Members: Get to Know Your Industry

Every year, during September — National Suicide Prevention Month — the construction industry will dedicate a week to raising awareness about the unique challenges workers face in construction that lead to suicide and what we can do to prevent it.

Together, we can save lives.
 

Week of September 9-13:
• Monday, September 9: Reducing Stigma
• Tuesday, September 10: Recognize Warning Signs
• Wednesday, September 11: Opioids and Substance Use
• Thursday, September 12: How to Listen
• Friday, September 13: Lethal Means Safety 
 

Use the resources provided to plan activities with your workers during Suicide Prevention Week, and let them know how you participated.

Participating companies will receive an OSHA-recognized, industry-endorsed certificate of participation and badge you can display on your website and social media.

Whether you're opening Bluebeam Revu for the first time, or you've used it for years, this class will ensure a higher baseline knowledge.
 

DATE: Tuesday, September 10
TIME:  10:30am - 12:30pm CST
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot, UChapter2
 

Attendees will learn interface navigation including menu dropdowns, toolbars, various tool panels, keyboard shortcuts and a few recommended settings. While learning various markup and measurement tools, several tips & tricks will be shared to increase speed and accuracy. 

Learning Objectives:
• Interface Navigation
• Calibration & Measurements
• Introduction to the Markups List

About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.

With Revu’s intuitive measurement tools and customizable interface, we can turn your highlighters into a data rich takeoff tools.*
 

DATE: Wednesday, September 11
TIME:  10:30am - 12:30pm CST
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot, UChapter2
 

We’ll start out going through the standard measurement tools and settings, then move into various customization options and discuss the results in the Markups List.

*MANDATORY PRE-REQUIITE: Student(s) must have taken Baseline Basics to enroll in this course.
 

Learning Objectives:
• Introduction to Viewports
• Measurement Tips & Tricks
• Custom Estimating Tools

About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.

2 TEAMS LEFT!

Attention Sharpshooters & Clay-Crushers of MBEX!

Get your shotguns locked and loaded. The Minnesota Builders Exchange is proud to present its annual Sporting Clays North, and we can't wait to see you all in action.

DATE: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
TIME: Starts at 3:00pm
WHERE: Old Vermillion Trail (6980 Old Vermilion Trail​​​​​​​, Duluth, Minn., 55803)
PRICE: $100 per shooter

Come join MBEX as we aim high and take a shot at an epic day filled with clay-breaking excitement. Whether you're an ace shooter or just looking for a fun afternoon with colleagues and fellow industry professionals, this event is tailor-made for you. Bring your enthusiasm and your team spirit – we'll take care of the rest.

Shooter packages include the clay shoot, a post-shoot social, dinner, awards, and door prizes. Teams may have a maximum of five shooters.

SPONSRSHIPS
Numerous sponsorship opportunities also provide attendees/businesses with yet another exclusive member benefit:

• Dinner Sponsorship - $500
• Beverage Sponsorship - $250 
• Station Sponsorship - $100 
• Door Prize Donations - increments of $50

View full sponsorship details within the registration form, and opt-in to the sponsorship of choice along with your team's registration.

Did you know you can export to an Excel spreadsheet, or even link directly to that Excel template file full of formulas you’ve been using for years?*
 

DATE: Thursday, September 12
TIME: 10:30am-12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot, UChatper2
 

After finishing the Bluebeam Takeoffs & Estimates (Basics) course, we’ll move into creating custom columns, embedding formulas, and information organization.

*MANDATORY PRE-REQUISITES: Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics & Bluebean 2: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Basics)

Learning Objectives:
• Custom Estimating Tools - continued from Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Basics)
• Collecting Rich Data with Custom Columns
• Reports and Exporting Data

About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.

Are your drawings or those from your customers a mess? Gibberish in the Page Labels, no hyperlinks, sheets out of order all combined into one bloated document? In this class you’ll learn a quick workflow to fixing all those pain points and more.*
 

DATE: Friday, September 13
TIME: 10:30am-12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot, UChatper2
 

Things like automatically finding and clouding changes on revised sheets and tracking the most current version of each sheet.  This class will not only improve consistency and accuracy in document management, but it will eliminate all the time wasted navigating through drawing sets and wondering who has the latest drawings.

*MANDATORY PRE-REQUISITE: Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics 

Learning Objectives:
• Creating Hyperlinks to Quickly Navigate Drawings
• Manage Revisions with Batch Slip Sheet
• Find Drawing Changes Automatically

About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.

Learn to create and place custom punch symbols, quickly embed images or videos, and create summary reports.*
 

DATE: Tuesday, September 17
TIME: 10:30am-12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot, UChatper2
 

Whether your tracking install progress or running a QA/QC final walk, this class was developed for design and construction professionals in both the office and jobsite looking for ways to build consistency, speed and accuracy of data collection.

