Tomorrow First AGC Mixer for 2008 – February 26^th  

 

This is a final reminder for tomorrow night’s (February 26) AGC Mixer at Dave & Buster from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. located at 2931 Camino del Rio North, San Diego, CA  92108.  This first mixer of the year is proudly hosted by the following AGC Affiliate companies:

 

Platinum Sponsors for this event are:

ABD Insurance

Hawthorne Machinery Company

Marks Golia & Finch, LLP

RSM McGladrey

US Concrete Precast Group. 

 

Gold & Silver Sponsors are:

Polycomp Administrative Services

RW Meler Consulting

Trench Shoring Company

Acme Safety & Supply Corp.

CBIZ Nation Smith Hermes Diamond

Data Net Solutions

EFCO

Enterprise Fleet Management

Hale Engineering

 

AGC Members are asked to please register by clicking here for the form.  Contact Rae Krushensky at 858-731-8157 with any questions.

 

 

Equal Opportunity & Small Business Issues on Tap at City of San Diego and State Legislature

By Brad Barnum, Vice President Government Relations

 

This week, the City of San Diego and the California State Legislature will be discussing equal contracting opportunities and procurement, respectively.   As we have been reporting to you over the past several months, these issues have been hot topics of conversation, and AGC continues to promote the growth and development of small, minority and women-owned businesses in order to bring more diversity to the construction industry. 

 

On Monday, the City Council will be given a staff report on proposed changes to the City’s Equal Opportunity Program (EOCP), which has simply not worked…see the January 28 Monday Morning Quarterback.  AGC continues to oppose efforts to manipulate construction contracts to achieve change, but we support efforts to build a strong foundation to train a diverse workforce and create future business owners.

 

On Thursday, the Assembly Select Committee on Procurement will hold a hearing in Sacramento to hear about the progress of a Partnership Agreement between the transportation construction industry and Caltrans.  On July 21, 2006, a number of transportation stakeholders signed an agreement with Caltrans to “work together as a cohesive, cooperative team to maximize the participation of small businesses, including Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, in the State’s transportation program…”  AGC San Diego will be represented at the hearing and will comment on some of our programs that are designed to help small business and bring diversity to the construction industry.

 

I know you have heard us talk about these programs before, but I would like to remind the City of San Diego (where I am an appointed member of the Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission) and the State Legislature about AGC’s efforts to promote diversity (minority/female participation in these programs is impressive!):

 

• Apprenticeship Program – Over 1,000 individuals are trained in 10 different crafts in San Diego, Riverside, and  

      Orange Counties.  This program ensures a skilled, qualified, and diverse workforce…over 70% of the apprentices  are minorities and women.

 

• Junior Achievement’s BizTown – Each year, 1,500+ 5^th grade students become a “contractor for a day”, which “plants a seed” early concerning construction as a career. 

 

• Construction Tech Academy (CTA) – 440 students at Kearny High School focus all of their classes on construction.  Upon graduation, they are prepared for a four-year college, apprenticeship program, or a job in the industry.

 

• Summer Jobs Program – Last summer, 10 CTA students had summer jobs with construction firms, learning the day-to-day operations of these companies.  Eight of the students were accepted into San Diego State University’s (SDSU) Construction Engineering and Management Program (CEM).  Expect to see an expanded Summer Jobs Program in 2008.

 

• SDSU’s CEM Program – AGC’s membership donated $5 million to get this program off the ground.  There always will be a diverse local source for project engineers and project managers.

 

• CTA and CEM Scholarships – AGC has committed financial resources to pay for college scholarships to CTA students who move into SDSU’s CEM program and are committed to making the construction industry a career choice.  Also, scholarships are awarded to deserving students currently going through the CEM Program.

 

• Mentor-Protégé Program – A program with the City of San Diego and other agencies, designed to develop small and emerging businesses.  Four protégé companies have graduated, four mentor-protégé teams are currently in the program, and 10 AGC companies have volunteered to be the next mentors! 

