internship or a full-time position had the opportunity to
come to the event so there will be a wide variety of applicants to suit the needs
of recruiting organizations.
This year’s upcoming Annual Fundraiser Gala is scheduled to take place on September
20, 2018. For information on sponsorship opportunities for the 2018 event will be
announced on the webpage once available.
Bennett Thrasher and KSU Release Survey Results of Georgia’s Privately Held Construction
Companies
January 31, 2018
Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, Chair of Kennesaw State University’s Department of Construction
Management, shared a presentation for the Construction Management program with 80
CEOs and CFOs from premier construction firms in Georgia. The Lunch and Learn Session
was held on January 30, 2018 at Maggianos, Cumberland Mall.
He presented recruiting options and strategies that require a commitment at the corporate
level of the organization and forming relationships with universities.
“The most important area that continues to stand out in both the 2016 and 2017 survey
outcomes is recruiting and retention strategies used by organizations. It’s the human
capital which is linked to profitability, compensation and technology."
Dr. Siddiqi further stated, “Most organizations at present would not consider approaching
a client acquisition strategy without a clear value proposition, segmentation, profitable
fee structure, collateral, sales approach and brand. Yet, when it comes to talent
acquisition, we tend to abandon strategy and focus on the immediate need and/or technical
resumes.”
According to Dr. Siddiqi, acquiring and retaining talent is actually no different
from acquiring and retaining clients. You need to develop a strategy, filter through
an unwavering culture, and execute with a strong marketing approach.
This presentation was previously made before a national audience (ACCE IAB Best Practices)
for a workshop in Orlando, Florida in February 2017. Dr. Siddiqi cited co-presenters
Rodney Smith, President of Parrish Construction, and Paul Hogan, President of Hogan
Construction Group. He presented a strong marketing approach toward hiring and retention
of construction professionals. These two individuals have a corporate policy at their
organization level to acquire and retain talent. These are not the only organizations
with a corporate level commitment; there are some others who also have a well-defined
and articulated talent acquisition strategy. However, based on his personal experience
and interactions, he finds that most organizations do not have talent acquisition
as a core value and he highly recommends that they make a corporate development plan
for talent acquisition as a value proposition to attract and retain the best and the
brightest.
He also suggested a creation of “state of the art facilities” that can cater to the
strong demand for project managers and project engineers needed in various sectors
of the construction industry. These sectors include highway construction, electrical
and mechanical contractors engaged in all types of building, developers, general contractors,
facility managers and homebuilders.
Recently, 154 construction companies responded to an online survey. The results were
presented by Scott Hazy and Tom Jollay, Bennett Thrasher’s Construction Practice co-leaders,
along with a corporate development update by Dr. Khalid Siddiqi. The purpose of gathering
this info was to provide specific bench marking data of the state of Georgia’s general
contractors and subcontractors. The number of participants were nearly doubled from
the previous year’s study. Georgia is home to 9,600 privately held construction companies.
Click here for an overview of the construction survey.
Major takeaways from the survey include:
94 percent of respondents reported a higher project backlog from the prior year.
78 percent increase in responses that contractors would explore “expansion of geographic
reach” as a business strategy compared to the prior year’s survey.
33 percent of the companies surveyed said recruiting and retaining qualified employees
is their biggest business challenge.
78 percent of respondents projected an increase in revenue for the next year. Among
those projecting an increase, 40 percent expected an increase of 10 percent or more.
The majority of companies have experienced an increase in profit margins over the
prior year.
Behind the Scenes at Georgia's Sanford Stadium with KSU (SPSU) Alumna, DPR Construction's
Lauren Snedeker
January 5, 2018
2017
Building on Legacy
Construction management graduate to become third-generation contractor
December 14, 2017
As a child, Chase West meandered down the halls of the former Southern College of
Technology with his father, Eddie, chatting with professors and admiring the numerous
awards that lined the brick walls as they walked.
At the time, Eddie West wanted to show his son the place where he learned his craft,
long before becoming an electrical contractor and starting A. West Enterprise in Albany,
Ga., with his wife, Angie. He never anticipated that his son would follow him and
his father-in-law to become a third-generation contractor. After graduating this month
with a degree in construction management, Chase West will join his father’s company
as a project manager.
“If his granddaddy was alive, he would be so excited and so proud to see his work
continue on,” said Eddie West, a 1994 graduate of Southern Tech, now Kennesaw State
University.
However, the path to graduation was somewhat of a journey, Chase West said. After
graduating high school, he enrolled in Darton State College, now Albany State University,
and later took a break from school to try his hand at law enforcement. He joined the
Albany Police Department in 2013 after completing the police academy.
“I started policing because I wanted to be sure that construction was something I
wanted to do and not just something my dad wanted me to do,” West said.
After a three-year stint as a patrolman, West began to reflect on the times his father
brought him into the construction management capstone room to show the work of students
who would soon graduate and “make some real money.” He decided it was time to put
down the badge and return to the place that gave his father a fresh start.
“My dad has always taken me up to this campus year after year and made me walk these
halls, made me look at the plaques on the walls,” West said. “He was very proud of
the education he received. When I finally made it back up here myself, the first thing
I wanted to do was chase his legend down.”
Carrying over credits he earned at Darton State, West completed his degree in just
two years, averaging about 15 credit hours per semester. Like his father, he served
as the student chapter president for the Association of General Contractors and was
named chairman for the University’s Construction Guild. He was active in the student
government association as a senator representing the College of Architecture and Construction
Management, and was initiated into the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success.
“Chase has an impressive personality and is an avid listener. He stands firm on his
ground but also has a soft side, and is always ready and willing to help others,”
said Khalid Siddiqi, chair of KSU’s construction management department. “Several construction
companies approached me to recruit Chase, but he politely declined because he made
a commitment to his dad to work only after completing his degree program.”
Though he had some field experience working alongside his father, West said he felt
being involved with the various student organizations gave him a new perspective on
project management. He credits the construction management faculty with continuing
to push him academically.
“The professors are all extremely friendly and extremely helpful, and I’m not just
saying that,” West said. “They all know my name, and they’ve all gone out of their
way to help me any way that they can.”
Eddie West jokes that his son couldn’t graduate fast enough, as construction managers
are a need for his company and others across the country. According to the Associated
General Contractors of America, 48 percent of contractors nationwide say they have
trouble filling salaried project manager positions, which include construction managers.
In Georgia alone, more than half of survey respondents said project managers were
their greatest need.
Speaking from his own experience, Eddie West said that his son should be well equipped
for the job on Day 1.
“I know Chase is getting a quality education because it’s pretty much the same education
I received two decades ago,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun to see him go through
school and to call me to talk about what he’s learning because I’ve done it all before.”
Carl Frinzi Receives KSU's "Distinguished Alumni" Award
November 9, 2017
Carl Frinzi, who was nominated by Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, Chair of the The KSU Department
of Construction Management, was recently honored with the 2017 KSU "Distinguished
Alumni" award.
Frinzi possesses a B.S. in Civil Engineering Technology from the former Southern Polytechnic
State University’s College of Technology and currently holds the role of Vice President
of Batson-Cook, a highly recognized leader in the general contracting industry.
Frinzi's multitude of contributions over the past ten years to both the CM Department,
and University as a whole, have significantly impacted students in so many ways. Some
of these contributions include: arranging field trips to his projects for students,
providing guest lectures, providing many internship opportunities, offering permanent
job placements to graduates and creating an endowed scholarship. Last year, Frinzi
was awarded "Recruiter of the Year" by the Construction Management Department, as
Batson-Cook recruited the highest number of CM interns and graduates.
In addition to his direct impact on the CM Department, Frinzi also played a key role
in the consolidation of SPSU with KSU, and has served on both Foundation boards. He
currently serves as a trustee of the Kennesaw State University Foundation.
The Department couldn't be more thankful to Frinzi for his continuous generosity in
the form of knowledge, leadership, time, financial contributions, and most of all,
dedication to our students and growth of our programs. We are beyond honored to call
him an invaluable member of the CM Industry Advisory Board.