*MANDATORY PRE-REQUISITE: Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics 

Learning Objectives:
• Create and place punch symbols to denote status or deficiencies.
• Embed field images or videos to clearly show site conditions.
• Generate reports integrated directly with document markups.
• See industry examples from your competitors.

About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.

To say thank you for the industry’s support of the TBG Education Foundation over the years, The Builders Group (TBG) is hosting their annual clay shoot with dinner and awards to celebrate the work that has been done for the trades.

DATE: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
LOCATION: Game Unlimited (871 County Road East, Hudson, WI 54016)
SCHEDULE:  
   •  1:00pm:  Registration
   •  1:30pm:  Annie Oakley Contest
   •  2:00pm:  Clay Shoot
   •  4:00pm-5:30pm:  Awards, Dinner + Highlights

PRICING: $110 per shooter
 

Please join TBG for a fun afternoon of shooting, camaraderie and good times with friends from around the trades as they continue to raise funds to further the work of TBG's Education Foundation.

Register individually or in groups up to five. Gun Rental and Ammo are available for an additional fee. Please let Emily know if purchasing ammo and/or renting a gun.

Administrative teams have unique document workflows that demand a different set of tools compared to design and construction teams.
 

DATE: Wednesday, September 18
TIME: 10:30am - 12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110  |  Non-MBEX Member - $165
INSTRUCTOR:  Troy DeGroot, UChapter2
 

A typical Bluebeam class concentrates on design markups, estimating and collecting field data, but this class is very different! In just two hours you’ll be ready to combine documents, mark for redaction, apply digital signatures and several other important administrative tasks.

Learning Objectives:
• Extracting pages from existing documents
• Use Redaction to quickly clean sensitive information from documents
• Creating and applying digital signatures
• Updating Page Labels
• Applying headers and footers
• Search document text and visual symbols
• Apply stamps
• Flag important content in documents

About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.

About the Instructor: Troy DeGroot
With over 20 years in the industry, Troy DeGroot has cultivated a deep understanding of the requirements of customers, the needs of end users, common goals of management, and the capacities of the technology. He had led many companies through successful software implementations and training. Having served as the BIM Manager for a large multi-discipline engineering firm, he provides a broad understanding of the industry and the evolution of technology. Read Troy's full bio

Yes, there are tools in Bluebeam Revu for Civil Designers and Engineers!
 

DATE: Thursday, September 19
TIME: 10:30am-12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot, UChatper2
 

In this class we will go through not only navigation and markups but workflows like Calibrating Plan & Profile drawings with different X-Y scales, ideas for Cut & Fill calculations, combining several PDF’s into one large area map, and adding images. We’ll also look at ideas for bidding and tracking field survey projects. 

Learning Objectives:
• Calibrating X,Y Scales
• Adding Images
• Creating large area maps
• Ideas for Cut/Fill Calculations
• Ideas for Bidding & Tracking Survey Projects

About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.

Join us for a free live online walk-through of our digital platform to learn the basics, refresh yourself on its offered tools, or to explore if our plan room would benefit your business.
 

DATES:
• Thursday, September 19  - Now Open for Registration!
• Thursday, October 17
• Thursday, November  21
• Thursday, December 19

TIME: 9:00am - 10:00am
COST: Free
LOCATION: Online via Zoom
 

From the Deskpad to setting up filters, to project information to bidders lists, this is a one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room. There will be time at the end of the presentation for question and answer. Registrants must be signed up by 12:30pm the day before (Wednesday, September 18) to receive Zoom link and other information.

ABOUT THE MBEX ONLINE PLAN ROOM
MBEX's modern and innovative online plan room is designed to bring its members the latest in Minnesota's commercial construction project news and bidding opportunities as well as projects from Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. MBEX's team of reporters work hard behind-the-scenes to post complete project details along with viewable files (dependent on a members' level of access). They coordinate project details with the architects, engineers, project owners, and construction managers to create a smooth viewing process for members. Once posted, bidders can easily access the project scope, view plans, specs and addenda, download files, order prints and download needed documents. Bidders can also manage email notifications for timely notices of newly posted projects, new filter results, and addenda notifications on tracked projects.

All construction professionals, regardless of working in the field or in the office, must know how to read blueprints, specs, and construction plans.
 

• DATES: Wednesday, October 3 & Thursday, October 4, 2024
• TIME: 10:30am - 1:30pm CST
• LOCATION: Online via Zoom
• INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot with UChapter2
• PRICING: MBEX Members - $329*  |  Non-MBEX Members - $460
 

Designed to quickly familiarize students with the basics of reading and understanding construction documents, this 2-part online program is perfect for: apprentices, entry-level tradespersons, project coordinators, assistant project managers, new project managers, estimators, specialty sales representatives, entry-level architectural or engineering designers, or anyone in career transition looking for a refresher.

