The following article is from AGCVA‘s VIRGINIA’S CONSTRUCTION VOICE magazine, published October 2019 (Vol. 2, Issue 1 – 2020; pages 17-18).  Pictured left to right: Jeff Deavers, Ben Cline, and Kevin Gabel

MEMBER PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS | AGCVA VALLEY DISTRICT CONTRACTOR Lantz Construction Company (Broadway, VA)

The (August 1st) tour took place on Lantz Construction Company’s nearly $12 million project for Rockingham County School Board that includes renovating and creating additions for John C. Myers Elementary School.  The project, which began in March of 2019, is expected to be completed in August of 2020.  The renovations and additions have been on-going since March of this year and will be completed in phases, providing as little interruption to the students, staff, and administration of the school. There are 15 AGCVA member companies involved in this project, included Lantz Construction Company.  Lantz Construction Company’s team on this project includes: Kevin Gabel, Project Manager; Seth Little, Project Engineer; Mike Knight, Senior Superintendent; Jeremie Southerly, Superintendent; Steve Reid, Owner Representative; as well as architect, Ken White with Architecture Incorporated.

Jeff Deavers, Chief Preconstruction Officer of Lantz Construction Company, Broadway, Virginia, “I am proud to show Representative Cline the important work our company does, in our local community and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.  More importantly, we are encouraged to see that the construction industry has strong advocates in Washington and Richmond, who understand the issues facing our industry.”

The AGCVA Valley District focused on one of the projects in progress recently during a project tour with Virginia Congressman Ben Cline.  Congressman Cline called on Congress to take steps to address construction workforce shortages, while touring the renovation and addition to John C. Myers Elementary School with representatives from Lantz Construction Company, Associated General Contractors of Virginia and the Associated General Contractors of America.

“It is time for Congress and President Trump to enact solutions that fix the higher education bias.  While the federal government invest $120 billion a year in higher education funding, only about $4 billion is spent for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training programs and Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer.  “Congress needs serious leaders, like Rep. Cline, who understands the country needs workforce development that allows greater flexibility for industries like construction.”

While touring the jobsite, Representative Ben Cline and the construction officials further discussed the direct impact the workforce shortage has on Virginia.  They noted that a 2019 AGC survey found that 92 percent of those contractors are having “a hard time filling some or all positions.”  Of those firms experiencing staffing challenges, 27 percent say projects have taken longer than anticipated and 47 percent say they have included higher prices in their bids or contracts.

Joining the jobsite tour were:

US House of Representatives 6th District of Virginia

  • Representative Ben Cline Congressman US House of Representatives
  • Debbie Garrett, District Director

AGC of America

  • Jim Young, Senior Director of Congressional Relations

AGC of Virginia

  • Gordon Dixon, AGCVA CEO
  • Missy Gupton, AGCVA Valley District Manager and AGCVA Events Manager
  • Courtney Baker, AGCVA Workforce Solutions Manager

Lantz Construction Company

  • Chris Weaver, President *& CEO and AGCVA Board of Directors
  • Jeff Deavers, Chief Preconstruction Officer/VP and AGCVA Valley District Executive Committee
  • Kevin Gabel, Director of Construction Management & Project Manager for JCMES
  • Mike Knight, Senior Superintendent
  • Jeremie Southerly, Superintendent
  • Dennis Edwards Jr., Safety Director
  • Seth Little, Project Engineer

Riddleberger Brothers Inc.

  • Daniel Blosser, President
  • Kirk Adams, Director of Preconstruction and AGCVA Vice Chairman

Eddie Edwards Signs

  • Chris Runion, President

Rockingham County Public Schools

  • Cheryl Yoder Mast, CFO
  • Steve Reid, Director of Maintenance