To Qualify For This Cohort, Firms Must...
All Modules/Sessions Are Free
Saturday
January 15
3 Hours
10am-1pm
VIRTUAL SESSION
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Blue Print Reading and Take-Offs - All construction professionals, regardless of whether they are working in the field or in the office, must know how to read blueprints. Yet, many small established firms do not know how or need more guidance on how to do so. Estimators use construction blueprints, either manually or electronically, to start "taking off" quantities of items they will need from those blueprints in order to prepare part of the estimate. Examples of possible take offs include the number of light fixtures needed in the building plan or the amount of wiring needed for the electrical work.
Wednesday
January 19
2 Hours
5:30pm-7:30pm
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Saturday
January 22
2 Hours
10am-12pm
VIRTUAL SESSIONS
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Understanding and Developing a Commercial Estimate - This subject continues to rank high on the list for construction firms. Proper estimating is a critically important process that all firms who hope to become successful in the commercial construction arena must know how to prepare properly. This module will present how to construct a manual estimate, and the value of using estimating software and go through examples of properly prepared estimates. This module may have homework assignments.
Wednesday
January 26
2 Hours
5:30pm-7:30pm
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Saturday
January 29
2 Hours
10am-12pm
VIRTUAL SESSIONS
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Submitting a Commercial Bid – The process of bid submission is largely conducted online. This module will provide instruction on how to upload the estimate along with other documents required for a complete submittal.
Wednesday
February 2
2 Hours
5:30pm-7:30pm
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Saturday
February 5
2 Hours
10am-12pm
VIRTUAL SESSIONS
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Project Management, Planning and Scheduling - Schedules are management tools that allow contractors to make informed decisions about activities on a construction site. Although the terms planning and scheduling are often used interchangeably, there is a significant difference between these two activities, and an accurate schedule cannot be developed without first developing a proper plan. Planning activities involve developing the logic of how a project is to be constructed—beginning with the construction documents that define the end product, and then identifying the individual tasks or steps required to arrive at this end result. Scheduling consists of integrating the plan with a calendar or time period and assigning time durations and resources to each task.
Saturday
February 12
3 Hours
10am-1pm
VIRTUAL SESSION
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Surety Bonding and Insurance - This module will discuss surety bonds and why they are required in construction. Contractors will review an application and the other documents that are required in order to obtain bonding.
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All contractors need insurance. This portion of the module will review the various types of insurances that are important in construction.
Wednesday
February 16
2 Hours
5:30pm-7:30pm
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Saturday
February 19
2 Hours
10am-12pm
VIRTUAL SESSIONS
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Access to Capital and Financial Management – Businesses in the construction industry have unique challenges when it comes to managing cash flow and working capital. Typical small contractors have margins of 5% or less. A $100K project resulting in a margin of 5%, represents a profit of just $5,000. And that does not consider when the construction companies get paid. Firms will learn how to establish relationships with lending institutions and how to prepare a presentation to request funds.
Saturday
February 26
2 Hours
10am-12pm
VIRTUAL SESSION
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Contract Document Review - A construction contract is a legal binding agreement that contractors need to understand prior to signing off on a contract. There are several types of construction contracts used in the industry. This module will discuss some of these and why understanding contracts is crucial.
Week of February 27
NO SESSIONS
Saturday
March 12
2 Hours
10am-12pm
VIRTUAL SESSION
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Understanding How to Affiliate with the Union – In order for contractors to participate in commercial construction in Chicago, for the most part, they must be in a union. This module will explain how the union operates and present the pros and cons of union affiliation.
Wednesday
March 16
2 Hours
5:30pm-7:30pm
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Saturday
March 19
2 Hours
10am-12pm
VIRTUAL SESSIONS
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Teaming and Joint Venturing – Small business contractors can benefit from these types of relationships because they allow them to participate on larger or more complex jobs than they could manage alone. Knowing how to form a team or a joint venture, which is best for a particular project, how to select partners and how to formalize the relationship is what this module will present.
Saturday
March 26
2 Hours
10am-12pm
VIRTUAL SESSION
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Marketing and Social Media – This session will provide an overview of branding and provide a discussion on how social media can be integrated to create a presence and awareness of your firm.
All Modules/Sessions Are Administered Through the University of South Florida Website
Only those without an OSHA 30 card are eligible for these sessions.
OSHA 30 Construction (19 modules total)
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OSHA 30-Hour training for construction prepares owners on how to avoid workplace safety and health risks. The OSHA-authorized administrator of the training is the University of South Florida. All courses are 100% online and accessible 24/7 from any web-enabled device. Topics covered in OSHA 30-Hour training include general worksite safety, avoiding common hazards, understanding workers' rights, employer responsibilities and more. You will complete the training at your own pace, but all 19 modules must be completed within 180 days after registering. Once you have completed all 19 modules, you will receive an official OSHA 30 card from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
Once a contractor completes the OSHA 30-Hour training, you will be able to download your OSHA certificate immediately after completing the last module. The Department of Labor cards will come by mail 4-6 weeks later.
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Here are the modules that will be taught:
1. Introduction to OSHA: 110 minutes
2. Construction Focus Four: Fall Hazards: 110 minutes
3. Construction Focus Four: Electrocution: 80 minutes
4. Construction Focus Four: Struck-By Hazards: 80 minutes
5. Construction Focus Four: Caught-In/Between Hazards: 50 minutes
6. Health Hazards: 110 minutes
7. Materials Handling: 37.5 minutes
8. Tools - Hand and Power: 80 minutes
9. Managing Safety and Health: 110 minutes
10. Stairways and Ladders: 80 minutes
11. Fire Protection and Prevention: 80 minutes
12. Welding and Cutting: 50 minutes
13. Scaffolds: 80 minutes
14. Cranes: 80 minutes
15. Excavations: 110 minutes
16. Concrete and Masonry: 110 minutes
17. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): 110 minutes
18. Confined Space Entry: 80 minutes
19. Signs, Signals and Barricades: 50 minutes
20. Final Exam Instructions and Course Review: No minimum time