KSU's Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) student chapter is doing big things
October 13, 2017
KSU juniors and officers of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) student chapter,
Addie Thornton (President, Civil Engineering major and Construction Management minor)
and Adam Minor (Vice President, Construction Management major with a concentration
in Land Development), recently attended the World Energy Engineering Congress (WEEC),
held at the Georgia World Congress Center September 27-29, 2017, where they each were
presented with a $1,000 AEE scholarship and had the opportunity to meet former President
George W. Bush. Adam is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served under President Bush.
The KSU AEE student chapter is an organization which enables students to promote the
scientific and educational interests in the fields sustainability and energy by offering
informational meetings with industry professionals, scholarships, internships, conferences
and certification opportunities.
Addie and Adam have worked diligently to grow the new student chapter, which began
in October 2016, under the supervision of their advisor, Prof. Jacqueline Stephens,
with additional guidance from Darrel Sandlin and Dan Shabo from the local Georgia
AEE chapter.
The student chapter already has an impressive twenty three members and has held eleven
events, including presentations from energy professionals, organization fairs and
an international student chapter luncheon. Student chapter members are also welcome
to attend the local AEE Georgia chapter monthly speaker meetings.
On October 16th KSU AEE will tour the Dekalb County Landfill to learn about how methane
gas can be converted to energy.
For more information about KSU AEE please visit their OwlLife page here.
Pictured above left to right: Bernadette Ogunmuto (AEE KSU Member), Steve Waldron
(AEE KSU Member), Addie Thornton (AEE KSU President), Professor Stephens (AEE KSU
Advisor), Andres Peres (AEE KSU Member), Damari Weaver (AEE KSU Member), Jacob Barron
(AEE KSU Member)
LEED Lab prepares Architecture and Construction Management students for the careers
they want
October 12, 2017
TheU.S. Green Building Councilis dedicated to preparing students for 21st century careers in sustainability by delivering
competency-based education and providing innovative solutions to build the next generation
of sustainability leaders. In fact, according to USGBC.com, college students are currently
seeking jobs in sustainability at a rapidly increasing rate. Consider the following:
More than 70 percent of college students and 50 percent of workers are looking for
jobs with social impact.*
By 2038, the United States will generate 4.2 million new green jobs, five times today’s
total count.*
As many as 80 percent of young professionals would like to work in a green job.*
61% of prospective college students said having information about a school’s commitment
to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend a school.*
In order to provide students with the education and experience they need to best prepare
for careers in sustainability, theCenter for Green Schools at USGBCcreated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Lab. Students involved
in the LEED Lab pursue the assessment of on-campus building(s) and culminate their
studies with the submittal of actual certification documents, allowing the campus
building to become certified and recognized for greater environmental performance. The
result of the lab is a more informed and experienced graduate with experience in the
built sciences and an improved campus environment with healthier buildings and sites
for everyone.
KSU's LEED Lab Challenge
In Georgia, the passage of House Bill 255 prohibits any publicly funded building to
pursue LEED performance ratings. Although the bill perhaps did not intend to impact
curriculum and teaching in public universities, the collateral damage undeniably includes
one of the most inventive and effective sustainable teaching programs in the nation,
the LEED Lab. Authored by USGBC, the LEED Lab engages students with dynamic, real-world,
learning opportunities based upon the LEED rating system.
Luckily for KSU College of Architecture and Construction Management students, they
have the innovative and determined minds of professors Ed Akins (Architecture) and
Brandi Williams (Construction Management). Since Bill 255 prohibits seeking LEED certification
on the publicly funded KSU campus, professors Akins and Williams came up with the
brilliant idea of creating a LEED Lab for KSU students that would allow them to work
with a building off-campus. They reached out to Susan Kidd, Executive Director of
the Center for Sustainability at Agnes Scott College (ASC), a privately funded college
in Decatur, Georgia, to initiate a partnership that would allow KSU students the opportunity
to participate in LEED Lab at an alternative location.
For additional information on the partnership and how it benefits both KSU and Agnes
Scott College, please refer to Professor Akins articlehere.
From a Student's Perspective
"As a student, the LEED Lab is such an enriching experience. After taking this course,
I have a clearer understanding of the certification process for LEED EBOM, and I am
also engaged in learning more about LEED and pursuing personal accreditation. Being
able to combine the requirements LEED establishes for each credit with the physical
and financial constraints of an existing building was very productive to apply what
we learned in the classroom in a real-life setting. I hope more and more students
have access to the LEED Lab, and that this opportunity can motivate them to explore
sustainable practices."
More information on the USGBC LEED Lab program can be foundhere.
*Source:US. Green Building Council Pictured above: Prof. Ed Akins and Prof. Michael Carroll's students tour Agnes Scott
College
MCAA team attends the 2017 MCAA Great Futures Forum in preparation for national competition
October 9, 2017
KSU's Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) student chapter recently
attended the 2017 MCAA Great Futures Forum in Indianapolis September 28 - 30.
The Forum was truly an incredible experience for the students, who were so thankful
for the opportunity to network with other students and professionals from all over
the country. They were also introduced to new technologies being utilized in the field
in relation to MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) specialties.
The student group participated in a mini-competition, which gave them the opportunity
to put their skills and knowledge to the test as a team. While attending the Forum,
the team also participated in a career fair, visited the NCAA Museum and attended
serval lectures from professionals that gave the students an insight into what it
would be like to work for a mechanical contractor and learn about where the industry
and related technology is headed.
KSU's MCAA team will compete in the Student Chapter Competition at the 2018 MCAA Convention
in San Antonio, TX March 25 - 29, where the challenge will be to plan a project involving
the renovation of the mechanical systems of a Brazilian restaurant in mid-town New
York City—Fogo De Chao Steakhouse.
For more information on the upcoming convention and student competition, please visit:
Construction management department raises $140,000 for scholarships, facility improvements
Donations mark best year since fundraiser began in 2001
September 28, 2017
An annual fundraiser held to support Kennesaw State University’s construction management
department reached new heights this year by collecting more than $140,000 for scholarships
and the development of teaching facilities.
The 16th Annual Industry Advisory Board Fundraiser Gala, held last week at the Cobb
Energy Performing Arts Centre, drew more than 50 sponsorships from individuals and
organizations. Funds raised this year were more than 19 percent higher than in 2016,
and are a far cry from the $7,000 raised at the inaugural gala in 2001. Five students
were each awarded $2,000 scholarships at this year’s event.
“Prospective students and their parents are attracted to state-of-the-art teaching
facilities and scholarship opportunities, both of which are high on our list of priorities,”
said Khalid Siddiqi, chair of Kennesaw State’s Department of Construction Management.
“I am extremely proud to see the success of the 2017 gala, and I’m impressed to see
the growth of this event since inception.”
The gala’s success can be attributed in part to the department’s robust industry advisory
board, Siddiqi said. The board has 42 members – many of whom were also donors for
the fundraising gala – and its mission is to ensure students meet the educational
and career needs of the industry from an employer’s perspective.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for construction managers
in 2016 was $89,300, with a bachelor’s degree being the most common entry-level education.
Employment is projected to grow by 5 percent from 2014 to 2024, the agency said.
According to the Associated General Contractors of America, however, 48 percent of
contractors nationwide say they have trouble filling salaried project manager positions,
which include construction managers. In Georgia alone, more than half of respondents
said project managers were their greatest need.
Kennesaw State’s program offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in construction
management, along with certificate programs in project management, land development,
special construction and facility management. Graduates maintain a near perfect job
placement rate, Siddiqi said.
Original story | Written by Travis Highfield; photo by Ashley Schenck
Building a Future: Construction Management grad’s zeal for a team approach garners
big wins
July 28, 2017
For Myles Cardenas, high school basketball meant everything to him and defined him
in many ways.
“My social life had been built around basketball,” said Cardenas, who played four
years of varsity basketball in high school. “I had to recreate myself when I came
here.”
Determined to make the most of his college experience when he arrived to campus in
2014, Cardenas, who graduated this summer with a bachelor’s degree in construction
management, embraced campus life. He joined student organizations, focused intently
on his studies and made time for a little intramural basketball.
“My days used to be filled with school and basketball, and because I wasn’t playing
anymore, I knew that I could be working and doing other things,” he said.
