Save The Date: VTCA Annual Meeting Virginia Beach July 12-15

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1 THE VIRGINIA TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION ALLIANCE May 2018 Save The Date: VTCA Annual Meeting Virginia Beach July You will want to be in Virginia Beach July when we gather for the Annual Meeting. Ample time for networking and thought-provoking sessions will enhance your professional skills and position your company for success. Strategies for Winning in Mediation The Art and Science of Successful Negotiations Leadership Lessons from the C-Suite Values for Life and Leadership VDOT Plans, Priorities and Initiatives VTCA Annual Business Meeting The Annual Meeting, at the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, is family-friendly. As usual, we will offer Camp Hard Hat for kids ages 5-14, our popular Family Beachside Hospitality Suite, and our traditional Family Breakfast Room for those not attending the business-focused breakfasts. Mark your calendar and look for details online soon! Spring Conference Another Resounding Success With nearly 1,000 industry professionals in attendance, the 2018 VTCA Spring Transportation Construction Conference and Trade Show, April in Hampton, garnered praise from attendees and exhibitors alike. As one exhibitor said, Thank you all for a well-run conference. I have the opportunity to set up as an exhibitor at a few trade shows & conferences. This is the smoothest run show that I attend. More important to me, the people (VTCA staff) make it easy. Following a warm welcome to Hampton Roads by Delegate David Yancey, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, the conference continued with a rousing kickoff presentation by global business celebrity Jeffrey Hayzlet whose best-selling book, Think Big, Act Bigger, provided key points for his conversation with the industry about the need for businesses to adapt, change or die in order to succeed. Providing big picture from a national and federal government perspective were Alison Black, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Economist with the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, and FHWA Virginia Division Administrator Jessie Yung, PE. Closing keynote economist Dr. Elliot Eisenberg gave attendees a cut-through-the-noise look at how the performance of the U.S. economy is affecting transportation investment. Attendees also heard from Deputy Secretary of Transportation Quintin Elliott who provided an overview of the new administration s focus on transportation in Virginia. And in his first address to a VTCA audience, VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich, PE laid out his vision for the Department focusing on successful delivery of the program, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of projects, maintaining a highly trained workforce, transparency and safety. Continued on Page 2 VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich, PE Dedicated to Advancing the Interests of the Transportation Construction Industries PAGE 1

2 Finally, thirteen laser-focused breakout sessions rounded out the program, with topics of interest to all segments of the construction, engineering and aggregates professions including program details from Chief Engineer Garrett Moore, PE, who delved deeper into the Department s contract advertisements, operations, upcoming projects and candidate projects. All Conference presentations are available on the VTCA website at org/resources/conference-presentations/. Mark your calendar for April 10-12, 2019 when the Spring Conference will be held at a NEW location, Hilton Norfolk The Main! Entertainment by the Dreams Duo was hosted by T3 Design - Amy Morris, President Carter Machinery s exhibit It was a really great show! We had a good deal of traction at the booth. As always, it was an excellent event. It is great to see how it has grown. I realize this is an event that I need to attend! GREAT Trade Show last week!!! You all hit it out of the park, again! Excellent work. Spring Conference Scholarship Golf Outing This year s Spring Conference Scholarship Golf Outing at Kiln Creek was a big success. With 78 golfers participating, nearly $4,800 was raised for VTCA s scholarship programs! This year s winning team was decided by tiebreaker. Congratulations to both of these teams: First Place Bill Keller, Skanska USA Civil SE Larry Moore, McCormick Taylor John Ellis, Aggregate Industries Chris Stockslager, Aggregate Industries Second Place Chris Dodson, Timmons Group Chuck Baker, Timmons Group Drew Bagby, Branscome, Inc. William Green, E.J. Wade Skill Prize Winners Longest Drive #9 - Brian Gray, Slurry Pavers Longest Drive #13 - Mike Galli, ECS Mid-Atlantic Closest to the Pin - Tim Maier, L.B. Foster, Inc. Longest Putt - Jeff Jaeckle, Fielder s Choice PAGE 2

