Inside AGC President's Message
March/April 2008

Let’s Build

Working together to build a better industry

By AGC President Douglas E. Barnhart

“Papa, let’s build,” is my grandson’s greeting each time we meet. Little does he know he has created my mantra for my term as AGC president: Let’s build. I am pleased and honored to have the opportunity to serve the organization that has helped me build my business over the last 25 years. It took me only three years in the business to realize I needed to be a part of AGC and since then I have not looked back.

Let’s build on the respect that our profession earns every day on every project. Let’s remind ourselves and the public that we provide solutions, deliver quality and embrace innovation. Let’s capture and master new technologies and delivery systems. Let’s provide options to our customers and deliver more than they expect.

Let’s build a better trained and educated work force. Let’s invest in our craftworkers by providing training in their craft and in safety. Let’s show them that construction does offer a real career path that allows them to increase their skills and responsibility. AGC supports important training and development activities by working to create a national, industry-wide work force recruitment program, connecting our members and chapters through our annual Training & Development Conference and supporting funding for vocational education.

Last year, I had the privilege of winning an Aon Build America Award in the category of Federal Heavy Renovation, thanks to my company’s work in San Diego on barrack renovations at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. While this was quite an honor, the most important part of this program is the fact that it contributes directly to the AGC Education and Research Foundation. The Build America Scholarship Program has given nearly 90 scholarships to construction management and civil engineering students totaling more than $279,000. Every dollar is an investment in our future work force.

Let’s build a better political environment. The success of meeting any of these goals hinges on our dedication as an association and our ability to educate our elected officials. AGC needs an army of political activists to help make our case in city councils, state capitals and in Washington, D.C. While we need financial support for our PAC, it is also important to have committed activists who will help tell our story to policy makers. We need to educate Congress on the impact that 3% withholding will have on our businesses. We need to hold politicians who ignore a crumbling infrastructure accountable. And we need to educate the public that the construction industry is the delivery system for a cleaner, healthier and safer environment.

This will mean supporting the creation of a dedicated trust fund to address critical long-term funding needs for clean drinking water and wastewater treatment. Investment in physical infrastructure to care for military personnel and improve our nation’s schools and U.S. courthouses is another important goal. Currently, AGC is working hard toward filling the hole in the Highway Trust Fund to ensure economic growth and a greater quality of life for all Americans. Whether our contributions fall into the category of highway, civil works, military or school construction, the interconnectivity of all our work is imperative to our success.

Let’s build a better business climate. Let’s continue the momentum that AGC created with the launch last year of ConsensusDOCS. Let’s work with all members of the construction team who share our belief that risk needs to be allocated and shared and not transferred to parties not at the table.

Let’s build a bigger and better association. Let’s reach out to members and nonmembers alike and instead of telling them what AGC costs, let’s be proud of what AGC accomplishes. For 90 years, AGC has been the leading voice for our profession. We have benefited from the brand that was built by past leaders with foresight. Let us have the foresight to honor that brand and continue to protect our interests and promote the good work that we do at the chapter and the national level.

I hope that you will join me as we work to build a bright future for the industry and for America.