Southeastern 2025 VOICE The A Fully Integrated Approach with GrayWolf The official publication of the Southeastern Construction Owners and Associates Roundtable Inside: Cybersecurity in Construction Nationwide Economic Updates Mental Health and Suicide Prevention And more!Cinterra Ad to Come2025 // www.scoar.org 5 Published For: THE SOUTHEASTERN CONSTRUCTION OWNERS & ASSOCIATES ROUNDTABLE 4530 Bluebonnet Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 436-0528 Email: staff@scoar.org Web: www.scoar.org Published By: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. 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SCOAR LEADERS 6 A Message from the President 7 A Message from the Executive Director FEATURES 8 Cybersecurity in Construction: How to Effectively Mitigate Cyber Risk 10 Southeast Still Outperforms Despite Industrywide Challenges LET’S TALK SAFETY 12 Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 16 Behind the Package Car: UPS Construction Management Group 18 A Fully Integrated Approach with GrayWolf NEWS & RECOGNITIONS 20 SCOAR News 23 What Have Our Committees Been Up To? 24 Why Join SCOAR? 25 Join SCOAR to Start Networking with All Our Members! 26 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Southeastern 2025 VOICE The TABLE OF CONTENTS THE SOUTHEASTERN CONSTRUCTION OWNERS & ASSOCIATES ROUNDTABLE (SCOAR) ON THE COVER: On this issue’s cover we feature a steel manufacturing plant from GrayWolf, image courtesy of Cassie Petersen, DBM Global. Flip to page 18 to learn more about the company’s fully integrated approach to industrial construction! Southeastern 2025 VOICE The A Fully Integrated Approach with GrayWolf The official publication of the Southeastern Construction Owners and Associates Roundtable Inside: Cybersecurity in Construction Nationwide Economic Updates Mental Health and Suicide Prevention And more!6 Southeastern Construction Owners and Associates Roundtable / SCOAR LEADERS // From the President Andy Browning President SCOAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Andy Browning Duke Energy VICE PRESIDENT Brandon Greer Quanta Services EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tim Johnson Southeastern Construction Owners & Associates Roundtable SECRETARY Will Munkres TREASURER Ryan Cobb PTS Group DIRECTORS Brian Gallagher PPC Partners Jeff Heun LG&E and KU Energy Sean Terrell The Roberts Company Boyd Worsham NCCER Brian Brogen Southeastern Construction Scott Straight Tetra Tech Ryan Cobb PTS Group I f 2025 feels like a whirlwind, you’re not alone. I’d like to rec- ognize and thank Scott Straight for his dedication and service – he leaves the organization in an incredibly strong position. We’re also grateful for the continued support and partnership of the TJC Group (Tim Johnson, Audrey Kennedy, and Olivia Gulino) whose guidance helps keep the Southeastern Construction Owners & Associates Roundtable (SCOAR) run- ning smoothly. Three board members were re- elected along with new officers – Brandon Greer was elected as Vice President; Will Munkres, re-elected as Secretary; and Ryan Cobb, who now serves as Treasurer. I’m proud to be working alongside them and our broader Board as SCOAR’s new presi- dent to continue advancing SCOAR’s mission. SCOAR remains financially stable and continues to grow our member- ship year over year – a reflection of the value we offer and the dedication of our members and leadership. Our digital presence is a big part of this growth, so I encourage you to follow, share, and engage with SCOAR on LinkedIn and Facebook. Your interac- tion helps extend our reach and attract new members. In my (admittedly biased) opinion, our meetings continue to improve in every way thanks to your feedback. From stronger content and venues to dynamic speakers and network- ing opportunities, your input via sur- veys and conversations makes a real impact. If you have ideas for future topics or speakers, please don’t hesi- tate to reach out to any Board member or the TJC Group team. We also piloted a new format in Longboat Key, combining our owner and contractor sessions into a panel discussion. Both the breakout and joint formats received positive reviews, and we welcome your suggestions as we refine this part of our program. Thanks to the work of SCOAR’s Workforce Development Committee, two new opportunities for members to recognize excellence within our indus- try were introduced. In addition to the long-standing TOPS Safety Awards, we launched the annual Program of the Year Award and the Craft Professional of the Year Award, which were present- ed at our Winter and Spring meetings, respectively. These awards offer mem- bers a valuable platform to showcase their companies, workforce programs, and educational partners. We encour- age you to take advantage of these