Inside AGC Member Experience

September/October 2008

San Diego Chapter’s Fourth-Generation President

John Daley Jr. brings a tradition of dedication to AGC leadership

John H. Daley Jr. is a fourth-generation president of the San Diego Chapter of AGC. A tradition of AGC commitment began when his great-great uncle started Daley Corp., San Diego, in 1928 and was one of the founding members of the chapter, which was founded the same year. He served as president in 1932 and 1933.

Left to right, top row: Jeff R. Daley, John H. Daley, John Daley, Jr.; Bottom row: John Jr.’s two sons, Grant Daley (left), and Nick Daley (right) stand with their late great-grandfather Donald L. Daley.

In 1959, 1972 and 1973, John Jr.’s grandfather, Donald L. Daley, served as president, followed by his father, John H. Daley, in 1990 and 1991.

John Jr. remembers his grandfather Donald emphasizing that the association was there to provide support for negotiating government contracts and emphasize the importance of building those relationships. All members of the Daley family have always valued the political action committee and encouraged other AGC members to remain active.

"We always wanted to be leaders in the industry and technology. We never wanted to be followers," says John Jr. "AGC was the strongest association for us to protect our infrastructure needs and our business."

Today, Daley Corp. is a heavy/highway and general engineering contractor but also owns a rock quarry in Imperial Valley County just east of San Diego.

John Jr. had already worked in construction for several years when he graduated from San Diego State in 1995 with a degree in public administration and city planning. From the age of 12, he swept floors, cleaned trucks and did some project estimating while earning his degree. Upon graduation, he became a project manager and active in AGC. He has been president of Daley Corp. since 2002 and on the AGC board for six years.

John Jr., his father and brother Jeff, run Daley Corp. as partners. Jeff is at the helm of JR Daley Construction, running construction-management services, managing building development and community building, while John Jr. oversees Daley Corp. general engineering.

"The industry has been very good to us, and we believe in giving back," says John Jr. "We take the business of providing a livelihood for families very seriously."

The San Diego Chapter recognizes the need to build the future workforce and promotes AGC and the benefits of the profession by offering student scholarships. The San Diego AGC Apprenticeship Program continues the commitment to workforce development through a state-of-the-art program that allows adults to work in member companies by day and attend school four nights a week. Participants complete the program in two to four years and are ready to work in trades such as carpentry, cement masonry, drywall finishing and heavy-equipment operation.

"I’m very proud to lead such a great group with a commitment to educating trade as well as university students," says John Jr.

In addition to these successes, AGC of San Diego has enjoyed strong membership participation, from fun events such as mixers and golf tournaments, to government relations. One of John Jr.’s major goals has been to increase membership by 250 members, and it has reached 237 so far this year. In addition, the group actively uses the online legislative action center and visits Sacramento twice a year. Chapter leadership often teams with AGC of California Inc. to meet with lobbyists and review new bills at the State Capitol. Last year, the chapter PAC raised $250,000.

"I love this business and the many different, dynamic people involved in it," says John Jr. "I get to learn the history of the organization and see their thought processes. You can’t buy that kind of knowledge and experience, and it has been carried down through the generations. AGC has become part of the heritage of our family."