The two AGC Division Boards of Directors tackled a range of topics during their quarterly meetings. During a combined session, the divisions heard an update on funding and lending practices and what changes are facing the industry from Nancy Tillman of EAST-WEST Bank, while Dennis Huie and a colleague from Rogers Joseph O’Donnell led a discussion of independent contractor misclassification, a major issue impacting the construction industry today.

During the Joint Engineering session that followed, transportation and infrastructure funding once again was in the spotlight as Transportation California Executive Director Bert Sandman and Chairman John Franich, Granite Construction, gave a presentation on current funding shortfalls and the need for sustainable funding for transportation in California. Several bills are in the works including one that would place a 1% tax on vehicle purchases. Another presentation by Mike Cherry, Design-Build Manager, Skanska USA Civil, and Ray Tritt, Caltrans Office Chief of Special Projects, discussed various project delivery methods that many public owners are now increasingly looking at, particularly CM/GC and design-build.

AGC of California’s Building Division board of directors heard from Mike Stark, Senior Director of the Building Division for AGC of America. Stark noted that AGC projects an upturn in potential construction opportunities in the year ahead. At the national level AGC continues to focus on a range of current issues including IPD and lean construction, project delivery/educational programs, and sustainability issues among other things.

Both divisions heard from AGC advocate Dave Ackerman, DGA Associates, who outlined a range of bills in the pipe that have impact to the construction industry.

AGC’s State Board of Directors covered a variety of business issues during their meeting. AGC of America CEO Steve Sandherr reported on the current political landscape in Washington, D.C. and outlined what AGC is doing to impact the upcoming in national elections. Sandherr was joined by AGC of America Sr. Vice President Paul Diederich, who outlined some of the programs and outreach national is involved in to strengthen the association at all levels.

Just a few of the additional new business efforts and initiatives that were highlighted during AGC’s Spring Board of Directors meeting included the following:

On the legislative front, AGC Legislative Advocate Dave Ackerman reported that of the thousands of new bills that have been introduced in this session, seven AGC supported bills are still alive. In addition, AGC is trending to have eight to 12 measures on the November ballot. Other notable successes this year have included the saving of the Cal/OSHA Standards Board, the proposed creation of a single agency for transportation in California, and the enacted Transportation Financing Protection Act.

AGC’s Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has taken greater prominence in the AGC of California this year with the establishment of a statewide steering committee and the integration of CLC members into all statewide Committees, Councils and Districts Boards.

AGC Student Chapters have also increased their active participation and integration into AGC events and meetings, highlighted by the attendance of nearly 60 students from seven different student chapters at the spring conference. The student had the opportunity to attend a range of training seminars and programs sponsored by the Construction Education Foundation while in Monterey.