Latest news with #AWP
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction Skills Crisis Drives New AWP Certification Launch
Despite record employment, the U.S. construction industry faces a severe skilled labor shortage, driving up costs and delays. Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) improves productivity and safety, but adoption is slowed by a lack of expertise. Concord Academy, founded by AWP expert Olfa Hamdi, offers self-paced online certification to equip professionals with the skills to deliver projects more efficiently and cost-effectively. WASHINGTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Despite record construction employment—over 8.3 million workers in early 2025—the U.S. industry still needs an estimated 439,000 more skilled workers by year-end to meet rising demand (1). Up to 90% of contractors struggle to find qualified personnel, particularly in skilled trades, causing higher costs, delays, and sometimes cancellations, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reports. (2). To compensate for this reality, contractors and project teams are adopting Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) to boost productivity and safety, but its adoption is limited by a persistent skills gap—lack of expertise, fragmented knowledge, and resistance to change. As Olfa Hamdi, Co-founder & CEO of Concord Construction Academy, notes: "Professional training is the missing link—it's what turns AWP from a concept into a practical, transformative method that organizations can truly own." The Challenge: AWP Adoption Is Growing, But Expertise Is Lagging Despite increased interest and gradual adoption of Advanced Work Packaging (AWP), the construction industry continues to face substantial challenges in scaling its benefits. Multiple industry surveys reveal that most construction professionals lack formal training in AWP and field planning, which acts as a major bottleneck for widespread implementation. In the absence of standardized training and certification programs, companies often resort to informal knowledge sharing and experimental approaches, slowing down adoption and undermining the full potential for productivity, safety, cost and schedule savings. A systematic review published in MDPI (3) and a comprehensive report by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) highlight persistent barriers such as organizational resistance to change, inadequate training resources, and misalignment of processes throughout project lifecycles. The lack of a universally accepted industry standard for work packaging further exacerbates these issues, as noted in benchmarking studies. Collectively, these challenges contribute to a persistent skills gap, limiting the consistent and effective use of AWP and, ultimately, its broader impact on the construction sector. AWP: 5 Benefits That Improve Results AWP is more than just a planning tool—it represents a holistic shift in capital project delivery. By systematically breaking down projects into manageable work areas and packages and aligning engineering, procurement, and construction sequences, AWP dramatically improves project predictability, safety, and efficiency: Increased Productivity: Industry data consistently shows that projects using AWP experience a 25% increase in productivity, driven by better upfront planning and more effective supervision. Cost and Schedule Predictability: AWP improves predictability in both cost and schedule, with documented reductions in total installed costs by up to 10% and improved on-time delivery. Enhanced Safety: AWP increases safety awareness and performance, reducing exposure to unplanned work and rework, and lowering the likelihood of near misses and unsafe behavior. Reduced Field Rework: Implementation of AWP leads to a 20% reduction in field rework by improving communication and alignment between engineering and construction teams. Improved Constructability: Early engagement of construction teams in the planning process fosters better constructability input, resulting in cost-saving measures and accelerated schedules. Concord Academy: Filling the Gap with Scalable, Role-Specific Training Recognizing the critical need for standardized AWP training, Olfa Hamdi—a pioneering researcher, author of the AWP Lifecycle Implementation Standard and co-inventor of the AWP methodology through the Construction Industry Institute's RT-272 research team—founded Concord Academy. The academy offers standardized, role-specific AWP courses online and on-demand, aligning with the AWP Standard and global best practices. The curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice, empowering project teams at all levels, from early definition to field execution. to implement AWP with confidence and consistency. Certified Teams Deliver Better Results Organizations that invest in AWP certification through Concord Academy consistently achieve transformative outcomes. By equipping their teams with standardized, role-specific AWP knowledge, companies report productivity improvements of up to 35%—exceeding the industry average—along with reductions in total project costs by as much as 10% and measurable enhancements in safety performance. Additionally, organizations report substantial decreases in field rework and late changes as well as improved alignment among all project stakeholders, from engineering and procurement to construction and commissioning teams. Concord Academy's approach is designed to help organizations embed AWP as a core project strategy, building lasting internal capability and empowering teams to sustain improvements across multiple projects. The result is a culture of risk mitigation, constraint management and continuous improvement, where best practices become standard operating procedures and project risks are