3 Contractor Safety Award Winners The Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance strongly encourages members to implement and maintain programs providing a safe work environment for their employees as well as the general welfare of the public who travel through their work zones. Through the annual VTCA Transportation Contractor Safety Award Program, the Alliance is proud to recognize its contractor members who successfully demonstrate their commitment to a safe and healthy working environment. Awards are categorized according to the number of work hours reported. We are proud to recognize these members for their exemplary 2017 safety records. The Awards were presented at the Spring Conference. Less than 100,000 Manhours - PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. 100,000 to 250,000 Manhours Winner - Corman Construction, Inc. Special Recognition Orders Construction Company, Inc. U. S Facilities, Inc. Stanley Construction Co. Inc. Greater than 750,000 Manhours Winner - Lane Construction/Virginia Sign and Lighting Special Recognition Virginia Paving Co. Branch Civil, Inc. Allan Myers W-L Construction & Paving, Inc. Four More ESCCC Classes Available This Year Do you implement Erosion and Sediment Control Plans on VDOT projects and rights-of-way? Sign up today to earn your ESCCC certification or to renew your existing one. It s not too late. There s still space available in our 2018 classes. Visit to register. Reach VTCA Members Who Have An Annual Buying Power Of $2.3 Billion! Reach decision-makers in Virginia s transportation construction industry by advertising in the VTCA Directory of Members and Online Buyers Guide. Sales have just opened for the publications coming out in October. These important member resources are referenced year round and are available 24/7 on the official VTCA website. Naylor Association Solutions has been our partner for more than a decade, producing top quality publications that connect you with the people you are searching for, in both the private and public sectors. Maximize your exposure today. Contact Raymond Strickland, Publication Director, to speak about how the VTCA Directory of Members and Online Buyers Guide can help you achieve your business goals. The detailed Media Guide is online at PDFs/vrbd.pdf. Raymond Strickland Publication Director Naylor Association Solutions rstrickland@naylor.com May 10 - Front Royal, Holiday Inn & Suites May 24 - Abingdon, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center November 8 - Roanoke, Higher Education Center December 6 - Richmond, VTCA Office PAGE 3

4 Community Relations Tool Kit In 2016 the VTCA Aggregate Producer Marketing Committee developed the Community Relations Tool Kit. The Tool Kit provides producers with a step-bystep guide for establishing and maintaining positive community relationships with government officials, policy makers, business leaders, students and the general public. It includes easy-to-use templates, talking points, and educational materials, including important facts about how a modern facility is responsibly operated. Sharing this information will help your key constituents better understand the valuable role aggregate producers play in the success of a community. VTCA began tracking the success of the Tool Kit in March of Since tracking began, VTCA members have directly touched a total of 3,506 individuals across Virginia. This includes 2,933 students and their teachers, 526 community members, and 47 governmental professionals. Keep up the good work and remember Students visit C.W. Barger & Son to report your outreach efforts to Rob Lanham, rob@vtca.org so we can continue to track our success. The Tool Kit is online at DMM Safety Awards-Nominate Your People! The Virginia Division of Mineral Mining (DMM) has received very few applications for the Individual Employee Safety Awards. Miners who accomplish these standards merit recognition. Please submit any associates that have achieved the below requirements to DMM. Individual employee safety awards will be considered for persons who reach fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five or more, forty or more or fortyfive or more consecutive years in the mining industry without a lost time injury during the 2017 award year. All individual award winners will receive a certificate acknowledging their achievement. Individual employee safety awards will be presented to the winners at their work location either by DMM/VTCA or mine management personnel. DMM MSHA Law Seminar Virginia Division of Mineral Mining (DMM) hosted their 3rd MSHA Law Seminar in Roanoke, Virginia April There were over 20 attendees from Virginia Aggregate Producers and Contractors. The Seminar was conducted by Vernon Harris and Hunter Atkins of DMM and included Bryan Moore, NC/VA Safety & Health Manager, Vulcan Materials, Troy Austin, Safety Coordinator, Luck Stone, William Gerringer, Chief, Mine and Quarry Bureau and Chris Pence, Esq. Hardy & Pence Law Firm as guest speakers. The seminar is an in-depth look into MSHA Law and Regulations. Course materials include CFR 30, MHSA Mine Safety Public Law, MSHA Public Policy and Minor s Rights and Regulations. Materials can be found at: 30 CFR - regs/30cfr/ MSHA Mine Safety Public Law - ACTTC.HTM Program Policy Manual - gov/program-policy-manual Miners Rights - miners-rights-and-responsibilities DMM has extended the application period until the end of May. To obtain an application please contact either: Jeff Stewart - DMM or Rob Lanham - VTCA Jeff.Stewart@dmme.virginia.gov rob@vtca.org PAGE 4

