AGC of California held its first state board of directors and division meetings for 2011 last month at Disney�s Grand Californian in Anaheim. The meetings were followed by the installation of officers� banquet.
AGC�s state board covered a variety of business issues during its meeting and featured an overview of the association�s major goals for 2011as well as highlighting the major accomplishments the association saw in 2010. AGC�s legislative successes were at the top of any prior year, with 80% of AGC�s sponsored legislation signed and 100% of AGC�s opposed legislation vetoed or defeated. In the coming year, AGC will continue to promote the tagline, �It�s good business to do business with an AGC member,� to help members grow their business.
California State Senator Mimi Walters addressed the AGC of California board of directors and provided her evaluation of the new dynamics in California politics and the political environment in Sacramento with the new administration. Walters discussed the importance of eliminating the $25 billion budget deficit facing California, and noted that there were no votes in the Republican caucus to put a tax increase on the ballot. She discussed the urgency of reforming the state workers� pension plan as well as looking for other options to make needed cuts to balance the budget. Walters also noted that it was critical to get the private sector back to work, cut government regulations and give businesses incentives to do business.
AGC of California�s two occupational division boards of directors, the Building Division and Joint Engineering Division, held their first meetings of the year. The Building Division meeting included a panel discussion on subcontractor defaults that was led by Bob Cowan of Marina Landscape; Dave Garese of Excel Bonds & Insurance Services; Larry Lubka of Hunt Ortmann Plaffy Nieves Lubka Karling & Mah; Leonard Ortiz of Lennova; and Chris Pesavento of Dynalectric. The discussion focused on prevention of defaults in the public and private sectors as well as avenues for closure after default. The board also heard an update on the Construction Industry Force Account Council (CIFAC) by Executive Director Cathryn Hilliard; approved AGC�s policy statement in support of recognizing public-private partnerships as a viable form of project procurement and delivery; and the board discussed the move to reinstate a liaison with the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), among other things.
AGC�s Joint Engineering Division board heard a variety of presentations on business opportunities as well as infrastructure funding challenges. Captain James Wink, executive officer, NAVFAC Southwest CEC, U.S. Navy, discussed NAVFAC�s operations and outlined upcoming military construction opportunities estimated at $1.22 billion in fiscal year 2011. Michele Smith, metro program manager for project delivery for the Los Angeles Metro, discussed the $16 billion rail projects and the $8 billion highway projects being funded under Measure R Highway and Transit programs in Los Angeles County. Caltrans Chief of Construction, Mark Leja, discussed his department�s upcoming work for 2011 that is estimated at $3.7 billion encompassing over 300 projects. Kome Ajise, chief of Caltrans� P3 program, gave an overview of P3s in California and discussed the challenges and opportunities of such projects. In addition, C.C. Myers, Inc. President Dan Himick gave a presentation on transportation infrastructure issues facing California and the U.S. in which he advocated for a $1.00/gallon gas tax increase to generate $18 billion in revenue and put countless people back to work.
More than 200 people turned out to welcome AGC of California�s leadership for 2011 during the installation of officers banquet that followed the AGC meetings. Officers who were installed included President Gerry DiIoli, Herzog Contracting Corp., Oceanside; Senior Vice President John Nunan, Unger Construction Co., Sacramento; Vice President Randy Douglas, Tierra Contracting, Inc., Goleta; Treasurer Curt Weltz, Flatiron West, Inc., Benicia; and Immediate Past President Bob Christenson, Panattoni Construction, Inc., Sacramento.
AGC of California and its districts will hold a variety of meetings, events and educational forums in the year ahead. Just a few of the premier events slated for 2011 include: the 24th Annual Constructor Awards banquet on April 9 at the Fairmont in Newport Beach; the AGC Spring Conference and Meetings in Monterey May 12-13; the AGC Fall Conference and Meetings in Indian Wells, tentatively slated for November 3-4; the Safety Awards of Excellence slated to be held in conjunction with the Fall Conference in November; as well as numerous other events throughout the year. For more information on these or any other AGC events, visit AGC�s website at www.agc-ca.org or call AGC at (916) 371-2422.