 

• Daily Construction Reporter (DCR) – This weekly publication, which lists upcoming public and private bidding information, is distributed to over 1,500 companies, business and construction trade organizations, and community-based organizations.  Approved as a “Focus and Trade Paper”, the DCR assists contractors in complying with “good faith” requirements, and it provides for DVBE, DBE, MBE, and WBE contracting opportunities.

 

• Project Management Course – This 26-week course, started in 2005, for employees of AGC member firms enhances the careers of future leaders of the construction industry.  There have been approximately 125 graduates to date.

 

• Continued Education & Safety Training – AGC offers a comprehensive education and safety program for the industry, which helps individuals improve and advance within the industry.

 

As you can see, AGC is committed to a long-term approach to achieving diversity within the construction industry.  The approach works, and we will continue to communicate that to our elected officials, educational and business leaders, and other construction trade associations.

 

 

AGC Endorses Carl DeMaio for San Diego City Council 5^th District

 

With San Diego’s fiscal crisis and deteriorating infrastructure in press headlines every day, the time is right for another San Diego City Council candidate to receive AGC’s endorsement….Carl DeMaio for the 5^th District.

 

Last fall, AGC endorsed April Boling for the 7^th District for her commitment to fix the City’s financial mess in order to build urgently needed infrastructure projects.  She is a Certified Public Accountant, so she will make sure the City gets the most out of its construction dollar.

 

Two weeks ago, AGC’s Political Action Committee interviewed two of the candidates for the 5^th District, Carl DeMaio and Bob Ilko.  It immediately became clear that DeMaio would be AGC’s choice…he clearly understands the need to re-build San Diego, but he first wants to first put a price-tag on the City’s infrastructure budget.  He supports an Infrastructure bond, and does not want the City to “pay as you go”.

                                                                                                                               

AGC’s Board of Directors unanimously agreed with the PAC…Carl DeMaio for 5^th District.

 

 

A State Budget Warning from AGC’s Legislative Advocate

 

Last week, we received the following e-mail from our Legislative Advocate in Sacramento:

 

“The Legislative Analyst now predicts the state deficit will climb to $16 billion.   A long impasse on the budget approval this year could hurt our highway contractors and others who are doing public work on other state and local projects.”

 

It could be a long, hot summer in Sacramento….stay tuned…

 

 

Doug Barnhart, Barnhart Inc., to be Installed as the 89th President of the

Associated General Contractors of America

 

Reminder:

Doug Barnhart, the Chairman of the Board of Barnhart Inc., will be installed as the 89th President of the AGC of America on Thursday, March 13^th, 2008.  The Installation will be held beginning at 3:00 p.m. during the closing convention ceremony at the AGC of America’s 89^th Annual Convention, which will be held at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. 

 

AGC San Diego Chapter and the AGC of California will host a reception honoring Doug and his wife Nancy on March 13^th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Monet Ballroom. Invitations have been mailed to members.  If you plan to attend, please contact Rae Krushensky at AGC at raek@agcsd.org, or call (858) 731- 8157.

 

 

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.

 

February

 

 

All meetings at AGC unless indicated otherwise
 

February

Feb. 26 – HR Practices Committee Meeting – 11:30 a.m.

Feb. 27 – Public Building Committee Meeting – 7:00 a.m.
Feb. 28 – Builders’ Exchange Committee Meeting – 12:00 p.m.

Feb 28 –  Meetings & Events Committee – 12:00 p.m.

Feb. 29 – Tech Trends Committee Meeting – 7:00 a.m

 

March

March 5 – Safety Committee meeting – 7 a.m.

March 5 – Airport Liaison Committee meeting – 11 a.m. at AIRPORT

March 21 – Education & Training Committee meeting-  11:30 a.m.

March 26– Government Relations Committee meeting – 10:00 a.m.

March 26 – PAC Committee meeting – 11:30 a.m.

March 28 – Technology Trends in Construction meeting – 7:00 a.m.

 

If you are interested in signing up for a committee, CLICK HERE

 

 

 

UPCOMING AGC EVENTS
 

2008 AGC Events
February 26 - AGC Affiliate Mixer at Dave & Buster's  Click here for registration flyer

Spring Conference in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – April 17-20, 2008 – Click here for brochure