5 Examinations Of Working Places In Metal And Nonmetal Mines Below is the text of the new MSHA Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mine regulation. This regulation is scheduled to go into effect on June 2, 2018 and basically requires mine operators to conduct pre-shift exams. In Virginia, DMM requires mine operators to conduct pre-shift examinations so this should not this should not have too much impact on operations, however there are some differences in how the pre-shift is exam is reported. Please make sure to review the new regulation closely for differences to what is currently required by DMM. There are scheduled stakeholder meetings. For more information please go to the MSHA website or visit s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/ pdf. On April 9, 2018, MSHA published a final rule that amends a rule issued in January This rule provides mine operators additional flexibility in managing their safety and health programs and reduces regulatory burdens without reducing the protections afforded miners. The revised rule requires that: A competent person examine each working place for conditions that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners. The working place must be examined at least once each shift, before work begins or as miners begin work in that place. Promptly initiate appropriate corrective action when adverse conditions are found. Promptly notify miners in affected areas if adverse conditions are found and not corrected before miners are potentially exposed. Withdraw all persons from affected areas when alerted to any conditions that may present an imminent danger, until the danger is abated. Create an examination record before the end of each shift that includes: - The name of the person conducting the examination; Date of the examination; Location of all areas examined; A description of each condition found that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners that is not promptly corrected; and The date when the described condition is corrected. Make the examination record available to MSHA and miners representatives, with a copy provided upon request. NSSGA Update April 24, 2018: MSHA Signals More Time for Compliance Assistance for Exams Rule With the June 2 effective date of MSHA s new workplace exams rule fast approaching, the agency has signaled to stakeholders that more will be done to deliver quality compliance assistance. First, a senior MSHA leader told NSSGA Monday that the agency is planning for a transition period to last until October 1, 2018, before which it will be the agency s general policy to not issue citations for violations of the new rule (note: there could be exceptions due to extremely dangerous hazards). Rather, the agency will be providing compliance assistance until October 1. NSSGA had expressed concerns over a shortage of time for operators to grasp the intricacies of the new rule, and is pleased that MSHA has made this adjustment in the enforcement schedule. Second, the agency has added two dates on which it will hold an online presentation of materials. These are scheduled for May 10, and June 6, each at 11 AM, ET and 8 AM, CT. DMM App DMM has introduced a new app for iphone and android users. The app gives users access to report an accident or contact an inspector quickly from a smartphone. Resources such as the laws and regulations, communication memorandums, the Operators Manual and Safety Alert presentation are also available, where you need them, when you need them. Follow social media? Receive Twitter and Facebook posts directly from the app. Push notifications can be sent to you regarding safety alerts, accident reports and other time sensitive, relevant information. DMM will introduce the new app shortly via its notification system, but if you want early access contact Chrissi to learn how to install the app on your device at or chrissi.wood-smith@dmme.virginia.gov. PAGE 5

6 2018 Transportation Project Management Institute The University of Virginia Center for Transportation Studies, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance, is preparing to offer the 10th annual Transportation Project Management Institute (TPMI) from May 15 24, 2018 in Charlottesville. The Institute is designed for a cohort of mid-career, emerging leaders from state and local government, and industry. Past participants have commented that the Institute provided them with a unique opportunity to develop their skills while also establishing strong relationships that have benefitted their professional careers. To learn more about the Institute, please visit transportation-project-management-institute/. A particular benefit for private sector participants is the opportunity to gain direct experience with the VDOT project management process. In addition, you will work side-by-side with emerging leaders in the Department and industry. Students who are employees of VTCA members are eligible for a $500 rebate for participation in the program. Please contact VTCA s Jeff Bragdon for details. Training Opportunities Available VDOT is offering several two-hour ProjectWise webinar sessions for contractors, as well as four-hour on-site classes and webinars for consultants in May. The Department is expected to migrate from Falcon to ProjectWise, to manage, share and distribute engineering project content and review in a single platform. Migration