Cardenas made a conscious effort to bring the lessons he learned on the basketball
court to every aspect of his life, inside and outside the classroom. That strategy
earned him top honors from a national professional organization, recognition as Kennesaw
State’s Student of the Year, and employment with two prominent construction companies
while attending KSU.
During his first year as a construction management major, Cardenas joined the National
Association of Home Builders of KSU, the student chapter of the national professional
organization.
“I really blossomed with the NAHB chapter,” he said. “I started in 2014 as a presenting
member of the team at competition, then VP and finally, my senior year as president.”
Cardenas led the 2017 KSU team to sweep the competition at the International Builder’s
Show, taking first in the nation for the NAHB Student Chapters Residential Construction
Management Competition for four-year programs.
“The competition is a lot of work, but it is the most rewarding experience that I
have ever been a part of,” he said. Cardenas also was honored with NAHB’s Outstanding
Student Award.
Being involved with teams has been a huge part of Cardenas’ success. He served as
VP of the Golden Key International Honour Society, was a member of the National Society
of Leadership and Success, and was inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
This spring, the Division of Student Affairs named Cardenas as Student of the Year.
“Myles Cardenas is an exceptional KSU student and contributes in a variety of ways
to improve campus life for his fellow students,” said Kathy Alday, assistant vice
president for student affairs.
Before coming to Kennesaw State, Cardenas attended a small private college in Kansas
to follow his dream of playing college basketball. After a demanding athletic schedule
and rarely seeing his family, Cardenas returned to his hometown of Conyers, Georgia
at the end of his first year.
His family, in anticipation of their son’s return, scouted out the best school in
the state for him to study architecture and discovered the former Southern Polytechnic
State University.
“Even as a young kid, I was always interested in the designs of buildings,” Cardenas
said, who came to the Marietta Campus in Fall 2014. “Architecture is where I thought
I wanted to be.”
Cardenas had attended a vocational high school for two years to focus on architecture
and construction trades. On advice from mentors and former teachers, Cardenas explored
KSU’s construction management program and ways to build his experience in the field.
An ambitious student, he attended the university’s career fair his first semester
and soon landed a position with Batson-Cook Construction, a Southeast general contractor,
where he worked for nearly two years.
“What I admire most about Myles is his persistence and ability to rebound,” said Khalid
Siddiqi, chair of the construction management program. “Myles was a part of KSU NAHB
team that placed 23rd in 2014, 10th in 2015 and first in 2016. That says a lot about
his character and resilience, which coupled with his humility makes him a favorite.”
While attending national NAHB competitions, professionals and organizations looking
to hire sought out top students like Cardenas. After interviewing with a national
home builder at the national competition in early 2016, Cardenas accepted an internship
in land development, his academic concentration within the University’s construction
management program.
“I’ve been able to see the industry from a different vantage point in this internship,”
said Cardenas, who has worked for CalAtlantic Homes in Atlanta for the past year.
“It’s great having people who want me to shadow them so that I can learn as much as
I can.”
What hooked Cardenas on construction management initially was the collaborative, team
effort involved in the field, he explained.
“Construction Management is about managing the building process,” he said. “We aren’t
necessarily builders, nor do we tell the architects how to design, but we do ensure
that the facility is structurally sound and we manage how to do that.
“It’s estimating and project management and controlling the project from start to
finish. We work together with architects and engineers as one big team.
“For me, it all goes back to basketball. I loved being on a team and that team mentality
is what made me choose construction management in the first place,” he said.
Original story | Story written by Tiffany Capuano; photo by Lauren Kress
President Olens offers Quality Workforce Development for Economic Development in Georgia
June 29, 2017
KSU President, Sam Olens, spoke at a breakfast meeting with construction industry
leaders in the State of Georgia on June 29th at The Georgian Club. In addition to
the leadership of the KSU Construction Management Industry Advisory Board, KSU Foundation
Board members and leadership of the College of Architecture and Construction Management
were also present during the meeting. AGC of Georgia, ABC Georgia, Atlanta Electrical
Contractors Association and a large number of Presidents and CEO's of various construction
organization participated in the event.
The meeting was organized by Beth Lowry, Chair of the Building and Technology Committee
of the Board. President Olens shared with participants his commitment to the New Construction
Management building program and the importance of the CM program for the state of Georgia.
KSU is one of only two universities in the State of Georgia to offer an undergraduate
degree in Construction Management and the only one in the metro Atlanta area.
A Steering Council was formed to promote the goals of the Building and Technology
Committee. The Steering Council includes Tommy Holder (Holder Construction), Millard
Choate (Choate Construction), Randy Hall (Batson-Cook) and Don Davidson (Inglett and
Stubbs). Tommy Holder and Don Davidson also spoke on the occasion. Beth Lowry of Holder
Construction Company agreed to serve as the Secretary to the Council. The committee’s
purpose is to promote the project and assist the KSU Development team with strategic
approaches to reach out to potential donors.
Bridging Possibilities: Graduate at the helm of interstate reconstruction project
May 31, 2017
When a massive fire caused the collapse of an Interstate 85 bridge in Atlanta on March
30, Jeff Shropshire (Civil Engineering Technology, ’90) dropped what he was doing
and headed into the office.
The senior vice president at C.W. Matthews Contracting Company, the state’s largest road construction contractor, knew his company’s expertise may
be needed. Within hours, the Georgia Department of Transportation had reached out
to them, and soon after, C.W. Matthews’ crews were on site.
“Our major projects division crews were working on the I-85 express toll lanes nearby when the I-85 bridge fell, so we were able to get our crews
out there quickly,” Shropshire said. Relocating crews proved beneficial as traffic
needed to be rerouted with the interstate’s closure.
Shropshire was responsible for coordinating the efforts with GDOT, and began immediately working on logistics and figuring out construction costs.
In his role, he monitored the overall project.
“On the front-end, logistics was a big part of it. We quickly moved in traffic control
equipment,” said Shropshire, who has been with C.W. Matthews for nearly 29 years.
“And once we figured out construction costs, we were able to step back and let the
bridge crew do their job.”
More than 640 feet of the I-85 bridges, including the 100-foot long burned-out section,
was replaced in six weeks, months ahead of schedule. It re-opened to traffic in both
directions on May 13.
“Everything that we wanted to do went well with the subcontractors and suppliers,”
he said, adding there were no project setbacks. “Suppliers had the bridge beams casted
by day four. The timing worked out perfectly.”
I-85 bridge
Eleven crews worked around the clock – six crews during the day and five at night
– during the six-week project. Shropshire oversaw two key division managers, one a
day supervisor and one a night supervisor, in monitoring the 24/7 construction.
“It was an all-hands-on-deck project, and even if nothing was going on, you wanted
to be there and be a part of it,” Shropshire said. “Building the bridge was just standard
construction, using the same means and methods that we normally use for all of our
projects.”
However, impeccable timing, high-tech materials and good weather landed them ahead
of schedule. C.W. Matthews has 26 bridge crews, but could handpick crews from other
construction projects that were ahead of schedule or nearly complete.
The $16.5 million I-85 bridge repair spanned six sections, and the company was able
to stage the project so that crews worked in a stair-step fashion. As soon as columns
were installed on a bent, the crews were able to cap it and move on in sequential
order to complete each section of the bridge, Shropshire explained.
The concrete mix was also a project timesaver, he said. Instead of the standard concrete
mix used in road construction, which takes about 14 days to dry and set up, a more
advanced concrete sped dry time to about three days.
As crews rebuilt the bridge, which carries nearly a quarter million vehicles each
day, GDOT’s Traffic Management Center gathered data on traffic flow. The C.W. Matthews
company was able to make traffic adjustments overnight.
“In one case, we had the task of changing turn lanes, from one to two lanes, based
on the traffic data studies,” said Shropshire. “We shut down sections of the road
overnight, restriped it, and had traffic moving again by the next morning.”
Shropshire landed a co-op with C.W. Matthews in college and joined the company full-time
after graduating. He earned a degree in civil engineering technology with a construction
option in 1990 from then Southern College of Technology (which was renamed Southern
Polytechnic State in 1996 and then consolidated with Kennesaw State in 2015).