proactively managed. Global Reach and Industry Impact Concord Academy's AWP training has a truly global footprint, with adoption in more than 30 countries across the energy, petrochemical, infrastructure, mining, hydrogen construction and industrial sectors. This widespread use is driving faster, safer, and more predictable capital project delivery worldwide, as organizations of all sizes leverage AWP to overcome common challenges such as labor shortages, cost overruns, and schedule delays. Concord Academy's international reach underscores its commitment to advancing the construction industry as a whole, promoting the adoption of best practices and fostering innovation across borders. "When organizations invest in AWP training and make it a core part of their culture, they don't just improve project outcomes—they set a new standard for excellence across the entire construction sector.", explains Olfa Hamdi. As the construction industry continues to grapple with persistent labor shortages and rising project complexity, the importance of AWP as a best practice for project delivery and predictable execution is more critical than ever. By standardizing training and embedding AWP into organizational DNA, Concord Academy is helping the global construction sector build resilience, efficiency, and long-term success in an increasingly competitive environment. About Olfa Hamdi Olfa Hamdi is an internationally recognized expert in capital project management, construction excellence, large scale institutional reform and dispute resolution. She holds advanced degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, Ecole Centrale de Lille and Texas Law School, and is an engineer, entrepreneur and auditor. Hamdi is the founder of the Advanced Work Packaging Institute and the co-founder and CEO of Concord Project Technologies Inc., which develops innovative project management solutions for global capital projects. She is credited as a co-inventor of the Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) methodology, which has become a global industry standard for improving project predictability, safety, and efficiency. Concord Academy, led by Olfa Hamdi, provides online, role-specific training and certification in Advanced Work Packaging and Workface Planning. The academy's programs equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to implement AWP effectively, driving productivity and cost savings for organizations worldwide. Concord Academy's training is widely adopted across the energy, infrastructure, and industrial sectors, helping companies overcome labor shortages and project execution challenges. Visit her at References U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. "Industries at a Glance: Construction: NAICS 23." 29 Oct. 2015, "Associated Builders and Contractor News Releases." May 19, 2025 -Media/News-Releases/abc-the-construction-industry-needs-501-000-additional-workers-in-2024. Slim Rebai, et al. "Barriers to Adopting Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) in Construction." Buildings, vol. 14, no. 4, 8 Apr. 2024, pp. 1032–1032, Media Inquiries: Karla Jo Helms JOTO PR™ 727-777-4629 Media ContactKarla Jo Helms, JOTO PR™, 727-777-4629, khelms@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Concord Academy Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SSU student-led magazine named best in the nation
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The student-led literary Magazine at Savannah State University (SSU), called Estuary, won first place in the 2025 Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Prize for undergraduate literary magazines. Estuary was chosen out of hundreds of entries by AWP. The prize is awarded annually to one outstanding, undergraduate-led journal and two runners-up. It celebrates the work of undergraduate student writers and editors, including exceptional content, cohesive design, and innovation. Ona Anosike, the founder and chief editor of the Tonic, a literary journal associated with Lesley University, served as the 2025 AWP judge. 'Estuary from Savannah State University is a bold and beautifully produced journal that reflects a campus community deeply invested in the literary arts,' said Anosike. 'The themes of resilience and liberation thread through its pages, not just in the work itself, but in the spirit behind it. From its sharp writing to its strong visual design, the journal feels alive with voice and vision. It's clear that this is more than a publication; it's a platform for connection, expression, and creative power.' Faculty co-advisors Dr. Chad Faries, associate professor of English, and Kelly Evans, instructor of English, provided editorial guidance and support. Dr. Faries also serves as senior editor for Estuary. 'I want to express my gratitude to our incredible president, Nyree Wright, for her visionary leadership over the past two years,' said Faries. He also acknowledged the support of Shed Dawson, director of Career Services and the Leadership Development Center, and Bonita Bradley, dean of students. 'Our co-advisor Kelly Evans and former advisor Elizabeth Kaiser played crucial roles in revitalizing the organization, helping to cultivate a culture of creativity on campus,' Faries added. 'We also extend thanks to Dr. Nicholas Silberg, chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, for his continued support.' In addition to earning national recognition for Volume 16, Estuary also celebrated outstanding student work through its guest submission contest. Members of the Estuary editorial team and the Estuary Creative Writing Club reviewed submissions in both prose and poetry. Prose Category Winners: Samantha Thompson – Best Prose, College of Education Macayla Moody – Best Prose, College of Sciences and Technology Keyonna A. Primus – Best Overall, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Poetry Category Winners: Kyndall Jackson – Best Poem, College of Education Madeleine Nolan – Best Poem, College of Business Administration Victoria Harris – Overall Winner, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Macayla Moody – Best Poem, College of Sciences and Technology Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Mental health trust requires improvement says CQC report
