Installation of  AGC Officers and Directors….AGC Apprenticeship Graduation and Presentation of AGC Awards Tuesday January 29^th, Hyatt Aventine in La Jolla
By Jim Ryan, AGCSD Executive Vice President 

During the last few years, nearly 500 AGC San Diego members and their guests have been attending the Association’s Annual Installation dinner.  Now I suspect that some of you are wondering why so many members would attend an event that has no entertainers, no dancing, and involves listening to speeches, watching members receive awards, and observing graduates of the AGC Project Management Course and the graduates of the AGC Apprenticeship Trust graduate from their respective programs.

Let me explain!!!

San Diego’s construction industry does a fantastic job of supporting this Association. Each year, this event is an opportunity for the industry to hear the outgoing President’s comments on the progress the AGC and the industry has accomplished during the past year.  It is also an opportunity for the industry to hear the incoming President’s vision for the industry during the upcoming year.  Each member in the AGC is a major “stockholder” in the Association and this is an opportunity to hear the results of your investment and to hear the expectations for the next year.

This year, 2007 President Tom Anderson from Bergelectric will report on 2007, and incoming President John H. Daley Jr. from Daley Corporation will report on 2008.  You have a significant investment in this Association.  It is important that you understand the messages these individuals have concerning the direction of the AGC.

In addition, this event gives members an opportunity to understand how high your competitors have raised the bar during the past year.  Is your firm keeping pace with your competitors’ safety program?  Is your firm keeping pace with your competitors in training project managers? Are you keeping pace with your competitors in training craft workers?This event is often a real “health check” for your firm.....is your “bar” raised as high as your competitors?

The Installation will also detail those AGC Committee Chairs, Board Members, and individual members that are involved in leading the industry during the past year, as well as those firms awarded the Contractor of the Year for 2007.

Bottom line….this is an opportunity to give those in attendance a real “feel” for the San Diego construction industry, and to give recognition to those that have volunteered to lead the industry in 2007 and in 2008.

CLICK HERE for registration form.

 

AGC’s Spring Conference 2008….Riu Palace Resort….Cabo San Lucas, Mexico…April 17-20, 2008

Over 100 AGC members have registered for the April 17-20, 2008 AGC Spring Conference in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico at the Riu Palace Resort. The Spring Conference is an AGC San Diego tradition that gives members the opportunity to spend a few days meeting with the industry without day-to-day distractions.  Previous Spring Conferences have been held in Napa, Lake Tahoe, and La Quinta.

The Riu is a new and outstanding resort.  It is located on the Sea of Cortez…near Cabo but on an isolated portion of the beach that gives the attendees privacy from the public and other resorts.  Riu is an all-inclusive resort. All meals, all refreshments (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) 24 hours per day, and all entertainment are part of the package price.  In addition, AGC is sponsoring a beachfront banquet and a reception during the event.  The Riu Palace boosts two unbelievable swimming pools with beautiful views of the Sea of Cortez.  A workout facility that is state of the art with views of El Arco (The Famous Arch of Cabo) and a world class spa.

The resort includes 5 gourmet restaurants (Japanese, a Steakhouse, Mexican, French, a fine dining restaurant)  and a buffet that features some of the best seafood anywhere.

The hotel itself features great rooms with balconies that have views of the Sea of Cortez if specified.  All rooms are stocked with complimentary refreshments.

Aero Mexico and Alaska Air fly direct to Cabo. (2 hour flight).  The RIU is a $35 cab ride from the airport.

AGC’s room block is almost reserved…..register now….click here for brochure. 

Questions?  Contact Rae Krushensky at 858.731-8157 or raek@agcsd.org.                     

 

Oops….Jim Ryan Made a Mistake!!!! 

By Jim Ryan, AGCSD Executive Vice President

Oops….there was a little mistake made on New Year’s Eve.  I mentioned last week that there was a celebration just after midnight congratulating everyone on the collection of the first Transnet II ½ cent sales tax. The tax that was passed by voters in 2004 was to begin collections in 2008.

Well, at the Independent Transnet Oversight Committee meeting last week, I found out that the actual collection of Transnet II will not begin until 12:01AM on April 1^st…evidently to coincide with SANDAG’s fiscal year.  So the argument that the drink I purchased just after midnight during the New Year’s Eve Party was the first sales tax collected for Transnet II was false, but the good news is….we have scheduled a party beginning late on March 31^st….and intend to make sure we purchase something just after midnight.  Perhaps we will invite Supervisors Horn, Jacob, and Slater, as well as Roger Hedgecock, to join us…since they all opposed Transnet II.

Also during the ITOC meeting, the effect of Transnet II on our transportation infrastructure was made very clear.  Five projects on the I-15 are scheduled to be bid between now and this summer.  The budgets for these projects total somewhere between $400-500 million and would probably not have been possible without Transnet II. Also, a $56 million portion of the SR 52 projects was bid last month and would not have been possible without Transnet II. In addition, the fact that San Diego County has a tax like Transnet II assisted SANDAG with securing just under $600 million in the State’s Prop 1B that was passed last year in California.  These funds will be used to enhance and expand planned projects.

The work that has already been completed on the I-15 and the SR 52 is having a positive effect.  The hours of delay on the southbound I-15 and the westbound SR 52 have been reduced significantly as new lanes open as construction moves forward.

 

AGC Recommendations for February 5 Ballot Measures – “Voter Guide” Available

The February 5 Presidential Primary is just three weeks away, and AGC would like to provide its members and interested parties a “Voter Guide” for some of the state and local propositions on the ballot.  AGC’s Board of Directors considered recommendations made by the Government Relations Committee on seven statewide propositions and five local propositions (City of Coronado, Poway Unified School District, Cajon Valley Union School District and Rancho Santa Fe School District).