Shropshire has remained connected to the university and currently serves on Kennesaw
State’s Industry Advisory Board for Construction Management and chairs the resource
mobilization committee. Last year, he organized the department’s annual fundraising
gala, helping to raise nearly $120,000 for the department’s programs, student scholarships
and student competition teams. He will chair the annual gala again this year.
In the days and weeks that followed the bridge collapse, Shropshire said that all
normal business was pushed to a later date, and life as he knew it, including his
volunteer involvement with KSU, was temporarily put on hold.
While he was excited to work on a project of such magnitude and has enjoyed the success
of the I-85 bridge reconstruction project, he’s happy to get back to normal.
“Any project that is this high profile, the energy levels are so high,” Shropshire
said, adding that the company completed an airport runway project in 33 days. “We
run at 90 miles per hour and then it all just stops when the project is finished.
Those energy levels are gone and we just go back to our everyday normal operations.”
The Georgia Construction Outlook Survey indicates that 86 percent of the state’s privately
held construction companies project a revenue increase over the prior year. The survey,
released on Tuesday, was conducted by Kennesaw State University’s Construction Management
Department in cooperation with Bennett Thrasher, one of the country’s largest full-service
certified public accounting and consulting firms.
The results were presented by Khalid Siddiqi, Chair of Kennesaw State University’s
College of Construction Management, along with Tom Jollay and Scott Hazy, Bennett
Thrasher’s Construction Practice Co-Leaders. Eighty-one companies responded to the
online survey, the purpose of which is to provide specific benchmarking data of the
state’s general contractors and subcontractors.
Other major takeaways from the survey include:
Respondents reported an average gross profit margin of 11 percent. By comparison,
the return on assets figure for a typical respondent in the 2016 Construction Financial
Management Association’s national study was 9.0 percent.
Respondents reported an average gross profit per full-time equivalent employee of
$30,747.
87 percent of the companies surveyed said recruiting and retaining qualified individuals
was their biggest business challenge.
73 percent of the 2,368 privately held construction companies in Georgia are located
in metro Atlanta.
64 percent of the companies surveyed said they are a family-owned business and 66
percent of surveyed participants said they have a succession plan in place.
The average ratio of Human Resources Directors per full-time employee is 1:51.
The survey also compiled data on compensation, including average salaries for all
contractors:
President/CEO: $177,435
CFO: $156,333
Controller: $85,947
IT Manager: $95,714
Project Manager: $80,286
Sales/Marketing Manager: $81,100
HR Manager: $67,313
Estimator: $70,522
Superintendent: $79,160
Cost Engineer: $67,500
Foreman: $52,621
For more information about the survey, please contact Bennett Thrasher Director of
Marketing and Practice Growth Erinn Keserica at erinn.keserica@btcpa.net.
About Bennett Thrasher LLP
Bennett Thrasher LLP is one of the country’s largest full-service certified public
accounting and consulting firms. The firm creates significant value and a unique positive
experience through collaboration—with and between clients, partners, associates and
the community. Founded in 1980 by Rick Bennett and Ken Thrasher, Bennett Thrasher
today has a dedicated, experienced team of partners and associates who believe in
creating value by working “Better Together.” For more information, please visit Bennett
Thrasher’s website at http://www.btcpa.net.
Additional Articles
AJC: Georgia construction companies: Where are the workers?
The Construction Management Department performed a Hat Trick at Kennesaw State University’s
Student Affairs 2017 Awards Ceremony held on April 19th.
Congratulations to CM Faculty Dr. Rodgers, NAHB Student Chapter Advisor, and Myles
Cardenas, NAHB Student Chapter Team Leader and NAHB Student Chapter Organization President,
on their last years performance, which resulted in the nomination for the three big
awards of the night, held in the newly renovated auditorium at the Marietta Campus.
Dr. Rodgers was awarded "The Advisor of the Year" for her outstanding performance
in making the NAHB student chapter "Chapter of the Year" for two consecutive years.
Dr. Siddiqi, along with seven other students, represented the Construction Management
Department at Awards Ceremony.
Kennesaw State University’s Student Affairs declared the NAHB Student Chapter as the
"Student Organization of the Year". The organization played a key role in organizing
fundraising and recruiting activities for Atlanta area Home builders. Myles Cardenas,
President of the NAHB Student Chapter of KSU, accepted the award on behalf of the
student chapter.
Thirdly, the most coveted accolade of the night was awarded to Myles Cardenas as the
"Student of the Year"! He exemplifies excellent performance not only in class through
his GPA, but he also led the NAHB Student Chapter for the last three years. He was
the mover and the shaker of the student chapter’s performance in the national competitions
from 32nd to the first place this year. He also influenced other student chapters
in the Construction Management Department to excel and improve their performance.
Dr. Siddiqi, as well as others from both within and beyond the Construction Management
Department, nominated Dr. Rodgers for Advisor of the Year, NAHB Student Chapter for
the Student Organization of the Year, and Myles Cardenas for the most coveted Student
of the Year Award.
Pictured: Dr. Siddiqi along with seven CM students, including Myles Cardenas from
the CM Department, who represented the department at the KSU Awards Ceremony
CM's Dr. Abaza Selected as Diversity Faculty Fellow
March 27, 2017
Congratulations to KSU Department of Construction Management's Dr. Hussein Abaza for
being selected by the Center for Diversity Leadership and Engagement as the 2017-2018
Diversity Faculty Fellow.
CM Spring 2017 Cookout is a Success
March 21, 2017
The annual KSU Department of Construction Management Cookout took place on March 15,
2017. Despite the unusually chilly weather, many turned out for an evening of great
food and fun!
This year's cookout was sponsored by the Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association, who provided the
supplies for the cookout, and BBH Electric (Brooks Berry Haynie & Associates), who
volunteered to grill!
This event was organized by the Student Alumni Relations Committee of the KSU Construction
Management Industry Advisory Board, including Cherri Watson (Chair), Chuck Little
and Tanner Wilson.
Marietta Daily Journal: KSU students bring home $60K after national win
February 5, 2017
Kennesaw State University students’ recent sweep at a national residential development
competition in January netted them a $60,000 grant.
KSU’s National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter beat 60 other teams to
place first at a national competition in addition to other honors in Orlando, Florida,
in January.
Nine students — including senior Myles Cardenas, a construction management major —
traveled to Orlando to present a 100-page project management proposal for a 32-acre
residential development in Decatur.
“They give us a real life project, and we have to go through the process of buying
the land, building the project and show how we’re going to do it financially,” said
Cardenas, the chapter’s president.
The KSU team’s proposal included building 349 townhomes on the tract of land in order
to maximize the development’s financial return on investment, said Cardenas.
Teams across the country including Pennsylvania State University and California Polytechnic
State University vied for the top proposal for the Decatur development, which included
product and site design, project schedule and estimates, financial analysis and sales
and marketing strategies.
KSU’s victory also came with a $60,000 grant to be paid over three years for the construction
management department. The money will help the department develop a residential construction
track and to increase student internship opportunities, said Charner Rodgers, team
adviser and KSU construction management professor.
The chapter already has a partnership with Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association
that provides internship and mentoring opportunities for the students, said Cardenas,
who works as an intern at CalAtlantic Homes — a housing development company.
KSU’s chapter was also recognized as an outstanding student chapter for the second
consecutive year for its membership, networking events and community service, Cardenas
said.
This year’s contest marked the KSU chapter’s third year in competition and KSU’s first
year on top. The team placed 23rd in 2014 and 10th in 2015.
KSU’s chapter includes about 35 students with a variety of majors, including construction
management, engineering, marketing, architecture and mechatronics.
“It’s way more than just building homes, that’s why we try to diversify our team and
our chapter,” Cardenas, who also received the outstanding student award for the KSU
team at the competition.
Students sweep national competition, faculty members earn endowment grant
January 25, 2017
Kennesaw State University National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter swept
the competition at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando earlier this month.
The team placed first in the nation at the NAHB Student Chapters Residential Construction
Management Competition for four-year programs.
