RK Redding Construction

Beginning with only four member counties in the late 1990s, the Greater West Georgia Joint Development Authority (GWGJDA) has grown to represent seven area counties, including: Polk, Haralson, Paulding, Carroll, Heard, Coweta, and Troup. We spoke to Eric McDonald, President & CEO of Greater Haralson Chamber of Commerce, and Daniel Jackson, President & CEO of Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, about the collaborative nature of the Development Authority that allows members to work together on multi-county projects to benefit West Georgia residents. What are your current role and responsibilities as part of the GWGJDA? Eric: I am a supporting staff member for the Greater West Georgia Joint Development Authority. We are an economic development and business growth entity responsible for growing the region’s retail and industrial base. The Board of Directors of the GWGJDA is appointed by the respective county commissions. Supporting staff from each of the economic deve...

It is a well‐known fact that the construction industry suffered greatly during the last economic downturn. We have published several articles on the challenges facing us with the skilled labor shortage, but history shows that the construction industry is resilient. When faced with a challenge, we band together and look for ways to overcome and push forward. That same mindset is transforming today’s approach to construction through the innovative use of modular and prefabricated construction materials. Becoming more widely embraced, this method employs off‐site construction where building elements – anything from bathroom pods to exterior walls ‐ are built in a factory and transported to the site to be constructed. Employing prefabricated materials offers many benefits such as fewer disruptions, faster and more consistent production, better quality control, cost mitigation, eco‐friendly processes, improved safety conditions and the real driver, less skilled labor requirements. All ...

A Message from Randall Redding As the season changes, it brings a sense of renewal at RKR. Hopefully the brisk temperatures refresh you during the Holiday Season. I am excited to share the latest issue of the Strong Foundations newsletter. In the first article, we spoke with West Georgia Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Jennifer Shunn. She’s made a tremendous impact on housing across the entire region. RKR is honored to work with this extremely worthwhile non-profit organization to help construct homes for those in need. In a previous issue, we shared how workforce development was a focus for the construction industry, and it’s a topic that is still very relevant. In fact, I recently participated in an Atlanta Journal Constitution interview, along with the Associated General Contractors Association. May you enjoy the Holidays filled with love, laughter and family. Thanks for your friendship and continued support, Randall K. Redding President & CEO ...

RKR: Tell us a little about your background. Jennifer: Prior to working with West Ga Habitat for Humanity, my work experience had always been in universities in either enrollment management or development. When my husband and I moved to Carrollton in 2000, I chose to do freelance consultant work to better control my schedule while being a full-time mom. When a position became available at West Ga Habitat, I realized that I had an opportunity to work for an organization where I could really embrace my faith and make a difference in people’s lives. The position with Habitat allowed me to utilize both my employment and life experiences and my education in psychology and public administration. Working for the organization has been a big blessing in my life. RKR: What excites you about your role at Habitat and how have your responsibilities changed through the years? Jennifer: For the first 15-20 years, the West Ga Habitat was completely run by volunteers. In 2005, I was hired throu...

A message from Randall Redding The focus of this issue is on the construction industry, from a macro and micro perspective. Our first article is about pricing in the construction industry, which includes strategies about when to lock in pricing, how to plan for escalation, what trades are at a premium, and more. The article provides insightful information for those who manage these projects. We also spoke with Associated General Contractors of Georgia (AGC‐GA) CEO Mike Dunham. Having worked with AGC for almost 40 years, rest assured Mike has a lot to say about the construction industry and where it’s headed. If you’ll indulge me for a moment, I would like to congratulate the RKR team for receiving the 2018 Excellence in Safety Award from AGC‐Georgia for the fourth year in a row. Even more outstanding is being awarded the 2018 National AGC Safety Award. This national award from AGC is significant, because it recognizes RKR for having zero incidents for at least the past t...

In the construction world, there seems to be much conversation over the fearand uncertainty of rising project costs and the effect on budget and production. With politics and the current healthy economy playing influential roles, rising prices for materials and a seemingly everpresent shortage of workforce availability have led many to regard the industry’s future with nervous anticipation. In this atmosphere, clients with pending projects are adapting a proactive approach to mitigate their exposure. Meanwhile, selection committees are increasingly referring to the builder’s expertise, looking for ways to avoid cost escalation and minimize the  potential impact on the front end by achieving the GMP at the earliest date possible. Additionally, the workforce shortage has hit design firms, many of which are working at full capacity. This often results in delays of issuance of construction documents, thereby pushing bid solicitations and procurement dates out further than originally ...

RKR: Please share with us your background and how you came to work with the AGC as well as your current job and responsibilities? Mike: I am the luckiest person in the world because right after I graduated college I interviewed with a group of gentlemen at the Northeast Louisiana Contractors Association, a small chapter of AGC of America. They must have seen something in me because they gave me an opportunity to be their executive. I worked for that chapter for eight years and then went to work for a larger AGC chapter in Jacksonville, Florida. I spent six years in Florida and then was hired here at AGC Georgia in 1995. The person I replaced was the chief staff officer for 41 years. I’ve now worked within the AGC organization for 37 years. It’s been a tremendous career so far and my responsibilities as CEO are all encompassing, as any CEO job. As a statewide chapter, our general and specialty contractor members are big and small, perform public and private work and are from all reg...