opportunities and help us highlight the outstanding talent and innovation across our membership. Our committees are active and impactful, thanks to member involve- ment. These are your committees; your expertise and participation shape their success and ensure they provide value to you and your organization. This year also brings a few impor- tant updates: • New registration structure: We’ve moved to a flat fee for meeting attendance that now includes all networking events (excluding the spring golf and fishing tourna- ments, which continue to support our scholarship program). This change simplifies registration and reflects member feedback request- ing a more streamlined approach to meeting registration. It also addressed the rising cost of meet- ing production, ensuring the long- term sustainability of SCOAR. • Annual partner program: We’re excited to launch SCOAR’s 2026 Annual Partner Program, created in direct response to member input. These year-long sponsorship opportunities will help us maintain low membership dues while con- tinuing to deliver high-quality meet- ings. • A new and improved website: The new design makes it easier to access resources, stay informed, and engage with SCOAR activities. In closing, I want to extend my sin- cere thanks to each of you. SCOAR exists because of our members. Your continued participation and outreach – especially to owners and contrac- tors – are key to our strength. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve. Stay safe, and I look forward to seeing you soon.2025 // www.scoar.org 7 T he 52nd year of the South- eastern Construction Own- ers and Associates Round- table (SCOAR) has been a remarkable year of growth and tremendous impact, and we are grateful for our many members who continue to make this organization an expansive success. Our membership has grown by fifteen companies in the past calendar year. SCOAR’s board and executive management team remain committed to the continued growth of our member categories, as well as access to best practices and unparalleled networking opportunities. Our 2024 Fall Meeting was held at the Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, where participants experienced a robust meeting program featuring Karen Barefoot of Barefoot Motivation and Industrial Reliability and Repair, Joseph Xavier of ABC Nation- al, and Jared Moon of the 5&2 Trade School. We saw record numbers of attendance in our unique Owners and Contractors Roundtable discussions, a feature of our program that we are excited to bring into the programming for this coming year. We then gathered at the Westin Resort at Marina Village in Cape Coral, Florida, for our Winter Meeting where attendees heard from experts on maximizing value, profits, and excellence in the contractor space, and on cybersecurity in the industry. Our 2025 Spring Meeting saw record numbers of attendance at the Resort at Longboat Key in Longboat Key, Florida. Participants were enlight- ened by an economic update from Dr. Anirban Basu of the Sage Policy Group, a safety success presentation from Garrison Wynn of Wynn Solu- tions, and an engaging panel of owner and contractor members on bidding and procurement in the current mar- ket. This meeting also featured a new award series, The Craft Professional of the Year, with Matt Massengill of Tetra Tech winning the inaugural award. We are looking forward to another record- breaking group at our upcoming Fall Meeting held in Louisville, Kentucky. There are several challenges posing unique opportunities for development and innovation within the construction / SCOAR LEADERS // From the Executive Director Tim Johnson Executive Director SCOAR industry: namely, an ever-increasing need for workforce development and retention, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and other next genera- tion technologies into traditional means and methods, and economic impacts on the construction market. The skilled labor shortage is not new to the industry, but it is becoming increasingly alarming as many in specialized trades are near- ing retirement age, resulting in a need for 439,000 net new skilled craft profes- sionals this year to meet the demand of an aging and exiting workforce. 