The annual competition attracted more than 1,000 students, composing 60 teams, who
each completed a management proposal encompassing residential product components.
The proposals typically involve all aspects of residential construction management,
including market analysis, product and site design, project schedule and estimates,
financial analysis, green building initiatives, project management overview, and sales
and marketing strategies.
“The competition is a lot of work, but it is the most rewarding experience that I
have ever been a part of,” said Myles Cardenas, KSU chapter president, who also received
the NAHB’s Outstanding Student Award this year. “I am extremely proud of every single
person who has been involved in the chapter over the years, and those who have graduated
from the university and still dedicate time to come back and help the chapter in any
way that they could.”
Now in his third year of competition, Cardenas led the six-member KSU team (along
with three non-presenting members), creating a 100-page business proposal and presenting
their work to residential construction company executives who served as judges during
the three-day competition.
For the first time, the KSU NAHB student chapter advisors and construction management
professors Charner Rodgers and Brandi Williams brought home a 2017 National Housing
Endowment Homebuilding Education Leadership Program (HELP) Grant, providing the university’s
Construction Management Department with $60,000 over three years. The grant will help
to further programs of study in residential construction, provide the tools and skill
sets needed by graduates to prepare for the future, and increase the number of qualified
college graduates entering the residential construction industry.
“The team was definitely making waves at this competition,” said Rodgers, assistant
professor of construction management. Rodgers advises KSU’s team alongside Williams,
also an assistant professor.
The Kennesaw State’s NAHB student chapter was created in 2014, and entered the competition
in 2015 and placed 23rd. Last year, the team took 10th place.
The team was also recognized as the 2017 NAHB Outstanding Student Chapter for the
second consecutive year, earning the top award among 160 student chapters across the
nation.
Pictured (L-R): Victoria Carnes, Christy Graham, Tyler Dees, Rebecca Barber, Afelle
Peterson, Murray Calhoun V, Charner Rodgers (advisor), William Davis, Christopher
Kim, and Myles Cardenas
Kennesaw State University Recognized for Offering Top Construction Management Program
Press Release from AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org
December 9, 2016
Kennesaw State University‘s program for construction management has been recognized
as one of the best in the nation by The Community for Accredited Online Schools (AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org).
As a leading resource for higher education and college accreditation information,
the site released its annual ranking for the 2016-2017 school year, honoring Kennesaw
State University as the #28 Best Construction Management Program in the Nation.
“We wanted to highlight schools like Kennesaw State University, who are striving for
excellence in education,” said Doug Jones, CEO and Founder of the Community for Accredited
Online Schools. “These colleges offer an exceptional educational experience, upholding
rigorous accreditation standards and showing an overall commitment to maximizing student
success.”
In order for universities to qualify for this ranking they must hold public or private
not-for-profit status and carry institutional accreditation. Top schools are determined
by using a value-based methodology that analyzes more than a dozen qualitative and
quantitative data points.
For a complete list of construction management programs for 2016-2017 and more information
on the methodology used to rank each school, visit the following page:
AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org was founded in 2011 to provide students and parents with
quality data and information about pursuing an affordable education that has been
certified by an accrediting agency. Our community resource materials and tools span
topics such as college accreditation, financial aid, opportunities available to veterans,
people with disabilities, as well as online learning resources. We feature higher
education institutions that have developed online learning programs that include highly
trained faculty, new technology and resources, and online support services to help
students achieve educational success. environments that include highly trained faculty,
new technology and resources, and online support services to help students achieve
educational and career success.
KSU CM Students Receive Scholarship Awards
November 29, 2016
The Department of Construction Management would like to congratulate two of our outstanding
students who were recently awarded scholarships.
On November 3rd, Cara Lea Black, a junior in KSU's Construction Management program,
was awarded a scholarship in the amount of $2,000 at the Georgia Utility Contractors
Association (GUCA) Fall 2016 Quarterly Meeting and Trade Show Dinner. The event was
organized by GUCA at Loudermilk Center Atlanta.
Construction Management sophomore, Levi Smith, was also presented with a scholarship
in the amount of $4,000 this month, during the Greater Atlanta Electrical League (GAEL)
Fall 2016 Meeting and Luncheon, which took place on November 14th in West at Buckhead.
PHOTOS: Top: LtR- Jeff Duncan (Education Committee Chair GUCA), Billy Crump (Vice
President GUCA), Dr. Siddiqi (Chair of the KSU CM Department) and Cara Lee Black.
Bottom: LtR- Mark Bates, Levi Smith, Dr. Siddiqi and Kim Hakes
CM Chair, Dr. Khalid Siddiqi Awarded Georgia Hispanic Contractors Association Education
Award for 2016
November 21, 2016
Congratulations to Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, Chair, KSU Construction Management Department
and the faculty, staff, and students of the Construction Management Department!
Dr. Siddiqi received the Georgia Hispanic Contractors Association Education Award
for 2016 on behalf of the department at a Celebration Dinner held at the Marriott
Buckhead on November 18, 2016. The award was presented by the Board of Directors of
Georgia Hispanic Contractors to KSU's Construction Management Department in recognition
of community building activities of KSU's Construction Management Department.
The event was organized by the Georgia Hispanic Contractors Association to recognize
the community builder attributes of the award winners. This award recognizes the role
of the CM Department in preparing Construction Managers to support the economic development
of Georgia during the last nineteen years.
The Construction Management Department of KSU also offers large number of scholarships
to the students majoring in the Construction Management discipline.
Kennesaw State University CM Department Partners with Two Universities in the Middle
East
October 18, 2016
Recently, Kennesaw State University’s Construction Management Department awarded two
State Department Sponsored Cooperative Partnership Agreements worth one million dollars
each. These agreements are with two institutions in the middle east, Kabul Polytechnic
University in Kabul, Afghanistan and the Indus Valley School in Karachi, Pakistan.
State Department officials, Richard Boyum and Javellana Grachelle, visited KSU on
October 17th and 18th to meet the project team members and university officials involved
in the management of the two partnership agreements.
About the agreements
Kabul Polytechnic University
KSU is assisting Kabul University to establish classroom and teaching facilities for
Geographic Information Systems and related programs to create maps that will be used
in future development of the country.
Indus Valley School
The new partnership provides students and faculty an exchange program, along with
institutional strengthening of the Indus Valley School in the area of Communication
Design.
Construction Management Fundraiser Gala Attracts Several Top Firms In Metro Atlanta
Area
September 23, 2016
The Department of Construction Management at Kennesaw State University held its 15th
Annual Construction Industry Advisory Board Fundraiser Gala on Sept. 22, attracting
representatives from several of the top construction firms in metropolitan Atlanta.
Kennesaw State interim president Dr. Houston D. Davis welcomed a large gathering of
people at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta.
“The Construction Management Department Industry Advisory Board of Kennesaw State
University would like to thank all of those who participated in our 15th annual fundraiser,”
said Jeff Shropshire, chair of the Resource Mobilization Committee, which organized
the gala. “The entertainment and fellowship made for a perfect evening. Funds raised
through sponsorships and silent auction donations totaled approximately $125,000 which
will benefit the department and its students.”
The money raised from the event supports student scholarships, competitions, extracurricular
activities and the advancement of the department, which offers both Bachelor of Science
and Master of Science degrees. Funds are also used for construction management faculty
development and advancement.
The fundraiser included a steak dinner and silent auction that featured autographed
items from famous sports figures, musicians, actors and actresses. Entertainment was
provided by comedian Kenn Kington while scholarships were presented to a number of
Kennesaw State students by Dr. Khalid M. Siddiqi, Chair and Professor of the Department
of Construction Management.
“I would like to congratulate Construction Industry Advisory Board members for supporting
the cause of quality construction education in Georgia,” Siddiqi said. “Jeff Shropshire
led his team to organize the best-ever annual banquet and fundraiser. The motivation
provided by Paul Hogan, Board Chair, was exemplary and he was ably assisted by Rodney
Smith, Vice Chair of the Board. Money raised is primarily used for student scholarships,
faculty support and toward enhancing the learning environment, including new facility
planning for the department.”