to the new system is expected to be performed District-by-District and is to be completed by June of this year. More information regarding implementation can be found at gov/business/locdes/projectwise_implementation_training_schedule.asp. If you have any questions regarding additional training opportunities, please contact Jeff Bragdon at VTCA. Members Speaking At ASCE Richmond VTCA Member representatives Gary Johnson, PE, DBIA and Matt McCracken of Timmons Group will be presenting Bridging Engineering and Technology at the ASCE Richmond Branch Technical Lunch Meeting on May 17. They will showcase a variety of proven systems that are shaping today s transportation engineering landscape, demonstrating VDOT s vision of increased efficiencies and safety aspects across the Commonwealth. Engineer Consultant Leadership Committee Election The ECLC has started the annual cycle to replace committee members expiring terms. The nomination process is being finalized and ballots will be sent out in early May to each VTCA Engineer Consultant member s primary representative with the opportunity to vote for up to three candidates. The ballots are to be returned no later than May 25th. The top three candidates will be announced in early June and will begin their terms in July. If you have any questions regarding the ballot or the ECLC please contact Jeff Bragdon VTCA-VDOT Consultant Forum Mark your calendar to attend this fall s Consultant Forum on Tuesday, October 2. The one-day joint VDOT/ industry conference focuses on the use of engineering professional services in the delivery of the Commonwealth s transportation program. This year, we are happy to add afternoon breakout sessions to concentrate on a variety of hot topics facing our members. The Forum will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in downtown Richmond. Look for registration and programming details late this summer. PAGE 6

7 Christopher Hall, PE, Named Hampton Roads District Engineer Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner Stephen C. Brich, PE, has announced that Christopher G. Hall, PE, has been selected as the new Hampton Roads District Engineer. Hall joined VDOT on April 18 following Jim Utterback s selection as Project Director for the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project. A licensed professional engineer in Virginia and Ohio, Hall has nearly 30 years of experience in leadership roles with the United States Army and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Hall recently served as the Corps District Commander for the St. Louis District, overseeing the maintenance and operations of infrastructure worth approximately $15 billion, as well as leading the execution of a $300 million construction program. Hall earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering from the Virginia Military Institute, a master s degree in civil engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a master s in strategic studies from the United States Army War College. CTB Seeks Input On Transportation Projects The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) is developing the FY Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP). The CTB is hosting meetings across the state and is inviting the public to share feedback on transportation projects that have been recommended for funding. Please attend public meetings or submit comments online, by or mail. The SYIP allocates public funds to highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, and transportation demand management projects. The draft SYIP identifies projects proposed for inclusion in the final program, which will be approved at the CTB s June meeting. All federally-eligible projects in the SYIP will be included in the federally-required Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to document how Virginia will obligate its federal funds. Four public meetings are in May (four were in April). Each begins at 4:00 p.m. Meeting materials are online at virginia.gov/planning/springmeetings/default.asp. Additional online resources include: VDOT: DRPT: You can also submit your comments by or mail by May 30, 2018: For roads and highways: Six-YearProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov or Infrastructure Investment Director, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 East Broad St., Richmond, VA For transit and rail: DRPTPR@drpt.virginia.gov or Public Information Office, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, 600 East Main Street, Suite 2102, Richmond VA, Thursday, May 3 Monday, May 7 Holiday Inn and Conference Center VDOT Culpeper District Office, Auditorium 152 Fairway Lane 1601 Orange Road Staunton, VA Culpeper, VA Tuesday, May 8 Thursday, May 10 Germanna Community College Center Holiday Inn Valley View for Workforce & Community Education 3315 Ordway Drive Germanna Point Drive Roanoke, VA Fredericksburg, VA Monday, May 14 Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center One Partnership Circle Abingdon, VA PAGE 7

