Blog

Michigan Construction is proud to be involved with Michigan Construction Career Days, taking place on May 1-2, 2019! This is a great opportunity to expose students to various career opportunities in the construction industry. We're pumped to show students in grades 7-12 just how cool construction jobs in Michigan really are!

When you think of construction what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? If you’re like many you may be picturing groups of hard-working men laboring for extensive hours outdoors. This isn’t what comes to mind when you ask Heather Smith about construction. Smith, Director of Marketing at Michigan Construction and Director of Engineering at the Michigan Concrete Association, recently shared her experience as a woman working in the construction industry.

We’ve all heard the joke about Michigan having two seasons, winter and orange barrels, but when the barrels do appear it’s time to get serious about work zone safety. This year, the week of April 8-12, 2019 is the dedicated time to remind us all: Work Zone Safety: Everybody’s Responsibility.

The 9th Annual Construction Science Expo is introducing Detroit middle and high school students to the construction and engineering industry through a day of hands-on and interactive exploratory experiences and conversations. The event was founded in 2011 in partnership with the Black Caucus Foundation, MITA, ACEC and the Operating Engineers 324 and was established to inform kids that being a skilled laborer remains a highly-valued profession. Overall, the Construction Science Expo has touched more than 8,000 kids through the years and has even helped provide job opportunities to those who are highly motivated and want to get their careers started right away.

Construction has long been considered a men-only industry, but that stereotype is being eroded by a small but growing group of women. These are smart, dedicated and passionate women who have found construction to be the perfect career for them. They are making inroads for other women to follow, and they’re doing it because they are female, not in spite of it. If you have ever wondered what a career in construction would be like, take it from two women with the Michigan Department of Transportation — it’s a great life!

In northern Michigan, Team Elmer’s is practically a household name as one of the largest, oldest and most respected construction firms in the area. Providing excavation, concrete, Esphalt™, aggregate, heavy hauling, and crane and rigging services, Team Elmer’s makes a point of hiring great people who love their jobs.

That includes some pretty exceptional women who are driving hard (literally) to prove women have what it takes to make a career behind the wheel of a multi-ton construction vehicle.

Teaching is a tough job, and super rewarding, when given the right tools. Michigan Construction understands hard work and the need for the right equipment and we want to help! Last year, in partnership with many of our awesome partners, we gave away 10 Tonka size truckloads of elementary level construction books to deserving teachers across Michigan. The contest was so successful, that we're bringing it back this year! Elementary and preschool teachers can enter their classrooms for a chance to win a truckload of books by filling out the form on this page. Each winner will receive 10 books chosen specifically for their class level.  The following books are an example of the selection you may receive:

Michigan Construction frequently works with the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) and their Director of Workforce Development, Ken Bertolini to help inform, advance and connect individuals to the opportunities that our industry has to offer.  We also work together in collaboration with other industry on programs including the Construction Science Expo, Michigan Construction Career Days, the Detroit Workforce of the Future.

Ken wrote a fantastic article about the importance of soft skills training for employers in the last issue of the MITA's Cross-Section Magazine this January 2019 that we wanted to share.  Check it out!

At Merlo Construction we pride ourselves on unparalleled quality workmanship and attention to detail. From our field specialists to our support personnel to our administrative staff, our experienced team of professionals brings their broad knowledge and innovative ideas to every project. In addition, we implement our proprietary workflow systems and efficient production methods to ensure projects stay on schedule and on budget.

As Michigan's weather changes over to winter, the snow beginning to fly, and the transportation construction season winds down, companies are in the process of forecasting their labor needs for the 2019 construction season. The recent reality continues to persist as construction companies review their workforce; we need more laborers in our industry and where do we find them?