Besides the Construction Industry Advisory Board members, the dinner celebration was
attended by numerous subcontractors, material suppliers and trade association representatives.
Construction management faculty and staff, along with several administrators from
KSU also participated in the event.
PHOTO: Standing (L to R): Dr. Khalid Siddiqi (Chair, Construction Management Department
KSU), Dr. Houston Davis (Interim KSU President), Mr. Paul Hogan (President of the
Construction Management Advisory Industry Board), and Mrs. Hogan.
Chamberlain Hrdlicka's Nick Papleacos Recognized For Academic Contributions To Kennesaw
State University
September 12, 2016
Chamberlain Hrdlicka is pleased to announce that Nicholas S. Papleacos, a shareholder
in the firm’s Construction Practice, was recently honored with the Outstanding Part-Time
Teaching Award by Kennesaw State University (KSU) for 2016. This is the second year
he has received the award. Papleacos teaches courses in construction law and dispute
resolution in KSU’s College of Architecture and Construction Management. Dr. Houston
Davis, president of KSU, presented the award on August 13. Although the Kennesaw State
University Foundation awards faculty and staff members annually, this was only its
second year honoring part-time faculty. He has been teaching in the Construction Department
for 12 years.
Papleacos has more than 35 years of experience in construction law and litigation.
He maintains a national construction law practice, representing general contractors
and specialty trade contractors involved in coatings, mechanical and electrical work.
Papleacos has represented clients in disputes throughout the country in state and
federal court trials and in arbitration proceedings. Also, he has advised contractors
on federal and state construction projects and litigated issues arising out of federal
contracts and regulations.
Papleacos earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and his law degree
from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Chamberlain Hrdlicka is a diversified business law firm with offices in Atlanta, Houston,
Philadelphia and San Antonio. The firm represents both public and private companies
as well as individuals and family-owned businesses across the nation. In addition
to tax planning and tax controversy, the firm offers corporate, securities and finance,
employment law and employee benefits, energy law, estate planning and administration,
intellectual property, international.
Earlier this month, Dr. Jawaid Haider, Professor and Dean of Academics from Indus
Valley School (IVS- Pakistan) of Art and Architecture, visited the Construction Management
Department at KSU. Plans for organizing an international Conference, through the cooperation
and support of the US State Department, were discussed.
Sitting (L to R): Professor Ali Khan (Chair Communication Design IVS), Dr. Jawaid
Haider (Dean of Academics IVS), Dr. Ameen Farooq (Professor Architecture KSU)
Standing (L to R): Dr. Khalid Siddiqi (Chair Construction Management Department KSU)
and Professor Richard Cole (Dean College of Architecture and Construction Management)
CM Faculty Receive KSU Foundation Awards
August 16, 2016
The Department of Construction Management would like to congratulate Professor Nick
Papelacos and Dr. Charner Rogers. Both received awards from the KSU Foundation, presented
at KSU’s annual Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony, which took place at the Opening
of the University on August 11, 2016.
Professor Papelacos received the “Outstanding Part-Time Teaching Award” for the second
consecutive year for the College of Architecture and Construction Management. He is
an eminent Construction Industry Trial Attorney and has also co-authored a book on
the subject with focus on Georgia Construction Laws and Regulations.
Dr. Charner Rodgers received the “Outstanding Early Career Faculty Award”. She is
the Faculty Advisor to KSU’s National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter,
which was awarded “Outstanding Student Chapter” in January 2016 at the NAHB International
Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. Dr. Rodgers was also inducted as a member of the National
Student Advisory Board and appointed chairperson of the awards and recognition committee.
Announcing the Davidson Family Endowed Scholarship
July 19, 2016
The KSU Department of Construction Management would like to thank Don Davidson, CEO
of Inglett and Stubbs and past Chair of the Construction Industry Advisory Board,
for creating an endowed scholarship for the Construction Management Department students.
Don also serves on the KSU Foundation Board as well. The annual scholarship shall
be $2,500 per year, at a minimum, and shall be available to the Construction Management
students immediately.
Don and his daughter are both SPSU/KSU Construction Management alumni. Don has generously
provided outstanding support to the Construction Management department in the past,
and now, with the Davidson Family Endowed Scholarship, a Construction Management student
shall receive this coveted scholarship each year through the proceeds from the endowment
created at the Polytechnic Foundation of KSU.
Don has been a great supporter of the new Construction Management Building and he
was also a prime mover in creating the Greater Atlanta Electrical League Scholarship
for Construction Management students, which is being awarded from this year on as
well.
KSU CM Student Awarded Scholarship from Professional Women in Building
June 9, 2016
KSU Construction Management senior, Myles Cardenas, was recently awarded a scholarship
by the Professional Women in Building (PWB). He was selected because of his involvement
in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as well as PWB, his stellar grades,
and community service. Myles attended a luncheon hosted by PWB, along with Dr. Charner
Rodgers, where the speaker was Ingrid Saunders Jones, Senior Vice President of Global
Community Connections for The Coca-Cola Company and Chair of the The Coca-Cola Foundation.
CACM Faculty Attend the 2016 Design Communication Association European Conference
in Istanbul
May 15, 2016
KSU Architecture and Construction Management faculty recently attended the DCA European Conference, hosted by Ozyegin University in Istanbul, Turkey May 11-14, 2016.
Dr. Saleh Uddin, KSU Professor of Architecture, co-chaired the conference, while additional College
faculty members also contributed heavily, including publishing seven papers, conducting
two workshops, participating in the paper review committee and editing the proceedings.
KSU Faculty Contributions
Conference Co-Chair: M. Saleh Uddin (Department of Architecture, Kennesaw State of
University)
Proceedings Editor: M. Saleh Uddin (Department of Architecture, Kennesaw State of
University)
Paper Session Moderators: Chris Welty, Ameen Farooq, Marietta Monaghan, Tim Frank
(Department of Architecture, Kennesaw State of University)
Workshop Presenter: M. Saleh Uddin and Chris Welty “Moving Entourage in Architectural
Animation” (Department of Architecture, Kennesaw State of University)
Workshop Presenter: Tim Frank “Ecological Design Simulation” (Department of Architecture,
Kennesaw State of University)
Member of Paper Review Committee: Mine Hashas and M. Saleh Uddin (Department of Architecture,
Kennesaw State of University)
Authors of published papers in the printed proceedings or paper presenter: Ameen Farooq,
Hussein Abaza, Marietta Monaghan, M. Saleh Uddin, Tim Frank (Department of Architecture,
Kennesaw State of University)
Conference Introductory and Concluding Address: M. Saleh Uddin (Department of Architecture,
Kennesaw State of University)
Paper Titles
"Precedent Study: A design Inhibitor or Facilitator in Design Foundation", Ameen Farooq
(Department of Architecture, Kennesaw State of University)
"Marietta High School’s Haiti Restoration and Reclamation Container Building Research
Project", Marietta Monaghan (Department of Architecture, Kennesaw State of University)
"Marietta High School Haiti Container Project", Theodore Grosch, Leon Grant, Marietta
Monaghan, Marcellus Pitts (Kennesaw State Univ., Marietta School District, Kennesaw
State Univ., Fowler-Pitts Associates)
"Threat Mitigation through Design: Designing out threat in educational environment", AKM
Zahidul Islam, Univ of North Texas, M. Saleh Uddin
"Interdisciplinary Collaborative Project at a Polytechnic: A High Hurdles Race", Leslie
G. Hankey, M. Saleh Uddin (Department of Digital Writing and Media Arts, Kennesaw
State University; Department of Architecture, Kennesaw State of University)
"International Collaboration for Teaching GIS in Afghanistan", Hussein Abaza, Charner
Rodgers (Department of Construction Management, Kennesaw State of University)
"Mapping Atmosphere: Sketching the Ambient Qualities of Islamic Space", Tim Frank
(Department of Architecture, Kennesaw State of University)
Construction Management program celebrates student competition teams
Kennesaw State students bring home national honors from several competitions
April 25, 2016
It’s a stellar year for the student competition teams in the College of Architecture
and Construction Management, who have ranked among the top in the nation for their
talent and hard work.