The attached flyer provides you and your employees with AGC’s recommendations.  Please forward via e-mail or make copies and pass them on (do not put them inside an envelope with a paycheck), or post a copy at your job sites, such as in a break room. 

Additional voter information, including Presidential candidate lists, the text and analysis of all the state ballot measures, absentee ballot information, and a polling place locator, can be accessed on AGC’s website at www.agcsd.org.  Simply click on “Political Action” then “Register and Vote”.

You can also access information about the ballot measures on these additional websites:

County of San Diego Registrar of Voters
California Voter Foundation
Smart Voter

We encourage you to exercise your right to vote on February 5.  If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Brad Barnum, Vice President Government Relations, at 858-731-8158. 

 

Voter Registration Deadline is January 22

The last day to register to vote for this election is Tuesday, January 22.  Voter registration cards are available at Post Offices, Department of Motor Vehicles and Library buildings, as well as various City Clerk offices, and the Registrar of Voters (5201 Ruffin Road, Suite I, San Diego, 92123).  You can also vote early by going to the Registrar of Voters between 8 AM and 5 PM Monday through Friday.

For more information, please call the Registrar of Voters at 858-565-5800.

 

Jack Warnock Announces Retirement from Alliant Insurance Services

After 33 years with Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., Jack Warnock, Senior Vice President and Broker in the surety department, has announced his retirement.  Having started with Robert F. Driver Company on October 16, 1974 as a broker, Warnock steadily rose up through the company, running the surety department for the last 20 years and ultimately becoming one of the key members of the management team that purchased the company in 1998.

Warnock, who has 40 years of surety experience with an emphasis in the construction industry, transferred the management of the surety department to Larry McMahon, First Vice President, seven years ago, but had continued to assist with managing his accounts and the department.

Warnock, former branch underwriter for Aetna Casualty and Surety (now known as Travelers), started for Aetna’s Albany, N.Y. office in 1967, before transferring to the Omaha, Nebraska offices in 1968.  Warnock then moved his family to San Diego in 1974 to join Alliant Insurance. 

Jack has been a strong supporter of the AGC San Diego.  We wish him well in retirement and hope to see Jack at AGC events.

 

AGC’s Technology Survey…

…How Advanced is the San Diego Construction Industry?

As 2008 begins, AGC’s Technology Trends in Construction Committee has developed a construction technology based survey.  The survey's purpose is to gain an understanding of the level of technology utilized within the Construction industry.  Your participation in this survey will not result in solicitations to you or your firm unless specifically requested. 

We ask that each AGC member company participate in this survey.  The committee will be providing the survey results to any company that has participated. 

Please click on the following link to be taken directly to the survey:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=iAhITPg3D9Df4MAVAildiw_3d_3d

Should you have any questions throughout the survey please contact Jessica Kovack, Director of Communications & Information Services, at 858-874-8560 ext. 11, or at jessica@agcsd.org.

 

US Concrete Precast Group’s Presentation- January 15th

US Concrete Precast Group (formerly San Diego Precast Concrete) cordially invites you to attend a presentation of a precast concrete gravity retaining wall system that we are now producing for Stone Strong Systems (www.stonestrong.com).  This presentation will be held at the AGC office at 6212 Ferris Square, San Diego. 

Stone Strong is a large block gravity retaining wall system featuring a base block that weighs 6,000 pounds, and requiring no tie-backs.  Lunch will be provided following the short presentation, which will begin at noon on Tuesday, January 15, 2008.  Please RSVP to Dennis Wilkes by phone or e-mail TODAY if you plan to attend! If you have any questions prior to the presentation, please do not hesitate to contact Dennis Wilkes.

Dennis Wilkes
US Concrete Precast Group
(619) 921-8229
E-mail:  dwilkes@us-concrete.com

 

Welcome New Members 

The AGC Board of Directors and the AGC Staff would like to welcome the following new members to the Association.

AGC’s Motto……..”It’s good business to do business with an AGC member.”

Company	Type of Work	Contact	Phone	e-mail
Antac Termite & Pest Control	Termite and Soil Treatment	Josh Long	(858) 505-8080	sales@antacpest.com
Benchmark Landscape, Inc.	Landscape	Joe DeYoung	(858) 513-7190
California Comfort Systems USA, Inc.	Mechanical	Mike McDowell	(858) 564-1100	mmcdowell@calcsusa.com
ISEC, Inc.	Carpentry	Jeff Walker	(858) 279-9085	jswalker@isecinc.com
Morrissey Construction Co.	GC- Building	Robert Liles	(760) 722-6800	rliles@morrisseyconst.com
Russell Coker, Inc.	Steel	Chris Blanchard	(619) 449-4459
Sun Country Builders	GC- Building	John Ahlswede	(760) 630-8042	cmcavoy@suncountrybuilders.net

 

Please note: 
***** Please register on-line for classes ******
Go to our website at www.agcsd.org and click onto Calendar for either
Construction Education Classes or Safety Training.

January
Jan 14 - OSHA 10 Hour
Jan 16 – OSHA Record Keeping
Jan 22- Excel
Jan 25- On Screen Takeoff
Jan 30- CPR/First Aid

All meetings at AGC unless indicated otherwise
January
Jan. 16 - Public Building at 7 a.m.
Jan. 16 - Affiliate Council at 12 p.m.
Jan. 17 - Education & Training at 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 25 - Technology Trends in Construction at 7:00 a.m.
Jan 25 - Caltrans meeting @ SANDAG at 7:30 am 

UPCOMING AGC EVENTS
2008 AGC Events
January 29- Installation Dinner- La Jolla Hyatt
February 7-10- Winter Conference- The Canyons Resort- Utah - click here for registration flyer
Spring Conference in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – April 17-20, 2008 –click here for brochure