In an age when many "staff development" workshops are of dubious value, the Associated General Contractors of Colorado has created a two-day professional development event in Denver that has grabbed the attention of local contractors.

The second annual Executive Leadership Academy, held in February, drew 21 attendees from 15 AGC-member firms for intensive training in corporate management, leadership and strategic decision-making. Topics included Colorado economic development, finance and banking, insurance and surety issues, business development, project-dispute resolution, crisis management, human resources and leadership.

AGC/C says the academy was created to assist attendees in the transition from project-level tasks to corporate management roles. "AGC has an existing range of work force development programs, but what we didn't have in Denver was a capstone course for leaders ready to move to the company-wide level of management," says Michael Gifford, AGC/C president.

Attendee Todd Ruff, director of preconstruction with GH Phipps Construction Cos., Denver, says the event's main value came from "exposure to different aspects of the industry. Because most of us were at the same early-leadership level, we had highly focused, interactive discussions. It wasn't a one-way experience."

Bryan Cook, AGC/C chapter operations director, says the curriculum for the academy is modeled after a more extensive workshop hosted by AGC of America. "Making this a shorter local event means that companies don't have the expense and scheduling hurdles created by sending younger execs out of town for several days," he says. AGC/C partnered on the event with the Denver office of law firm Polsinelli and management-consulting firm FMI Corp. All of the presenters were volunteers from the Colorado construction industry.

"We're hoping to attract attendees from our sister organization, CCA [Colorado Contractors Association]," Cook says. "But we want to keep the event small: 30 [people] tops. It's a more personal learning experience."

"The academy provides executive training for a cost that is much less than an out-of-town equivalent," Gifford adds. The academy costs $1,995 for AGC members and $2,995 for nonmembers, Cook says.

U.S. 6 Bridges Project Under Way in Denver

Weekend demolitions launch freeway rehab

The Colorado Dept. of Transportation's $98-million U.S. 6 Bridges Design-Build Project in Denver began with a bang in February as crews demolished the old Knox Court Bridge and part of the Federal Boulevard Bridge in a single weekend.