2004 Accomplishments
Safety
NEW:
OSHA Partnership for AGC-GM Subcontractor MembersThe
unique AGC-GM/OSHA partnership introduced last year for
General Contractor members is now available to
Subcontractor Members. OSHA provides a safety rating
program that allows member participants to distinguish
themselves from competitors.
NEW:
AGC-GM Designated a Medic First Aid Silver Level
Training CenterAGC-GM has reemphasized its
support for health and safety training by establishing
itself as only the second silver level Medic First Aid
training center in Wisconsin. This designation
recognizes that we have demonstrated a dedication to
first aid training by maintaining an instructor trainer
on staff as well as offering multiple advanced training
opportunities.
NEW:
Two More Safety Training Programs IntroducedNFPA
70E Arc Flash and Flagger Training were introduced as
new programs for the fall training schedule.
NEW:
Member Service Answers OSHA Regulatory Compliance
Questions“Ask OSHA Guy” is a new online
service allowing members to email an OSHA Regulatory
Compliance question to the Safety Staff at AGC-GM.
NEW:
Partnering with The Business Journal to Cover
Excellence in Construction SafetyThe AGC-GM
worked with The Business Journal on the
development of a special advertising supplement
profiling our industry in a very positive manner. The
2004 AGC-GM Safety Awards were highlighted in the May
14th, 2004, issue of The Business Journal.
MORE:
Three New General Contractors Qualify for AGC/OSHA
Safety PartnershipThree general contractors
joined others in the quest for construction safety
bringing the total participation in the program to five.
This program continues to grow as we have additional
companies beginning the application process.
MORE:
Rent-A-Safety Director Program Expands ServicesNinety-three
companies have been serviced in various capacities by
the Rent-a-Safety Director program over the course of
2004.
ACTION:
AGC of America Brings Fall Protection Training to
Milwaukee AGC-GM hosted AGC of America for
training seminars on July 26-27. Topics included OSHA
fall protection standards and industry best practices,
systems of fall protection, fall hazard locations and
resources for additional fall protection assistance. It
is vital to the training that everyone understands the
far-reaching implications related to fall protection.
ACTION:
AGC of America Brings Safety Management Training to
Milwaukee
In cooperation with AGC-GM, the AGC of America brought
its Safety Management Training Course to Brookfield in
August. This popular week-long course marked the fourth
time in 10 years that the AGC has presented the class in
the Milwaukee area, the most times of any location.
Management
Education
NEW:
Estimating Training Introduces New ApproachThe
estimating program, based off the textbook
Construction Estimating & Bidding
published by the AGC of America, has been broken down
into one-night programs to much success. The programs
include “Estimating for Non-Estimators,” “The Decision
to Bid and Underlying Studies,” and “Finalizing,
Submitting the Bid, Follow up and Using The Bid.”
NEW:
Leadership Luncheon Program
Developed from suggestions from the Board of Directors,
this program gives opportunities for management training
in areas such as leadership development, ethics and
communication skills. The first program, “Blueprint for
Successful
Decision Making,” was held November 3, 2004, with 30
registrants.
NEW:
Construction Economic Forecast
The AGC of Greater Milwaukee hosted its first annual
construction economic forecast on February 3, at the
Milwaukee Athletic Club. The opinion of all speakers,
while not bullish, implied that the industry was picking
up and that we may see substantial improvement in 2005.
Over 50 people were in attendance.
MORE:
Safety Day and Management Training Attendance Up 30%
With an increase of over 30% in attendance,
even more members of the construction industry were
educated on topics ranging from electrical hazards to
scaffold training to sales and negotiation at the annual
Safety Day and Management Training. Instructors included
representatives from well-known organizations such as
FMI and OSHA as well as local volunteers with an
expertise in their respective area.
ACTION:
Ethics Forum Addresses Key Issues
The October forum brought together over 25 individual
members of the industry to discuss such topics as
company ethics in management, theft by contractor and
gift acceptance. Panelists included Kim Hurtado, Hurtado
S. C.; Dan Davis, C.G. Schmidt; and Richard Pieper, PPC
Partnerships, Inc.
Labor
Relations
NEW:
AGC-GM Offers Members Access to Student Resumes Online
To help reduce the cost of identifying job candidates,
the AGC-GM has teamed with MSOE to offer an online
location for students to post their resume. This site is
available with a members-only login to the AGC website
at www.agc-gm.org.
ACTION:
2004 Labor Contracts Negotiated
AGC successfully led the contract negotiations for with
the Carpenters, Laborers, and Cement Masons.
ACTION:
AGC-GM Hosts International Brotherhood of Carpenters
AGC of Greater Milwaukee hosted a dinner
meeting at the Milwaukee Athletic Club on May 13 with
the president of the International Brotherhood of
Carpenters. Discussion addressed the recent
consolidation of the Chicago Regional Council of
Carpenters and the Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin
Regional Council of Carpenters.
ACTION:
AGC Director Appointed to Apprenticeship CouncilGert
Grohmann, AGC-GM’s associate safety & training director,
has been appointed to serve on the Wisconsin
Apprenticeship Advisory Council, which raises AGC’s
visibility with another key constituency.
Government
Relations
NEW:
Construction Industry Mayoral ForumAGC
of Greater Milwaukee served as the catalyst and
principal organizer of a construction industry Mayoral
Forum/Lunch on March 2nd at the Milwaukee
School of Engineering. Featuring Tom Barrett and Marvin
Pratt, this event represented the first-ever,
industry-wide construction forum with Milwaukee mayoral
candidates.