A mental health trust has been told it requires improvement, following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).Inspectors visited the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) over three days in July 2024, after concerns were raised about the quality of care being report found that the trust had breached legal regulations relating to safeguarding and that staff feared "retribution" for speaking Hardisty, AWP chief executive, said: "Whilst disappointed with the outcome of the Well-Led inspection, we are pleased to have been rated good in our adult community services and adult wards, which is a tribute to the hard work of our staff." He added: "This demonstrates a commitment to, and track record of progress, and over the last year we implemented a range of additional improvements in those areas identified by CQC to further enhance the experience for our patients, staff and stakeholders."'Well-led' inspections focus on ensuring the need for an "inclusive and positive culture" and do not cover the CQC's other areas of oversight such as safety and trust provides mental health services in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire. Staff 'feared speaking up' The report stated that the trust had "not ensured, Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) processes were effective, that racism and discrimination were addressed across all services and safeguarding systems and processes were effective".It indicated that while staff were aware of the FTSU process, it found that they "feared retribution when speaking up", with some staff reporting that they "did not feel safe in completing staff surveys".Inspectors also found that certain staff believed there was a "performative culture", in relation to the trust's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) ambitions "where senior leaders spoke of inclusion, but there was a lack of action on how the trust truly achieved this".This was compounded by the finding that "staff felt their career progression and opportunities could be compromised if they disclosed information about their protected characteristics". 'Driving improvements' The report praised the trust's Green Plan, saying there was a "clear understanding" of where reduction in emissions could be achieved. The trust had also secured grants for solar panels and LED trust was also said to have a willingness to "improve culture and hear from patients" and some staff told inspectors that they felt senior leaders were "capable, compassionate and took feedback on board".Shane Devlin, chief executive officer of NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, said he was "assured by the progress AWP has already started to make and are committed, as system partners, to supporting its leadership team in driving continued improvements".
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First Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Youth political activist Asif Saeed Sakhi arrested without charges amid intensifying crackdown in PoK
Amid ongoing political crackdown in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the local police have arrested Asif Saeed Sakhi, Vice President of the Awami Workers Party (AWP), a prominent left-leaning political group in the region read more Amid ongoing political crackdown in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the local police have arrested Asif Saeed Sakhi, Vice President of the Awami Workers Party (AWP), a prominent left-leaning political group in the region. The information was shared on X by Javed Beigh, India's representative at the United Nations and a vocal advocate for the integration of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) with India's Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, respectively. In a long post on X along with sharing Sakhi's pictures, Beigh wrote, 'This is a photo of ASIF SAEED SAKHI, a youth political activist from minority Muslim sectarian community of ISMAILI MUSLIMS behind bars in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir's (PoK's) Gilgit and Baltistan region, which is also known as Pakistan Occupied Gilgit and Baltistan (PoGB).' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PAKISTAN CRACK DOWN IN PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) CONTINUES, even as the world ignores the plight of the people of PoK.... This is a photo of ASIF SAEED SAKHI, a youth political activist from minority Muslim sectarian community of ISMAILI MUSLIMS behind bars in Pakistan… — Javed Beigh (@JavedBeigh) May 26, 2025 According to Beigh, Sakhi was arrested by police in Gulmit without any formal charges or the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), raising serious concerns about arbitrary detentions and the suppression of political dissent. 