8 Free Money For Technical & Trades Training The VTCA Trade and Technical Training Scholarship provides support to people pursuing a certificate, an apprenticeship, or a degree in construction-related fields. Annual awards are typically up to $1,500 but can go up higher depending upon the circumstances. This program is funded by the Associate members of VTCA our colleagues who provide our industry s goods and services. All employees of VTCA member companies (whether located in Virginia or not), and their dependents, are eligible! Qualifying programs include, but are not necessarily limited to: Automotive Technology Carpentry Civil Engineering Technology Diesel Mechanics/Technician General Engineering Technology Heavy Equipment Maintenance Truck Driving VDOT Materials And Inspector Certification Summer 2018 Courses At CCWA Inspector Certifications With Discounted Rates! The Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation has trained hundreds of professionals. The Materials and Inspector certification courses continue this summer. Inspector courses are offered at a 66% discount for all eligible Virginia residents through the FastForward/Workforce Credential Grant approved by the General Assembly. Summer courses include: VDOT Materials Certification Courses VDOT Soils and Aggregate Compaction VDOT Concrete Field VDOT Concrete Plant CAD/CADD Drafting CDL Commercial Driver s License Construction Mgt. Technology Electrician Heavy Equipment Operator Mechanical Engineering Technology Welding The 2018 deadline is May 31. The application is simple and straightforward and is not based on financial need. The goal of this program is to help people in our industry! You can download more information and the application at org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/trade_tech_scholarship18.pdf. June (CCWA - Henrico) July (CCWA - Midlothian) July (CCWA - Chester) WTS Central Virginia Update The WTS Central Virginia Chapter is planning a State of Transportation in the Commonwealth program. It will feature Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine and other industry leaders. The event will be held at the University of Richmond Downtown Gallery on May 29 at 10:00 am. WTS Salutes Patsy Napier Patsy Gifford Napier has had a long and successful career in transportation and is celebrating the start of her 50th year in the industry! Joining VDOT after high school, Patsy retired after providing 37 years of service, including serving as Program Manager for both Location Studies and Public Involvement. After retiring from VDOT, she worked for McCormick Taylor, a Richmond consulting firm, for more than a decade. Not only appreciated for her hard work on a multitude of transportation projects, Patsy is beloved for her creation of the WTS Central Virginia Chapter, serving as founding President, and working tirelessly to advance the reputation and credibility of women in transportation. Thank you, Patsy, for all you do! VDOT Inspector Certification Courses (Discounted FastForward Pricing) VDOT Roadway and Drainage for Inspectors ($265) July (CCWA - Henrico) VDOT Structures & Bridges for Inspectors ($375) July (CCWA - Midlothian) VDOT SiteManager for Inspectors ($150) July (CCWA - Midlothian) VDOT Surveying for Inspectors ($208) August 1-2 (CCWA - Midlothian) VDOT Documentation/Record Keeping for Inspectors ($200) August 7-9 (CCWA - Henrico) VDOT Plan Reading for Inspectors ($200) August (CCWA - Henrico) On-site courses are available upon request. Summer and Fall 2018 courses are listed at ccwatraining.org/vdot. For more information, contact John McGarry at or by at emcgarry@ccwa.vccs.edu. PAGE 8

9 Brown Edwards & Company has announced new locations for its offices in Bristol, Virginia and Charleston, West Virginia. Please update page 84 of your VTCA Directory of Members. Bristol: 513 State Street Bristol, VA Phone: Fax: (no change) Charleston: 300 Chase Tower 707 Virginia Street SW Charleston, WV Phone: (no change) Fax: (no change) Engineering Consulting Services (ECS) is pleased to announce that Andrew Gowen has joined the firm as an Environmental Senior Project Manager based in the Chesapeake, VA office. Gowen has more than 16 years of experience, including a background in both terrestrial and marine research sciences, with expertise in completing investigative and remedial activities for private, state and federal clientele. Drew will provide a wide breadth of experience and local knowledge for the environmental group in the Tidewater region. He has worked on all manner of projects ranging from Phase I ESAs and Industrial Hygiene surveys to suspect contaminant investigations. Drew knows the area, the local regulators, and tricks of the trade. This experience and expertise will greatly enhance our local abilities and allow us to provide even greater service and value to the wide range of clients we serve, said Adam Meurer, CHMM, PWS, a Principal with ECS environmental group. Drew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry and concentrations in environmental sciences from the University of Maine at Machias. ATCS is excited to announce that John H. Morse, CCM has joined the firm as Vice President, Program/Project Management Services. John will be responsible for implementing and maintaining new policies regarding best practices in the delivery of the firm s project and program management services for both design and construction operations. In addition, John will assume a variety of other corporate roles and staff