The fragmented construction business has too many subgroups, many say, but one now forming could be an industry wake-up call. The Construction Millennials of America, a small group of under-30 professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area who banded together in 2008 to network and share workplace stories, now hopes to expand and start influencing company strategy sooner rather than later.
“Because of the significant drop-off in population between baby boomers and Generation X, there will be management positions that will need to be filled with Generation-Y employees who may or may not be up to the task,” says Kevin Re, 25, a CMA founder and account manager at Gallagher Construction Services, a San Francisco risk manager. “By forming CMA, we have taken it upon ourselves to make sure we are ready to step up.” The group, which has its own logo and a Website under way, meets six times a year and sponsors volunteer, educational and social events for potential recruits.