The National Association of Home Builders, a trade association representing the residential
and light commercial construction industry, named Kennesaw State University’s NAHB
student organization as this year’s Outstanding Student Chapter. The award recognizes
achievements in chapter activities, green program, diversity and activities with local
builders associations. KSU’s chapter was chosen from more than 150 student chapters
from around the country during the 2016 NAHB International Builders Show in Las Vegas
earlier this year.
In addition, Kennesaw State student Wes Fishburne was one of 27 students named an
NAHB Outstanding Student of the Year, and the chapter earned a top 10 finish in the
Residential Construction Management Competition.
“These competitions are important for the students because they simulate the type
of competition and the conditions that prevail in the real world,” said Khalid Siddiqi,
chair of the Construction Management department at Kennesaw State. “When students
graduate, these budding professional construction managers hit the ground running,
and they are not afraid to compete.”
Three other competition teams in Construction Management secured top honors for their
teams’ strategies in national competitions.
Last month, the Mechanical Contractors Association of American named Kennesaw State’s
MCAA student chapter as one of its Final Four in the 2015 National Student Chapter
Competition. The KSU team’s proposal consisted of designing and building the mechanical
systems for an eight-story campus housing project in California. The proposal included
HVAC design, LEED Gold certification, system life cycle costs, schedule, estimating,
project management and maintenance programs.
Kennesaw State was selected third in the nation for ELECTRI International – The Foundation
for Electrical Construction’s Green Energy Challenge Poster Competition. ELECTRI International
was established in 1989 by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)
as the voice of the electrical construction industry.
In addition, the Associated Builders and Contractors student competition team at KSU
received third place nationally in the estimating category at ABC’s Construction Management
Competition, a hallmark competition that promotes construction management. The team,
which prepared a proposal for the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery in Colorado, was
among 23 universities competing.
“Our student learning of construction management professional skills goes well beyond
the classroom,” said Siddiqi. “They have the skills to impress industry members who
judge these competitions and they are not afraid to compete.”
The Construction Management program at Kennesaw State focuses on applying knowledge
and using technology for solving real-world construction problems. Local construction
projects, combined with strong industry support, provide vast laboratory opportunities
and educational resources for Kennesaw State students.
Original story | Story written by Tiffany Capuano; photos courtesy of MCAA and NAHB
KSU Professor Receives ASC Outstanding Educator Award
April 15, 2016
Pavan Meadati, an associate professor of Construction Management at Kennesaw State
University, received the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Outstanding Educator
Award - Region 2 for 2016. Dr. Meadati received the award at ASC Annual International
Conference held at Provo, Utah on April 15, 2016. This award is made annually to a
faculty member with a minimum of 7 years of teaching experience at a four-year ASC
member school. This award recognizes the faculty member's contribution to construction
education, excellence in teaching, service to the ASC and dedication to the construction
profession.
CM Sporting Clays Fundraiser 2016
April 15, 2016
The 2016 Construction Management Sporting Clays Fundraiser took place on Friday, April
15, 2016 at Etowah Valley Sporting Clays.
The fundraiser was organized and hosted by the KSU Construction Management Industry
Advisory Board Student/Alumni Relations Committee members, including Pat Dunwoody
(ABC Georgia), David Ellis (Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association), Chuck Little
(Atlanta Electrical Contractors) and Cherry Watson (AGC Georgia), with proceeds supporting
the Department of Construction Management activities and equipment. Below is a list
of teams that participated in the event. Photos
Teams
Hogan Construction I Hogan Construction II Inglett & Stubbs CW Matthews Parrish Construction Maxair, Inc. A. West Enterprises Brooks, Berry, Haynie & Associates I Brooks, Berry, Haynie & Associates II Brooks, Berry, Haynie & Associates III J.E. Dunn Ra-Lin Harcon KSU Foundation Ernest Concrete America’s Home Place McCarthy Building Company
First Place Team
Inglett & Stubbs
Second Place Team
Americas Best Homeplace
Best Shooter Award
Mike Hardin
PHOTO: Paul Hogan lead the Hogan Construction Group teams
Annual Construction Management Cookout a Great Success!
March 15, 2016
The Annual Construction Management Spring Cookout took place on March 15, 2016. It
was well attended by College faculty, staff, students and Industry Advisory Board
members.
This year’s Diamond Donors Career Fair took place on March 16, 2016. The fair was
well attended by enthusiastic students and prestigious industry employers, including
Archer Western Contractors, Turner, Hogan, Fortune-Jackson, Batson-Cook, C.W. Matthews,
Parrish, Skanska and Inlet & Stubbs.
Industry Advisory Board Attends ACCE Best Practices Workshop
February 25, 2016
Department Chair, Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, and Industry Advisory Board (IAB) members, Paul
Hogan and Rodney Smith, recently represented the KSU Department of Construction Management
Industry Advisory Board (IAB) at the IAB Best Practices Workshop, held in Mobile,
Alabama. The workshop was organized by the American Council of Construction Education
(ACCE) to enable accredited programs’ advisory boards to network and learn from each
other.
PHOTO (L to R): Rodney Smith (IAB member), Dr. Khalid Siddiqi (Department Chair),
Paul Hogan (IAB member)
KSU Team Places in Top 10 Overall in 2016 National Competition
February 2, 2016
KSU Construction Management’s National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) student
chapter competition team recently attended the International Home Builders Show in
Las Vegas, NV. While in attendance, the student chapter competed in the 2016 National
Residential Construction Management Competition. Thirty-four universities from across
the country (including the University of Denver, Cal Poly, Purdue, Penn State, Michigan
State, and BYU) submitted proposals to construct a multi-staged diverse housing project
located in Fredericksburg, Maryland. The proposals included Green building, scheduling,
estimating, project management, marketing, and financing. KSU’s team placed tenth
overall in the competition.
Members of the team include J. Wes Fisburne, Myles Cardenas, Morgan Haas, Ronald Jones,
Teigh Dooley, and Veryl Rosser. Three shadows accompanied the team for the competition,
including Jason Santos, Christopher Kim and Rebecca Barber. The student chapter advisor
is Dr. Charner Rodgers.
Kennesaw State University Wins 2015 NAHB Outstanding Student Chapter Award
February 1, 2016
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Chapters program awarded
Kennesaw State University “Outstanding Student Chapter” at an award ceremony held
at the 2016 NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas in January.
This award, sponsored by the NAHB Leading Suppliers, recognizes student chapters for
their outstanding achievements in chapter activities, green programs, diversity and
activities with their local builders association. KSU was selected for the award out
of over 150 student chapters.
More than 100,000 builders, remodelers, students, faculty members and suppliers packed
the aisles at the 2016 International Builders’ Show, Design & Construction Week.
“Congratulations to Kennesaw State University” said Jerry Howard, CEO of NAHB. “This
student chapter demonstrates excellence in campus and community involvement.”
KSU’s Student chapter President, J. Wes Fishburne, was also recognized as an Outstanding
Student of the Year. Chapter Advisor, Dr. Charner Rodgers, was inducted as a member
of the National Student Advisory Board and appointed chairperson of the awards and
recognition committee.
###
ABOUT NAHB: The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade
association representing more than 140,000 members involved in home building, remodeling,
multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance,
building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial
construction. NAHB is affiliated with 800 state and local home builders associations
around the country and more than 150 student chapters. NAHB's builder members will
construct about 80 percent of the new housing units projected for this year.
KSU Team Selected for MCAA Final Four
January 11, 2016
KSU Construction Management’s Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA)
team has been selected in the final four for the 2015 National Student Chapter Competition.
Twenty eight universities from across the country (such as the University of Washington,
Cal Poly, Purdue, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Illinois State, and the University
of Wisconsin) submitted proposals for design-build services of the mechanical systems
for an 8-story campus housing project located in San Jose, CA. The proposals included
HVAC design, LEED Gold certification, system life cycle costs, schedule, estimating,
project management and service and maintenance program.
Our MCAA Team of Jonathan Byers, Carson Bendock, James Colbert, and Tiffany Holmes
will present their proposal at the MCAA National Convention in Orlando on March 21st.
