In 2016, Governor Cuomo signed into law the nation’s strongest and most comprehensive Paid Family Leave policy. Starting January 1, 2018, New York State’s Paid Family Leave provides New Yorkers with job-protected, paid leave to bond with a new child, care for a loved one with a serious health condition or to help relieve family […]

Burn Barnes and I visited with the soon to be graduating HVAC class at Erie Community College. We spent some time explaining what Sqrft does. I told my story about how I started as a carpenter, went to running Apollo Construction Co, and eventually to starting Squarefoot Tradesmen. Burn spent some time telling her story […]

The owner of a Bedford-Stuyvesant construction company and his businesses have been indicted on manslaughter and other charges after a wall collapsed at an excavation site, killing one construction worker and injuring two others. read the full story here The deceased worker, Fernando Vanegaz, 18, suffered severe head trauma, lacerations to his head, broken legs […]

ConstructionDive.com wrote a story about LPCiminelli and the corruption charges against them. Read about it here.

According to Business First, some communities in Western New York have almost 33% dependency on government jobs. Overall, it’s one in six. Are we okay with this? Read the article here.  You can also see the specific numbers for each municipality.

Buffalo Construction Company Employees to Benefit from Company Rebranding Buffalo, NY (June 30, 2016) – After 10 years of success in the construction management business, R&P Oak Hill Development has changed their name to “RP Oak Hill Building Company Inc.” and is rebranding their image to signify their recent implementation of an Employee Stock Ownership […]

I was honored to participate in a panel discussion during the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP) 103rd Annual Educational Conference wherein we explored the relationship between “Workforce Professionals” and employers in Western New York. I spoke from the perspective of construction and trades employers.  Sandra Budmark PHR, LEED AP was there representing Wendel Duchscherer […]

FLARE is currently administering the City of Buffalo Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance program! If you do not currently own a home, and you are interested in this program we ask that you do the following: Contact Flare, Inc. for 1st time Homebuyer Program Order your free credit reports 1-877-322-8228 Have Buffalo Urban League […]

ALACHUA, Fla. – Skilled craft professionals continue to earn top dollar, according to NCCER’s 2015 Construction Craft Salary Survey. Each year, NCCER surveys companies and organizations from the industrial and commercial construction industries across the U.S about the salaries of their craft professionals. The Construction Craft Salary Survey represents average annual salaries for individual craft […]

According to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Buffalo, NY experienced the third largest percentage gain of construction jobs in the country during the period of October 2014 to October 2015.  Buffalo added 4,400 jobs up 19% from this time last year.  The largest percentage gains occurred […]

Need health insurance? Open enrollment begins November 1 and runs through until January 31, 2016. Even if you’re already on the exchange, now is the time to shop and re-evaluate.  A lot has changed in the last year. Go here to log in and start the process. Go here to see a brochure designed to […]

Some time ago we decided to only work with folks who shared our value system.  Values can be difficult to define and even more difficult to prove.  We talk about our values in our Vivid Vision. I sat with a gentlemen who after spending close to 2 1/2 hours with me and my staff, told […]

Unemployment in the construction industry fell in June to the lowest level since 2001, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. That’s because contractors are having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to meet growing demand, association officials said. “Expanding job opportunities throughout the economy make it increasingly difficult for […]

Incorporated on February 8, 1999, Construction Personnel Group Inc is the official corporate name of Squarefoot Tradesmen. Somewhere around 2008’ish we began to toy with an unofficial dba of CPGworks.  Our thought was that we would brand ourself as something clever and memorable.  CPGworks actually did get some steam, but as time went on we began […]

OSHA changed the rules for residential construction workers on March 15th, 2013. No longer will they be issuing reduced fines, helpful hints, and consultations on compliance with the fall protection regulations. They are in full-enforcement mode, and you should be in full-compliance mode if you want to avoid serious penalties. Unless you are able to […]