NEW:
Legislative Tool Being Used in MilwaukeeThe
Take Action tool allows individuals to write to their
representatives on issues of importance to the
construction industry. The first such opportunity
involved the Retainage Bill before the Wisconsin
Assembly at the end of February. More than 20 letters
were sent to state representatives by AGC members in
support of this bill.
ACTION:
AGC Addresses Run-Off Issues with City OfficialsAGC-GM
met with the City of Milwaukee to discuss the City’s
stepped-up enforcement of its construction site erosion
control ordinance. (Under state law, the City is allowed
to adopt its own erosion control regulations, which are
found in Chapter 290 of the Milwaukee Code of
Ordinances.)
ACTION:
Retainage Bill Successfully Put into LawThrough
the dedicated work of the AGC-GM and other associations
in Wisconsin, the law regarding the required retainage
on government projects was reduced from 10% to “up to
5%,” creating a more positive cash flow for area
construction companies.
Foundation
MORE:
Largest Constructor Class Ever Earns Hard Hats
In
June, AGC-GM continued its tradition of giving the
graduating class of the MSOE Construction Program a hard
hat in honor of their graduation. Not only did the
greatest number of constructors ever earn their diplomas
(20), but they comprised most of the members of the
2003-04 national champion AGC-ASC Commercial
Construction Team supported by the AGC of Greater
Milwaukee Education & Research Foundation.
MORE:
AGC Golf Outing Raises $18,400 for Education & Research
Foundation
A total of $18,400 was raised for the Education &
Research Foundation through sponsorships, contests,
silent auction and raffle. This is a 20% increase over
2003. This money will go toward scholarships and other
grants furthering the education and awareness of the
construction industry.
ACTION:
Education & Research Foundation Awards Grant to Bradley
Tech
On March 23, Mike Fabishak awarded a check for $5,000
from the AGC of Greater Milwaukee Education & Research
Foundation to the Lynde & Harry Bradley Technology and
Trade School.
ACTION:
Education & Research Foundation Presents Three S.I.R.
Scholarships
The AGC-GM Education & Research Foundation awarded a
$1,000 Skill, Integrity, Responsibility Scholarship to a
student in the construction engineering programs at
Milwaukee School of Engineering, UW-Milwaukee and
Marquette University.
ACTION:
Robert J. Caspari Memorial Scholarship Fund Gives Two
Awards Two engineering students at Marquette
University received scholarships from the AGC Robert
Caspari Memorial Fund. Tiffany Krueger of Shorewood and
Kevin Johnson of Crystal Lake received $1,000 and $500,
respectively, to help further fund their education at
Marquette University.
Young Constructors Forum
(YCF)
NEW:
AGC-GM Board Grants Advisory Position to YCF Chairman
The YCF chairman is invited to sit in on AGC-GM Board
meetings to share information on YCF activities, while
also learning more about board activities.
NEW:
YCF Brings Together AGC Board for Discussion on
Experience and Facing Challenges The Young
Constructors Forum Steering Committee invited members of
the AGC Board to sit on a panel at the February YCF
meeting. Over 40 YCF members attended at the Milwaukee
Athletic Club where six representatives from the AGC
Board gave their thoughts on some of the biggest
challenges in their career and top issues in the
construction industry.
MORE:
Young Constructors Forum Golf Outing Raises $2,700+
Held June 24, the 3rd Annual YCF Golf Outing at Ironwood
Golf Course raised over $2,700 for future YCF
programming. This is an 8% increase over funds raised in
2003.
ACTION:
YCF Wins Bid for AGC of America YCF National Working
Weekend
Milwaukee was selected as the host of the 2005 Spring
National Working Weekend for the AGC of America Young
Constructors Forum. Work is underway to secure
sponsorships and training programs.
Honors
MORE:
Record Crowd Celebrates Honors at Past Presidents’ &
Award Night
AGC-GM honored those who have contributed to the success
of the construction industry in the Milwaukee area at
the Annual Past Presidents’ & Awards Night held on
Tuesday, May 18, 2004. Over 240 individuals were treated
to cocktails, dinner, an awards presentation and
entertainer Ron Dentinger.
ACTION:
AGC Executive Receives Business Leadership Award
The 21st Century Urban Technical Education Project
presented Mike Fabishak, AGC-GM executive vice
president, with the Business Leadership Award.
ACTION:
AGC Honors Gary Jorgensen’s Years of Dedicated Service
After serving more than 20 years on the
AGC-GM Board of Directors, Gary Jorgensen steps down.
During his tenure he served on various committees,
served as President of the association in 1983, and
served as National Director for many years -- earning
Lifetime National Director status in 2001. He also
received the prestigious S.I.R. award, an honor bestowed
on those displaying the AGC tenets of Skill, Integrity
and Responsibility.
ACTION:
Kevin O’Toole Selected Contractor of the Year
Kevin O’Toole of Hunzinger Construction was named
Contractor of the Year by the Wisconsin Builder. He was
honored for his dedication to the AGC of Greater
Milwaukee board and his endless contributions to the
construction industry of Greater Milwaukee.
Other
MORE:
Wisconsin Internet Planroom Reaches Over 250 Subscribers
Five General Contractors Start Online Private
Construction Office The Wisconsin Internet Planroom has
reached a new milestone with over 250 companies
subscribing to the service. We had over 20 new
subscriptions in January alone.
NEW:
E-News You Can Use
This convenient newsletter provides snips of information
relevant to AGC members. From Fall Protection Statistics
to Park East Project updates to Tax Change information,
it gives brief overviews of information with links to
more information.
NEW:
Disaster Assistance Program Established
AGC-GM became one of only two chapters in the nation to
establish a network of contractors willing to assist in
the event of a disaster.