The other proposals selected in the final four are: University of Nebraska, Colorado
State, and Wentworth Institute of Technology.
2015
ABC Student Competition Team Receives National Award
San Diego, CA November 12, 2015
KSU Construction Management’s Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Student Competition
Team received 3rd Place in Estimating Category for the National CM Competition. Team
members, Eddie Cengic, Jonathan McCowan, Lynn Jones, and Satoree Hogan prepared a
proposal for the Fort Collins Discovery Museum. KSU was among 23 universities across
the country that participated in this year’s competition.
ABC’s Construction Management Competition (CMC) is a hallmark competition that promotes
careers in construction management. The competition is sponsored in part by the Trimmer
Construction Education Foundation (TCEF) and ABC members. In addition to providing
a significant learning opportunity, the competition fosters an environment that will
bring out the best in each team; encourage dialogue among the students; and foster
the team spirit as students rise to meet this challenge. The CMC is designed to challenge
construction knowledge, time management, organizational, and presentation skills.
The competition features teams of four (4) college and university students testing
their project management, estimating, safety, quality control, and presentation skills.
Cierra Danforth is currently a junior in the Construction Management program here
at Kennesaw State University and the president of our NAHB student chapter. She has
won the recognition of the National Association of Home Builders for her outstanding
leadership of our students’ chapter and the student competition team. Despite the
difficult circumstances that Covid-19 has produced, Cierra was able to build a strong
following of student volunteers and opportunities for them to shine. Under Cierra’s
leadership, nearly 35 students from Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters have participated
in several Home Aid workdays and other volunteer opportunities throughout the Atlanta
metro area. In addition to her volunteer work, Cierra maintains 18 credit hours a
semester, 30 hours per week at J.M. Wilkerson Construction, and was recently selected
to participate in the Southern Living Custom Builder Mentor Program. Please join the
Construction Management department in congratulating Cierra!
Members of the KSU Women in Constriction (K.W.I.C.) student organization recently
participated in the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta Construction Challenge. The main task of the
challenge was to design and construct a piece of furniture utilizing unconventional
materials with a unique design. These pieces will then be put into the Chairish the
Future gala that includes a live and silent auction to raise much-needed funds for
the Furniture Bank. The mission of the Furniture Bank is to create stability for families
and individuals in need by distributing donated furniture to their houses into homes.
Brent Scarbrough of Brent Scarbrough & Company was recently honored by the Atlanta
Business Chronicle at the 2020 Most Admired CEOs virtual event. The awards honored
Atlanta based CEOs with a strong record of innovation, outstanding financial performance,
and commitment to diversity in the workplace, who have made significant contributions
to the metro community. Most Admired CEO Brent Scarbrough started his company in 1985
while in his junior year at then Southern Polytechnic State University pursuing a
degree in Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management.
Students from Professor Michael Collins’ CM 3110 Residential and Light Construction
class recently visited one of the Katerra Construction Company’s project sites. Professor
Collins felt his students would gain invaluable insight on the materials and methods
of construction by visiting a construction site and worked with Katerra’s staff to
coordinate the visit. Katerra’s facilitation of the event was well received by the
students. The visit covered everything from site preparation and layout to finish
materials. A presentation on the project, including construction methods, prior to
the site visit enabled the students to put the overall operations occurring at the
site into a clearer context. “I was able to visualize means and methods used on the
site in a much more understandable way”, stated Tim Rauton, one of the students who
attended the event. Another student, Steve Scruggs, expressed, “Being able to put
eyes on many of the materials in our textbook was quite valuable. It was great to
have the actual real-life work experiences to supplement our classroom learning”.
Heeding KSU President Pamela Whitten's call to build support for student success,
one new scholarship will be available for Construction Management students starting
in the 2020-2021 academic year.
From right to left: Curt Byrd, NAHB Student Chapter president, Dr. Ali Keyvanfar Faculty
in charge of Residential Concentration, Mr. Allan Merrill, CEO Beazer Homes, Dr. Khalid
Siddiqi Interim Dean College of Architecture and Construction Management, Mr. Cory
Taylor Safety Director of Beazer Homes and Member of KSU Construction Industry Advisory
Board and other Beazer Team. 
Kennesaw State University alumnus Reza Abree ’78 recently provided two gifts to KSU,
one an endowed scholarship and the other a contribution to a construction management
building on Kennesaw State’s Marietta campus.
College's roadmap to becoming a top-tier R2 institution, its Quality Enhancement
Plan, and its CoACM Workload Policy."
Mr. Rothwell was employed with RJ Griffin & Company and Post Properties prior to being
one of the original Oxford Properties employees at the company’s founding in 2002.
He originally served in the role of Project Manager before being promoted to Vice
President of Construction Operations in 2004. He was promoted to Senior Vice President
in 2007 and President in 2016.
About 300 Construction Management and Architecture students, as well as alumni, came
out to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather. JE Dunn’s Scott Boden and Morgan Bowles,
both KSU alumni were instrumental in organizing the event. Scott also serves on the
Construction Industry Advisory Board and has been instrumental in forging a stronger
relationship between KSU and JE Dunn. Board member, Tanner Wilson was also present
to represent the Student Alumni Relations Committee.
department their Revu 2018 software for over 150 CM lab computers. In addition, students
in select CM classes will receive a free download of the software valid for the academic
year. This is the 5th year that Bluebeam has collaborated with our program. In the
classroom, students create PDF documents, markup drawings and prepare quantity take-offs
and estimates. Out of the classroom, Bluebeam Studio allows the students to collaborate
on group projects and competition teams.
Board Best Practices Event
CM Department Hosts Diamond Sponsors Day
KSU President, Sam Olens, spoke at a breakfast meeting with construction industry
leaders in the State of Georgia on June 29th at The Georgian Club. In addition to
the leadership of the KSU Construction Management Industry Advisory Board, KSU Foundation
Board members and leadership of the College of Architecture and Construction Management
were also present during the meeting. AGC of Georgia, ABC Georgia, Atlanta Electrical
Contractors Association and a large number of Presidents and CEO's of various construction
organization participated in the event.
ment building program and the importance of the CM program for the state of Georgia.
KSU is one of only two universities in the State of Georgia to offer an undergraduate
degree in Construction Management and the only one in the metro Atlanta area.
t was sponsored by the Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association, who provided the
supplies for the cookout, and BBH Electric (Brooks Berry Haynie & Associates), who
volunteered to grill!
home $60K after national win
Kennesaw State University National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter swept
the competition at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando earlier this month.
The team placed first in the nation at the NAHB Student Chapters Residential Construction
Management Competition for four-year programs.
The Department of Construction Management would like to congratulate two of our outstanding
students who were recently awarded scholarships.
“I would like to congratulate Construction Industry Advisory Board members for supporting
the cause of quality construction education in Georgia,” Siddiqi said. “Jeff Shropshire
led his team to organize the best-ever annual banquet and fundraiser. The motivation
provided by Paul Hogan, Board Chair, was exemplary and he was ably assisted by Rodney
Smith, Vice Chair of the Board. Money raised is primarily used for student scholarships,
faculty support and toward enhancing the learning environment, including new facility
planning for the department.”
Earlier this month, Dr. Jawaid Haider, Professor and Dean of Academics from Indus
Valley School (IVS- Pakistan) of Art and Architecture, visited the Construction Management
Department at KSU. Plans for organizing an international Conference, through the cooperation
and support of the US State Department, were discussed.
April 25, 2016
“These competitions are important for the students because they simulate the type
of competition and the conditions that prevail in the real world,” said Khalid Siddiqi,
chair of the Construction Management department at Kennesaw State. “When students
graduate, these budding professional construction managers hit the ground running,
and they are not afraid to compete.”
Department Chair, Dr. Khalid Siddiqi, and Industry Advisory Board (IAB) members, Paul
Hogan and Rodney Smith, recently represented the KSU Department of Construction Management
Industry Advisory Board (IAB) at the IAB Best Practices Workshop, held in Mobile,
Alabama. The workshop was organized by the American Council of Construction Education
(ACCE) to enable accredited programs’ advisory boards to network and learn from each
other.
February 2, 2016
San Diego, CA