management responsibilities. John brings over 28 years of experience in construction and large project/program management leadership roles in multiple market sectors. Most recently, he serves as the Senior Program Manager of the I-66 Outside-the-Beltway project on the Virginia Department of Transportation s $4 Billion GEC I-66 program located in Fairfax, Virginia. His extensive design and construction management experience includes major interstate highway/interchange systems, PPTA design-build Tolling Lane systems, wastewater treatment plants, sewer/collection systems, heavy highway structures and bridges, marine and ports facilities, military facilities, National Park projects, and US State Department projects. He is adept at management and supervision of project delivery issues including personnel, equipment, and other resources. Further, John brings expertise serving clients as a subject matter expert in the role of construction management, claims mitigation & resolution, technical training & technical manual development/revisions, and risk evaluation & mitigation. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Citadel the Military College of South Carolina, plus advanced degrees in the areas of theology and philosophy. He is a Certified Construction Manager (CCM). He is based out of ATCS Herndon Office. Terra Site Constructors is pleased to announce new service offerings several types of Earth Shoring solutions to ensure stability for heavy construction in areas where common construction techniques are not feasible or practical. These include Helical Tiebacks, Helical Soil Nails, and Other Soil Anchoring Products as well as Soldier Piles & Lagging. We also install deep foundation support and anchoring systems: quickly, safely, and cost-effectively in areas where shallow foundations are not possible, practical, or will not carry the load. These include Helical Piles, Resistance Piers and Caissons. Our team has decades of experience in both construction and engineering. We pride ourselves on being innovators and problem solvers. We own our Drill Rig and utilize several rapid foundation products from a variety of different manufacturers to address your unique project requirements. Terra Site Constructors REV Drill can be used for multiple drill applications including drilling caissons, soldier pile and lagging. Owning this versatile tool allows us to mobilize quickly and to get your job done quickly, safely, and costeffectively. Our decades of hands-on drilling experience enables us to determine the best drilling solution to complete your job in the most efficient manner possible. Click here to view a list of our service offerings and feel free to contact us to discuss your next project. PAGE 9

10 A monthly publication of the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance Jeffrey C. Southard, Esq. Executive Vice President Dara Jan Morehead, CAE Director of Administration and Membership Services (Editor) Thomas M. Witt Engineer Director Jeff Bragdon, P.E., PMP Engineering Consultant Program Manager Rob Lanham Aggregates Program Manager Lisha G. Reynolds Professional Development Manager Dana C. Morris Communications Technology Manager Stephanie L. L. Rusnak Administrative Operations Manager Greg Hoffman Business Manager VTCA Office Closed The VTCA office will be closed May 28 in observance of Memorial Day. We salute all of the men and women who have served our country and we honor their families for their support. Welcome To Our New Member Nelson Brothers, LLC provides superior services and technical solutions to open pit mining customers in the eastern portion of the United States by utilizing advanced explosives loading systems, quality products, and leading-edge technical engineering support. 820 Shades Creek Parkway Suite 2000 Birmingham, AL VTCA Contact: Mike Corona, Senior Technical Representative John P. Harrison Retires Following Distinguished 56- Year Industry Career A tip of the hard hat to John P. Harrison on his retirement this month. John served with the Virginia Department of Transportation for 35 years, retiring as the Regional Quality Assurance Engineer for the Hampton Roads District. He then served 21 years as a Project Manager in the private sector, with Wilbur Smith Associates and Quality Engineering Solutions. We wish John the very best! Health Care Corner It goes without saying that the individual health insurance market is a mess. Therefore the passage of Virginia Senate Bill 672 is great news for sole proprietors and other small business owners. The bill revises the definition of small employer for the purposes of health insurance so that it now includes a self-employed person. The measure also provides that an individual who is the sole shareholder of a corporation or sole member of a limited liability company, or an immediate family member of such sole shareholder or member, qualifies as an employee of the corporation or limited liability company if he or she performed any service for remuneration under a contract of hire. The full text of the bill can be found at legp604.exe?181+ful+chap0782. Please contact me to learn more about how SB 672 can help you. Monty Dise, President Asset Protection Group Charter Park Drive Midlothian, VA ext. 309 (office) PAGE 10