1 Meanwhile, the advent of AI tools and advancing technologies provide new opportunities for innovation in the construction industry, however the rate of adoption remains low and relatively inconsistent. With the rising demand for new data centers to support the con- sumer use of AI, it is a lingering question whether the construction industry will similarly adopt these tools. Finally, while the demand for indus- trial development remains consistently high, the construction industry is fac- ing the effects of high interest rates, rising material and labor costs, and intense competition fueled by federal investments, all of which necessitates an emphasis on efficiency and safety. SCOAR stands at the precipice of the demand to answer these challenges by emphasizing the sharing of best practices and resource excellence year over year. We are proud to offer unparalleled meet- ing programs and access to one of the most diverse landscapes of construction membership in the country. We encourage any and all feedback from our members about particular efforts in which we might engage to maximize the value of SCOAR. I look forward to our 53rd year of excellence in this space! Reference: 1. Associated Builders and Con- tractors, “Construction Industry Must Attract 439,000 Workers in 2025,” press release, January 24, 2025, https://www.abc.org/News- Media/News-Releases/abc-con- struction-industry-must-attract- 439000-workers-in-2025.the cybersecurity community: Phishing attacks occur when fraudulent emails from accounts posing as known entities mislead employees into revealing sensi- tive information. For example, mimicking an equipment supplier’s email induces an employee to share financial informa- tion with a cybercriminal. “Social engineering” occurs when an individual is psychologically manipulated into divulging confidential company infor- mation or unwittingly forfeiting control of an operating system. For example, an attacker convinces a contractor to misdirect a payment because the attacker imperson- ates a vendor’s accountant in a plea to make whole on accounts receivable. Ransomware attacks are one of the most common and successful cyber- attacks. In a ransomware attack, the con- struction company must make a sub- stantial payment to access data locked down by malicious software that a cyber- criminal installed in the contractor’s IT system. For example, a contractor pays a significant ransom because its project managers’ inability to access the project drawings causes delays that expose the contractor to liquidated damages. Malware attacks occur when mali- cious software infiltrates IT systems, steals data, or disrupts operations. Such attacks are similar to ransomware attacks, the primary differences being that the victim often has no knowledge of the attack until notified by affected third parties such as banks or employ- ees, and the attacker has no intent to return the stolen data to the victim. For example, the cybercriminal sells sensi- tive financial data that it obtained from a project manager who downloaded mal- ware disguised as legitimate software. Fraudulent invoices are bills that trick organizations into making unauthorized payments. For example, a hacker uses an email address similar to a supplier’s email address to deliver a false invoice that mimics the supplier’s invoices. contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, sureties, and owner representatives inevitably contains numerous data access points making it difficult to reli- ably manage data security. • The Nature of the Data: Construction companies possess valuable confi- dential data such as financial records, banking credentials, payroll informa- tion, proprietary design documents, and bid data. • Outdated IT: Many contractors use legacy software and IT systems that are not regularly (or cannot be) updat- ed to address cyber vulnerabilities. • Regulatory Compliance Challenges: The construction industry must navi- gate multi-jurisdictional cybersecu- rity regulations that change over time such as handling confidential employ- ee data and often imposing harsh penalties for noncompliance. How do cybercriminals attack construction companies? Cyber attacks are often perpetrated by sophisticated criminal organizations. These well-funded organizations typi- cally employ a team of cybercriminals that include researchers, software engi- neers, and operational planners. The good news is the methods employed by these organizations are well known within T he construction industry’s reliance on digital data has reshaped the construction process. When used prop- erly, digital technology facil- itates collaboration and increases pro- ductivity. However, this growing depen- dence has made construction firms prime targets for cybercriminals. The stark real- ity is that there has been an alarming increase in cyber attacks on the industry over the last five years. Mitigating these risks requires that construction firms develop a comprehensive plan address- ing their susceptibility to cyber-attacks, anticipate cybercriminals’ methods, and proactively implement effective risk-miti- gation strategies. Why is the construction industry uniquely vulnerable to cyber-attacks? In recent years, the construction industry has become one of the most frequently targeted industries by cyber- criminals. One analyst found that cyber- attacks on construction companies dou- bled from 2023 to 2024. 