'Asif Saeed Sakhi is Vice President of PoGB's Awami Workers Party (AWP), a communist political party, a prominent political part of PoGB. He has been detained without charges by the local police of the puppet regime of Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) local Chief Minister Gulbahar Khan, which is seen as the puppet of the Punjabi Muslim ruling elite based in Islamabad & Rawalpindi,' he added. According to Beigh, Sakhi belongs to the Wakhi speaking Ismaili Muslim community which is a minority Muslim community in Pakistan but constitutes a major religious community in PoGB. The Wakhi community of PoGB are Tajik Farsi speaking communities who are culturally close to Wakhi speaking Ismaili communities of Gorno Badakshan in Tajikistan, Xinjiang province in China & Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Before 1947, this used to be the northernmost border of British India and was part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir but after 1947, Pakistan illegally occupied this part of PoK depriving India its natural borders with Tajikistan, Afghanistan and wider Central Asia,' Beigh wrote. The arrest comes in the wake of mounting unrest over the controversial 'Land Reforms Act,' recently passed by the local assembly, widely seen as a rubber-stamp body operating under the control of Pakistan's central government. Critics argue the act enables land acquisition at the cost of indigenous communities and has triggered protests across the region. Several political leaders, including Ehsan Ali Advocate of the Awami Action Committee, have also been arrested in recent weeks as part of what many describe as a coordinated crackdown by the Pakistan People's Party-led regional administration, headed by Chief Minister Gulbahar Khan. Detractors have labelled the government a 'puppet regime' acting under the directives of the Punjabi-dominated ruling elite in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The arrest of Asif Saeed Sakhi has sparked a wave of condemnation and concern. The local Hunza court's decision to grant a two-day physical remand has further fueled outrage, with many in PoGB calling the move illegal and a clear act of retaliation by the local puppet regime of PoGB under the orders of the state of Pakistan. The people of PoGB say that the Hunza administration and police of PoGB appear to be pursuing a campaign of targeted harassment and retaliation against him,' wrote Beigh. Sakhi's arrest has sparked widespread calls for his immediate release and an impartial investigation. His supporters allege that the PoGB administration and police are engaged in a campaign of targeted harassment against dissident voices. Adding to the complexity is the assertion that Sakhi is an Indian citizen, originally from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), territory that India considers illegally occupied since 1947. 'ASIF SAEED SAKHI is an INDIAN CITIZEN from PoK. The million dollar question is, why is India not condemning Pakistani State oppression on the people of PoK, whom we Indians consider as part of our own ?' he asked. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beigh wondered why India was choosing to ignore the plight of the people of PoGB and PoJK and urged the Indian government to take a more active stance. 'Why is India choosing to ignore the plight of the people of POGB and POJK, who we consider as Indians living under illegal occupation of Pakistan since 1947?' he asked.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
From battlefield injury to suicide prevention: How a wounded soldier is helping save fellow veterans' lives
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Daniel Gade, a wounded soldier who refused to let the enemy win and built a career helping other soldiers in the classroom, is now assisting veterans as they cope with returning to normal life while facing dark times and possibly suicide. The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) National Veteran Suicide Prevention annual report, released in December 2024, revealed there were 47,891 suicides among all U.S. adults in 2022, averaging just over 131 per day. The numbers included 17.6 veteran suicides per day. Gade, a two-time Purple Heart recipient, serves as a senior advisor for America's Warrior Partnership (AWP), which has a mission to partner with communities to prevent veteran suicide, while also helping communities figure out how to provide for their veterans. Through academic research with Duke University and other institutions, along with state and local agencies, AWP found that the veteran suicide rate is much higher than what is reported. Bipartisan Bill Would Make It Easier For Military Recruits With Medical Issues To Land Defense Jobs In fact, the research conducted by AWP and its partners shows the veteran suicide rate is actually higher, Gade said, because many deaths go unreported. The organization, he added, is conducting rigorous research that is getting to some of the root causes of veteran dislocation, a term Gade used because dislocation, or disconnectedness, is "kind of a precondition for suicide." Read On The Fox News App "What they're looking at is the disconnectedness in order to better prevent suicide," he said. "So, it's not about dumping money into crisis lines, because by the time somebody calls a crisis line, it's way too late. And for a lot of people, they never call a crisis line; they just go to the gun safe. And that's not good enough." Instead, the process is about building veterans back up and helping them find their place in society, a process Gade said he personally experienced. Gade joined the Army in 1992 at the age of 17. A year later, he was accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York. He graduated from the academy in 1997, becoming an armored officer in the Army. Seven years later, he was deployed to Iraq, where he was wounded twice. 