AGC recently held its annual Fall Conference and Division and State Boards of Directors Meetings in Indian Wells. The meetings and conference drew many of the state’s top construction industry leaders, who elected the association’s leadership for 2010 and focused on the future goals and direction of AGC.
AGC of California officers elected for 2010 include President Bob Christenson, Panattoni Construction, Inc., Sacramento; Senior Vice President Gerry DiIoli, Herzog Contracting Corp., Oceanside; Vice President John Nunan, Unger Construction Co., Sacramento; Treasurer Randy Douglas, Tierra Contracting, Inc., Goleta; and Immediate Past President/2009 President Tom Foss, Griffith Co., Santa Fe Springs. Thomas T. Holsman, AGC's CEO, serves as secretary of the approximately 1,200-member statewide association.
In addition to the election of the 2010 officers by the State Board of Directors, AGC’s major occupational divisions — the Building Division and the Joint Engineering Division, which includes the Highway/Heavy Engineering, Municipal Utilities and Marine Contractors Divisions — also elected their 2010 leadership during the Division Board Meetings. Jon Ball of Hensel Phelps Construction Co., San Jose, will chair the Building Division for 2010, while Kevin Dow, Turner Construction Co., San Francisco, will serve as vice chair. John Douglas of Granite Construction Co., Indio, will chair the Joint Engineering Division, and Jim Troup, Monterey Mechanical Co., Oakland, will serve as vice chair.
In attendance at the 2009 Annual Meeting was AGC of America CEO Steve Sandherr, who reported on AGC affairs at the national level, including top legislative priorities, environmental issues impacting the construction industry relating to water and air quality regulations, and more. AGC of San Diego President Kevin Elliot, ROEL Construction Co., Inc. addressed the board and discussed the importance of the California chapters working together to address industry issues and share best practices. AGC of California President Tom Foss and AGC of California CEO Tom Holsman provided reports on ongoing association activities in California.
Keynote speaker Meg Whitman, a leading 2010 California Gubernatorial candidate and former eBay CEO, discussed her plans to improve California and her strategy for winning the Republican nomination and then the election next year. She outlined her agenda that focuses in three key areas: jobs, spending and education. Her strategy is to focus on creating jobs by making California more business friendly through targeted tax reductions among other measures; getting government spending under control and helping the government run more efficiently and effectively; and improvement the state’s education system.
Prior to the State Board of Directors meeting, AGC of California’s two divisions held an open forum to discuss business items of mutual interest as well as separate meetings to discuss issues of priority to the respective divisions. On the Building side, the division heard presentations on LEED and green building projects from Jessica Black Kennedy of Brightworks; David Crawford, president and COO of Sundt Corp. on “Qualifications Based Selection” of contractors; and from Rona Rothenberg of the Court Facility Program on the court’s $9.8 billion construction program now being implemented in California.
The AGC of California Joint Engineering Division heard informative presentations from David Evans and Associates, Inc. on the ability of 3D laser scanning technology to enhance projects; from Caltrans officials on the DBE/UDBE and DVBE requirements; and from Union Pacific Railroad representatives who are seeking to partner with the construction industry.
Also highlighting this year’s gathering was a special luncheon with former NFL running back Eric Dickerson, considered by many to be one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. His career included playing for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders and Atlanta Falcons.
AGC and McGraw Hill Construction held a Heavy BIM educational session that outlined how building information modeling is making inroads in the nonbuilding projects in the industrial, infrastructure and civil disciplines. Among the guest speakers was Stephen Jones, senior director, Business Development for McGraw Hill Construction. The association’s Fall Conference also featured a variety of social and networking events, including golf, croquet and bocce ball, a welcome reception and a Friday dinner dance.
The upcoming year promises to be another busy one for AGC of California. Among the highlights, the association will hold its first quarter board meetings and new officers’ installation dinner Jan. 28 and 29, 2010 at the Silverado in Napa; the 2010 Constructor and Achievement Awards Banquet April 10 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco; the AGC Spring Conference Meetings & Conference May 12-14 in Monterey; and the 2010 Fall Board Meetings & Conference in Indian Wells in late October 2010. For more information on AGC membership or events planned in the year ahead, contact the state office at (916) 371-2422 or visit AGC’s website at www.agc-ca.org.
