The Blog

JUNE 2019 NEI recently hosted a charity event at its headquarters in Randolph, Mass. for the Wonderfund to benefit foster children in the care of the Mass. Department of Children and Families (DCF). NEI donated $5,000 to host an Emergency Aid Hero event to benefit the Brockton office of the DCF. This donation was used to purchase clothing and age-appropriate comfort items, which were then sorted by size and gender by NEI employees to create kits for foster children transitioning into the system. Many of the 10,000 children who enter DCF foster care each year come into care with only the clothes on their backs. In this traumatic time, many children must leave their homes without necessary everyday items like winter coats, pajamas, underwear, shoes, or their favorite comforting teddy bear. Community support will help children in these difficult circumstances feel more comfortable and cared for as they enter their new surroundings. The Wonderfund is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)3 that serves children enga ...

DANVERS, MA (July 2, 2019) – North Shore Mechanical Contractors, Inc., (NSMC) announces it has been acquired by the PA-based company HB Global, LLC.  HB Global is the parent company of three other companies: HB McClure, IT Landes, and Nash Plumbing and Mechanical. Collectively, they offer a variety of mechanical services, including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical installation and service for both residential and commercial clients. NSMC will join these companies as a fourth division of HB Global. According to Brad Orsburn, NSMC vice president, the acquisition will mean more opportunities for NSMC employees and expanded resources for NSMC clients. “Becoming a division of HB Global will provide our staff with a greater number of career paths and the added benefit of employee ownership,” said Orsburn. “HB Global also aligns with NSMC’s core values, and we’re pleased to join a company that matches our culture.” Orsburn noted the company will retain the NSMC name ...

Connolly Brothers, a general contractor and construction management firm, and GraVoc Associates, a technology-consulting company, recently teamed up to sponsor a “Build A Bed” event on Saturday, June 15, 2019, at Connolly Brothers offices in Beverly, Mass. to support A Bed for Every Child.  “When we heard about A Bed for Every Child and the work they are doing to help local disadvantaged kids, we instantly thought it was a great cause,” said Thad Minshall, vice president of real estate and development for Connolly Brothers. “As a fifth-generation construction company, the Build-A-Bed program dovetails nicely with our expertise and we knew this would be a great way to give back to the community. We were excited to host this event with GraVoc and we were thrilled by the support from local businesses.”   Launched in 2012, A Bed for Every Child provides beds for children living in poverty. Since its inception, the program has delivered more than 7,0 ...

On Thursday, May 16th, GCI and ABC will hold our annual Safety & Education Night at the Boston Burlington Marriott to honor member companies who have achieved excellence through ABC’s Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP).  But did you know there are critical educational seminars before the celebration even begins? And this year, we are offering TWO different seminars to choose from, with both beginning at 4:00 PM, followed by an exciting night celebrating the STEP Award Winners, and more! Option 1: Annual OSHA Update - Regulatory Statistics, Worker Shortages, Opioids, Hot Work and more! ​ ​Kimlee Lindgren, Lead Instructor and Curriculum Developer for Construction & Maritime, OSHA Training Institute Educat ...

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Via ABC National) —According to the results of Associated Builders and Contractors’ 2019 Workforce Development Survey, ABC members invested $1.6 billion to educate their employees in 2018, up from $1.1 billion in 2013. The 45% increase in spending resulted in nearly twice as many course attendees—more than 980,000—receiving craft, leadership and safety education to advance their careers in commercial and industrial construction.  “The increase in spending on education demonstrates ABC member contractors’ commitment to developing employees, which is producing results in recruiting and retaining a skilled, safe and productive workforce,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC’s vice president of health, safety, education and workforce development. “With more than 90% of members reporting a worker shortage and construction spending at near-record highs, this is the time to invest in our people, expand career opportunities and secure ...

  Play Pause   ​BOSTON -  Kaplan Construction, a WBE general contractor and construction management firm providing comprehensive building programs across Greater Boston, recently announced the completion of the addition, restoration and renovation of the historic Congregation Kehillath Israel (KI) in Brookline, Mass. Congregation KI began as a small collective in 1911 and was granted a Charter by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1917. In celebration of its centennial year ...

Walker Park Apartments in the Egleston Square neighborhood of Boston BOSTON – NEI General Contracting, an award-winning general contractor and construction management firm, recently announced the completion of Walker Park Apartments in the Egleston Square neighborhood of Boston for Urban Edge, a national leader in the community development field. This is NEI’s sixth project for Urban Edge and creates 49 units of affordable housing. The two-building apartment complex is named for Delphine Walker, founder of “Hands Around Egleston”, who was a tireless activist for the neighborhood and its children.   Located on three blighted, vacant urban infill sites surrounded by an otherwise active community, NEI handled the demolition and removal of existing structures before erecting two four-story buildings. Adjacent to a public library and public playground in a transit-rich community, 67 Walker Park has 32 units and 80 Walker Park has 17 units. Both apartment build ...

​Amesbury, MA, April 12, 2019: RPF Environmental, Inc., an environmental health and safety (EH&S) consulting and testing firm, recently received certification through the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) for work with Massachusetts public agencies. Services include environmental health and safety (EH&S) testing and consulting for construction, reconstruction, demolition, maintenance, or repair projects.   DCAMM is responsible for capital planning, public building construction, facilities management, and real estate services throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The agency oversees the Commonwealth’s capital assets, totaling over 65 million square feet, and it manages over $2 billion in projects. DCAMM works with state agencies on the full cycle of their strategic facility needs. Examples of projects to be completed by RPF Environmental, Inc. include, hazardous materials surveys prior to renovation or demolition activity, indoor air quality assess ...

JM Coull President Andy Coull accepts the 2018 ABC National Safety Excellence Pinnacle Award Maynard, MA – JM Coull (JMC) was recently awarded the 2018 Pinnacle Safety Award, which is the highest level attainable under ABC’s national safety recognition program. In order to qualify for this honor, firms must have achieved a 2018 ABC Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Award at the Diamond, Platinum, or Gold level. JMC was qualified at the Diamond level (the firm has achieved Diamond status every year for the last eight years). Firms were honored during ABC’s Workforce Week 2018 in Long Beach, CA. General contractors seeking Pinnacle-level awards must demonstrate exceptional safety performance and world-class leadership commitment to safety, foster a culture of safety that is embraced by all company employees, and implement procedures to mitigate hazards before they occur. JMC was the only general contractor from Massachusetts to win the award in its category (catego ...

  Play Pause   It’s pretty impressive to be named the National Craft Champion for pipefitting, but downright amazing if pipefitting isn’t something you do every day.  “A lot of the other competitors were from the South and worked on jobs like oil refineries where they did pipefitting every day,” said Sean O’Dowd of DECCO, who took home the gold medal on March 28th at ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, CA.  “I do mostly clean piping on things like pharmaceutical projects.  I think I caught the other ...