Business at Piedmont Construction Group has been "wide open in the first half of 2014 and will remain busy," according to Vice President of Pre-Construction Christy Kovac. Piedmont is a multi-specialty construction firm founded in 1995 by brothers Scott and David Thompson. It has offices in Macon and Athens.

"With the amount of commercial construction work available right now, we have the opportunity to grow our business," Kovac said.

"The challenge we face is the lack of an experienced workforce. Many workers retired or moved to another industry during the economic downturn and are not returning to construction."

Wanted: Skilled Trade Workers
It's not just a local problem. According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, in the welding trade the average age of a worker in the field is 54. The American Welding Society predicts openings for more than 400,000 workers by 2024.

Kovac would like to see local and state leaders "continue to support technical education in high schools because the construction industry needs good, skilled trade workers. Building is a rewarding career."

According to The Wall Street Journal, economists are bullish about the prospects for what they call "middle-skilled" workers. These workers will typically have some sort of technical or practical training; the type of training Kovac would like to see.

A Progressive Group
When asked what sets Piedmont apart from its competitors, Kovac replied, "We have a talented, progressive group of managing partners who are always looking to improve the construction process. We use lean methods daily in our construction processes for incremental improvement."

Projects that are currently under construction by Piedmont represent a diverse client base, including:

• Three health and rehabilitation centers including Chelsey Park in Dahlonega, Meadows Park in Vidalia, and Wynfield Park in Albany.
• Three loft apartment projects with retail space in Macon
• A dialysis center and medical office building in Macon
• The Tubman African American Museum in Macon 
• The Gordon State College Recreation & Wellness Center in Barnesville
• The Darton College Education Center in Cordele
• Clarke County K-12 renovations, additions and new construction

Piedmont also contributes its time and resources to support its local communities. Most recently, the company sponsored a carpentry workshop in conjunction with the Bibb County School District, Boy Scouts, and Habitat for Humanity.

More information on Piedmont Construction Group is available at www.piedmontconstructiongroup.com.

About Barbara Kieker

Barbara Kieker is a freelance writer who writes on business-related topics for a number of web-based properties. She also provides communications services to Fortune 500 corporations, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.