Clemson Construction Management Students Take Third Place in National ABC Competition


Upstate Construction Professionals Helped Prepare the Team for the Competition

GREENVILLE, SC – May 14, 2012 – The Upstate S.C. Council of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of the Carolinas announced that a five-student team from Clemson University’s Construction Science & Management program placed third in the nation at ABC’s 12th Annual National Student Chapter Construction Management Competition in San Antonio, Texas, last month. Students from 25 colleges and universities across the county went head-to-head in three areas: Project Management/Scheduling, Estimating and Safety. The Clemson team competed in all three categories and won third place in the Project Management & Scheduling category.

ABC’s National Student Chapter Construction Management Competition gives the nation’s top construction management students a glimpse into the real world of construction, as well as an opportunity to showcase their talents. For the 2012 event, students worked in teams of four in an intense day-long competition, taking part in a bid-day drill. Prior to the arriving, teams prepared a bid package which included a detailed project estimate, project management plan, project schedule, an economic inclusion plan and a site specific safety plan, then came prepared to adjust their work based on changes to the project, such as site logistics. Eight finalist teams were chosen to verbally present their submissions to a panel of judges acting as owners’ reps and design professionals.

Pictured: Clemson University’s Construction Science and Management Team Takes 3rd Place in National Competition Sponsored by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).  — Pictured left to right: Thomas Carlson, John McLoud, Dr. Shima Clarke, Stacey Nicol, Brandon Humphries, and Daniel Simpson.

The Clemson student team included Stacey Nicol, a senior, who served as team captain and project manager; Daniel Simpson, a junior, who served as superintendent; John McLoud, a senior, who served as lead estimator; Thomas Carlson, a senior, who served as safety engineer; and Brandon Humphries, a junior, who served as division manager.

Brian Gallagher, Director of Marketing for Greenville-based O’Neal, Inc., and Chairman of ABC’s Upstate Council, noted The ABC Upstate Council is proud of the efforts of our student chapter at Clemson. The team members, and their coaches, put a tremendous amount of effort into their project and presentation and we are pleased that they were recognized nationally. This is indicative of the quality of students coming out of the Construction Science and Management program at Clemson.”

A number of Upstate construction industry professionals mentored the students and provided support in various ways.  In addition to the team’s coaches — Clemson University’s Construction Science & Management (CSM) Department faculty members, Dr. Shima Clarke, associate professor, and Noel Carpenter, lecturer, and PhD student in Clemson’s Planning, Design and the Built Environment program — others who were instrumental in preparing the student team for the competition included: Dr. Dennis Bausman, CSM faculty member; Erik Simon, CSM PhD Student and lecturer; David De Vita, Carolina Safety Consultants and CSM adjunct faculty member; Jack Weber, Neal Workman and Don Underwood, Trehel Corporation; Brian Gallagher, O’Neal; Jesse Goens and Angie Massey, Waldrop Mechanical Services; and Darath Mackie, Cely Construction.

Dr. Shima Clarke elaborated on the Clemson team’s performance, saying, “The focus of the 2012 ABC Student Competition was on project management. I am very proud of the Clemson team for placing third in the nation in Project Management & Scheduling.  The students worked very well as a team, with each team member having a good understanding of the entire project and each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This led to effective communication and trust, which, along with a lot of hard work and dedication, led to their success at the competition.”  

About ABC of the Upstate
ABC’s Upstate Council is comprised of 188 local and regional member companies in Greater Greenville/Spartanburg/Anderson for which construction is their primary business or a major market of focus. More than 750 individuals from these Upstate companies participate in the organization’s year-round activities, which include regularly scheduled lunch-and-learn programs, social functions, specialized education and training, involvement in government affairs on both a local and national level, and community service.

For more information and news, visit www.abccarolinas.org.