1 During this peri- od, phishing and ransomware attacks increased by 83 percent and 41 percent, respectively. 2 Construction companies attract cybercriminals for many reasons, such as: • Lack of Proper Training: Construc- tion companies traditionally focus on mitigating commercial and legal risks. Consequently, many of them neglect cybersecurity training, rendering their workforce susceptible to cyber scams. • Frequent Personnel Changes: Con- struction’s high rate of labor turnover exacerbates gaps in cybersecurity training which undermines the ben- efits of training. • Networks of Project Participants: The network of design professionals, By Jay R. Houghton, Seyfarth Shaw LLP / FEATURE // 8 Southeastern Construction Owners and Associates Roundtable Cybersecurity in Construction: How to Effectively Mitigate Cyber Riskcan build a strong defense against digital threats. Mitigating those threats will ensure business continuity, protect the valuable data that drives modern construction proj- ects, and help ensure projects are com- pleted on time and on budget. y Jay R. Houghton is a senior counsel with Seyfarth Shaw LLP in San Francisco, California. Since 2000, Mr. Houghton’s practice has focused on all facets of con- struction-related litigation and transaction- al matters. Jay Houghton is a member of the Association of General Contractors of California, Legal Advisory Committee, and the California Bar. To contact Jay, please reach him at JHoughton@seyfarth.com. • Incident Response Plan: IRPs docu- ment processes and procedures that manage how a company responds to a cyber attack thereby reducing the time it takes to identify, contain, and remediate an attack. • Cybersecurity Experts: Cybersecu- rity professionals tailor cybersecurity measures to a company’s unique digi- tal environment. • Cyber Insurance: Cyber insurance policies protect against the costs associated with cyber breaches. The financial impact of a successful attack includes costs to retain forensic inves- tigators and legal counsel, absorb business interruption losses, comply with statutory notification and credit- monitoring requirements, and/or make a ransom payment if the attack involves ransomware. • Contractual Limitations of Liability: Robust liability limitations in a con- tract can, for example, cap or shift liability for cyber attack damages. • Indemnity Agreements: Review indemnity clauses to determine who bears responsibility for securing data and managing cybersecurity losses. Conclusion The cyber risks in the construction industry are not insurmountable. However, one must proactively implement as many risk-mitigation tactics as possible, as soon as possible. With proper planning, train- ing, and risk management, even a tradi- tionally analog industry like construction Which risk-mitigation tactics enhance cyber security? As cyber attacks on construction com- panies escalate, construction companies must proactively safeguard their opera- tions. Implementing the following tactics will help mitigate the risk that a cyber attack will be successful: • Cyber Education: Comprehensive cybersecurity training with regular updates is a very effective way to miti- gate cyber risk. Educated staff are far less likely to fall victim to cyber scams. • Routine Risk Assessments: Cyber risk assessments and ongoing evaluations of cyber-security protocols enable companies to continually improve their cyber-security defenses. • Cybersecurity Technology: Antivirus, anti-malware, intrusion-detection, and data-encryption software protect sensi- tive data by preventing data breaches. • Data Backup and Recovery: Reliable, frequent, and secure data backup protocols expedite the recovery of data after a cyber attack. • Multi-Factor Authentication: MFA enhances the security of a username/ password using verification factors such as a one-time passcode sent via text. • Software Updates: Mandating installa- tion of software updates with the latest security patches eliminates known vul- nerabilities that cybercriminals exploit. • Contractual Call-Back Requirements: Requiring verbal verification of wiring instructions prior to payment prevents fraudulent wire transfers. 2025 // www.scoar.org 9 References: 1. Iacono, Laurie, et al., Q1 2024 Threat Landscape Report: Insider Threat and Phishing Evolve Under AI Auspices, Cyber Threat Intel- ligence Reports (May 22, 2024), available online at: https://www. kroll.com/en/insights/publications/ cyber/threat-intelligence-reports/q1- 2024-threat-landscape-report-insid- er-threat-phishing-evolve-under-ai. 2. Dilgen, John, Report Shows Ran- somware Has Grown 41% for Con- struction Industry, Reliaquest (Nov. 12, 2024), available online at: https:// www.reliaquest.com/blog/report- shows-ransomware-has-grown- 41-for-construction-industry/.Next >