Caltrans Director Tony Tavares served as the keynote speaker for the Northern California Small Business Construction Expo (SBCX) in Richmond, Calif., on May 24. The annual event, hosted by the Associated General Contractors of California, connects small/underrepresented business (SUB) contractors with resources and experts from across the state, including representatives from public and government agencies, prime contractors and specialty trade organizations. More than 30 organizations sponsored booths and shared tips for landing contracts and offered project forecasts for contract opportunities.

Photo courtesy Shawmut Design & Construction

As part of Shawmut Design and Construction’s 14th annual Safety Week activities held in May, the firm invited representatives from the Los Angeles Fire Dept. to a jobsite in West Los Angles to provide fire extinguisher training. The company also offered aerial lift training, electrical safety training, self-defense classes, CPR training and asbestos awareness at its main office and jobsites in the Los Angeles region. Additionally, Shawmut launched an online suicide awareness training program that’s available to all employees as part of the firm’s efforts to promote the physical and mental health, safety and well-being of its employees.

Photo courtesy CannonDesign

San Diego and Tijuana were recently named by the World Design Organization as the World Design Capital 2024; the first binational region selected for the honor. CannonDesign’s Irvine/San Diego team recently partnered with World Design Capital and UC San Diego Design Lab students to collaborate and ideate on ways to contribute to the WDC 2024 and design a better future. Participants split up into small groups to brainstorm design-driven, innovative ideas that have the potential to enhance unity and celebrate the alliance of communities. The WDC will consist of a year-long series of public events, conferences, policy summits and workshops.