From navigating title block information to combing through specification documents, participants will learn how to navigate a project and understand the material and construction requirements. Learning objectives include an introduction to construction documents, understanding industry document standards, drawing navigation, and the importance of specialty plans.

*Work for a Member Company? That makes *you* an MBEX member and qualifies you for the member pricing. Not sure if your company is an MBEX member? Email Ashlee and she can verify your company's status. 

Meet the Instructor
With over 20 years in the industry, Troy DeGroot has cultivated a deep understanding of the requirements of customers, the needs of end users, common goals of management, and the capacities of the technology. He had led many companies through successful software implementations and training. Having served as the BIM Manager for a large multi-discipline engineering firm, he provides a broad understanding of the industry and the evolution of technology. Read Troy's full bio

Sign up for this 60-minute presentation, followed by 30 minutes of live Q&A, hosted by Construction Executive. 
 

DATE: Wednesday, October 9
TIME: 1:00pm CST | 2:00pm EST
LOCATION:  Online
PRESENTER:  Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders & Contractors
COST:  Free!
 

With less than a month before Americans head to the polls for a presidential election, ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu will share the latest on overall economic conditions as well as specific construction indicators, including materials prices, jobs and unemployment reports, construction wages, the most recent ABC Construction Confidence Index and Construction Backlog Indicator reports and the hottest market sectors and regions.

Questions may be submitted in advance when you register for this webinar.

Get ready to unwind and connect at the MBEX Annual Fall Social!

This is your chance to network with industry professionals, share insights, and build relationships in a relaxed and lively atmosphere. Whether you're catching up with old friends or making new connections, this event is the perfect way to strengthen your ties within the construction community.

DATE: Thursday, October 10, 2024
TIME: Doors Open and Self-Care Health Fair Begins - 3:00pm  |  Food Served - 3:30pm  |  Program - 5:00pm  |  Social and Networking continues - 6:30pm
LOCATION: HILTON MINNEAPOLIS/BLOOMINGTON (3900 American Blvd. West, Bloomington, MN 55437)

TICKETS:
• MBEX Member (Early Bird): $50 per person - Now thru September 23rd 
• MBEX Member (Regular): $60 per person
• Non-MBEX Member: $70 per person

But that’s not all! We're also hosting our Second Annual Self-Care Health Fair, presented by MBEX POWER, as part of the event. While the main focus will be on networking and socializing, take a moment to explore our health and wellness stations. Discover tips and resources to help you stay balanced and energized in both your personal and professional life.

Don’t miss out on an evening filled with great conversations, delicious refreshments, and the opportunity to connect with the best in the business. See you there!

Register by September 23rd to secure your early bird ticket price!

Thank you to the following for the event support:

• Premiere Sponsor: The Builders Group (TBG)

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS include:
• Networking:

Connect with fellow commercial builders, contractors, architects, and suppliers in a friendly and inviting atmosphere. Share ideas, discuss upcoming projects, and build meaningful relationships that extend beyond the workplace.

• 2nd Annual Self-Care Health Fair: 

Take time to focus on your well-being with our Self-Care Health Fair, presented by MBEX POWER. Explore a variety of wellness-focused stations offering practical tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Whether you’re looking to reduce stress or improve your workspace ergonomics, you'll find valuable resources to support your overall health.

• 2024-2025 MBEX / TBG Construction Scholarship Recipients:

Join us in celebrating this year’s MBEX / TBG Construction Scholarship awardees. Meet them, recognize their achievements, and help them kickstart their professional networks.

• Raffles & Door Prizes:

Get in on the excitement with our 50/50 raffle—tickets available at the event! Plus, we’ve got some fantastic door prizes up for grabs, including a special giveaway for those who visit all our Self-Care Health Fair stations. Who knows? You might just walk away with something that supports your self-care journey beyond this event.

• Food Stations & Refreshments:

Enjoy a variety of delicious bites as you mingle and relax. Treat yourself to seasonal flavors and beverages, perfect for celebrating the fall season.

Questions? Please contact Melanie at melanie@mbex.org.

Save the date for Construction Inclusion Week 2024! Become involved and participate by planning your company's and firm's own internal activities.
 

Daily themes for 2024 include:
• Monday, October 14: Commitment & Accountability
• Tuesday, October 15: Belonging
• Wednesday, October 16: Supplier Diversity
• Thursday, October 17: Workplace Culture
• Friday, October 18: Community Engagement
 

Construction Inclusion Week amplifies awareness while celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the industry to spearhead change. The week provides educational and business resources for the construction industry including office teams, craft and jobsite crews, and industry affiliates. Improvements in the curriculum for this year include live-streamed content, facilitator tools, and more robust curriculum resources.

The construction industry should celebrate and embrace diversity, foster inclusion, and ensure that equity is apparent.