'Down To Zero': Veteran Suicide Crisis Targeted In Va Bill By Bipartisan House Coalition The first time he was wounded was in November 2004, when the tank he was in was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. Gade said he was wounded mildly, though a young soldier next to him, Dennis Miller from La Salle, Michigan, was killed in the attack. Two months later, Gade was involved in another attack. "I was hit by a roadside bomb, an IED [improvised explosive device] that caused me to lose my entire right leg. So, I'm a right leg, hip-level amputee," he said, adding that the wounds forced him to spend a year in the hospital. "During that time… I had to find a way to rebuild myself." Rebuilding meant Gade had to rediscover who he was going to be professionally and personally. It also meant pondering the type of athletics he would be able to do and whether he would be able to provide for his family. "All of those were really critical questions 20 years ago when I was trying to solve that problem, and since then, I've had a great career," he said. U.s. Soldier Wounded During Gaza Pier Mission Dies Months After Being Injured A year to the day after Gade was injured, he started to work on his master's degree at the University of Georgia. Upon completion, he was invited to the White House to serve as an associate director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under George W. Bush's administration. "I went from being sort of a user-level wounded warrior… to being at the very highest levels of government, you know, helping to formulate policy that would help wounded warriors," Gade said. Gade retired from the Army in 2017, spending the last six years of his service as a professor at West Point, which he calls "a phenomenal place." After that, Gade dabbled in politics, making a run for the U.S. Senate in Virginia in 2020 as a Republican against Democratic Sen. Mark Warner. Gade ultimately lost, but he was able to join Glenn Youngkin's campaign for Virginia governor as an advisor, and when Youngkin won, Gade was tapped to serve as the commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services. "I got to go back to my roots, kind of, serving veterans, which is what I've done as a personal mission for many years now, basically since I became a wounded warrior back in 2005," Gade said. Today, Gade owns a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business called Interfuse, which is involved in chemical and biological defense products for the Air Force, Army and Navy. Benghazi Legend Mark Geist Presents K9 Service Dog To Combat Veteran In N.j. He also continues to help veterans through AWP by connecting veterans to their communities and giving them purpose and value while connecting them with other people. When you do that, Gade said, you find suicidality or the propensity to commit suicide goes down "a good bit." One of the communities the organization has worked with is the Navajo Nation. "If you think about people in society who are disadvantaged… you always sort of think about, you know, minorities in the inner city or people born into a tough situation like that," Gade explained. "But very few people know the plight of the American Indian." Gade grew up in North Dakota, where the Navajo Nation owns several large reservations. Those reservations, he said, suffer from poverty, alcoholism, dysfunctional families, divorce and many other issues. He explained that many people in the Navajo Nation join the military because they are patriotic, but also because they are searching for a way to escape and better themselves. Oftentimes, they go on to do great things in the military, Gade said, pointing to the Navajo Code Talkers, who used their native language to create secret codes during World War II. After serving their country, the tribal members return to their communities, but according to Gade, they bring back post-traumatic stress, physical injuries or other conditions that get laid on top of what were already tough economic and social conditions for them. "America's Warrior Partnership, through its connectedness with the Navajo Nation, [is] taking sort of a whole-of-society approach," Gade said. "It's not just helping police figure out how you divert somebody instead of arresting somebody. In some cases, you might want to offer them resources so they can escape that path themselves." Part of that community connection also gives insight into whom the veterans are, not just to prevent suicide, but also to get better statistics on what is leading to veteran suicide. AWP created a project called Operation Deep Dive that digs further into veteran causes of death. Fox News' Pete Hegseth Opens Up About Post-traumatic Stress After Iraq Deployment While the VA reports a veteran suicide rate of about 17%, AWP found through Operation Deep Dive that the rate is almost double that. Gade said the difference came down to unreported suicides. For example, there may be a 25-year-old veteran who crashes a vehicle at midnight, but it is not known why he crashed the car. The coroner may just write the cause of death as a single-vehicle accident, but a deeper dive by Operation Deep Dive may look into the person's life. That same investigation may find the veteran was despairing, had just gone through a divorce or something along those lines. Another example where Operation Deep Dive may help is if someone has an overdose of a prescription medication prescribed by the VA. The coroner has to determine if it is accidental or suicide, and by doing a deep dive, the organization is finding that the deaths are more likely than not to have been self-harm or accidental self-harm, rather than just pure accidents. "That's where the difference comes — it's expanding our definition of unnatural death to include these others," Gade said. "And then you realize, oh, man, a whole lot of these are suicides and not just single-vehicle accidents." "Every suicide is tragic, but every suicide, you know, suicide is a disease of despair," he added. "What America's Warrior Partnership is doing is really trying to get at the roots of that and defeat suicide before it comes into somebody's life."Original article source: From battlefield injury to suicide prevention: How a wounded soldier is helping save fellow veterans' lives
