Merit Magazine Summer 2015

SUMMER 2015

MICHIGAN

A PUBLICATION OF ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

SPECIAL COVERAGE EDITION

LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS TURN TO PAGE 16 FOR DETAILS

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CONTENTS VOLUME IX, ISSUE 3

FEATURES

VISION

RESPONSIBLE CONSISTENCY

TEAM

16 LISTEN

EFFECTIVE LOYALTY

MANAGER

MENTOR

GOALS EXCELLENCE RESPECT MENTAL-TOUGHNESS RELATIONSHIP EFFECTIVE

PREPARE

FOCUS SINCERE GROWTH

GREAT-THINKER PRODUCTIVITY INTEGRITY POSITIVE

LEADER

PERFORMANCE

DIGNITY

RESULTS

6

SMILE

SUCCESS

REALISTIC

FAIR

SINCERE

Developing Your Own Leadership Style

by Col. Steve Gray

12

The Power of Agreement

by Brian Molitor

16

Michigan Construction Leadership Summit Special Coverage

DELEGATE

DEPARTMENTS

TECHNOLOGY

PROBLEM-SOLVER

ACCOUNTABLE

HUMBLE

10

QUALITY

AUTHORITY

CARE

ADAPT

VALUES

PROACTIVE

LEADERSHIP COACH

Keys to Leadership and Organizational Success

by Randy Goruk

COMMUNICATION

DECISION-MAKING

TRUST

SAFETY

6

EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEE

CHALLENGE

HONEST

12

10

5

Executive Perspective

by Chris Fisher

24

Get to Know Your Lawmaker

27

Government Affairs: ABC of Michigan Supports Prevailing Wage Repeal Drive

30

Advertiser Index

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EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE

T CHRIS FISHER President & CEO ABC of Michigan 2015 BOARD of DIRECTORS

his is one of the busiest years ever at ABC of Michigan with many exciting efforts underway on behalf of our statewide membership.

As you know, we have launched a multi-pronged effort to repeal Michigan’s 50-year-old prevailing wage law. In ABC’s 2015 member survey, 90 percent of respondents advocated full repeal. ABC has long advocated for and supported legislative efforts to prohibit wasteful and uncompetitive prevailing wage mandates everywhere. Our effort has now taken the form of supporting a grassroots petition gathering effort to pass citizen initiated legislation. Once 253,000 petition signatures to repeal the Prevailing Wage Act are collected, the Michigan Constitution allows the legislature to approve the petitions. When approved, Michigan’s Prevailing Wage Act will be repealed with no approval by the governor required. Our hope is to complete this important process this fall.

In ABC’s 2015 member survey, 90 percent of respondents advocated full repeal of Michigan’s 50-year-old prevailing wage law.

Dave Sheffield, Secretary-Treasurer Onslow-Sheffield, Inc. Southeastern Michigan Chapter

ABC’s first Michigan Construction Leadership Summit is Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

We look forward to having you join us on the island for what promises to be the best construction industry event in the state. It will feature innovative and informative best practices, leadership development and growth strategies for construction industry decision-makers in Michigan.

Brian Stadler, Immediate Past Chair Wolgast Corporation Greater Michigan Chapter

Inside this edition of Michigan Merit you will find a preview of what you can expect from three of this year’s leadership speakers. Learn more about the Summit beginning on page 16.

Dan Murphy, Chairman MAG Insulation Greater Michigan Chapter Mike Houseman, Vice-Chairman Wolverine Building Group Western Michigan Chapter

Chris Beckering Pioneer Construction Western Michigan Chapter Jim Cripps Cripps Fontaine Excavating, Inc. Western Michigan Chapter Rick Jackson Jackson Associates, Inc. Southeastern Michigan Chapter Michael Marks The MacKenzie Companies Greater Michigan Chapter Dave Mollitor Consolidated Electrical Contractors Greater Michigan Chapter Bill Molnar Wm. Molnar Roofing Co., Inc. Southeastern Michigan Chapter Jack VandeGuchte Western Michigan Chapter Mike Waalkes Lighthouse Insurance Group Western Michigan Chapter

In addition to nationally recognized speakers, we will also be joined by the state’s leading economic development agencies and major construction owners from organizations like Michigan State University, Dow Chemical, and McLaren Health.

2015 is shaping up to be a great year for the Merit Shop and we hope you will take the time to get involved in any of our big efforts being lead by the membership.

Yours for the Merit Shop,

VISION

RESPONSIBLE CONSISTENCY

TEAM

FEATURE

LISTEN

EFFECTIVE MANAGER LOYALTY

MENTOR

EXCELLENCE RESPECT MENTAL-TOUGHNESS RELATIONSHIP GOALS

EFFECTIVE

COMMUNICATION

LEADERSHIP COACH

ADAPT

PREPARE

FOCUS SINCERE GROWTH

GREAT-THINKER PRODUCTIVITY INTEGRITY POSITIVE

RESULTS

DIGNITY

SMILE

SUCCESS

SINCERE

FAIR

HUMBLE

LEADER

PERFORMANCE

TECHNOLOGY

PROBLEM-SOLVER

ACCOUNTABLE

REALISTIC

QUALITY

DELEGATE

AUTHORITY

CARE

PROACTIVE

VALUES

DECISION-MAKING

TRUST

SAFETY

EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEE

CHALLENGE

HONEST

2015 MCLS FEATURED SPEAKER

KEYS TO LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS Improving the quality and effectiveness of leadership is a constant challenge within many companies as they strive to improve productivity, minimize turnover, and retain the best available talent. It has been proven by many that most employees don’t quit companies; they quit managers, and countless studies highlight the fragile relationship between employees and their company. Although the numbers fluctuate slightly from study to study, it’s not uncommon to find that: • Forty percent of employees lack loyalty to their current employer.

• Seventy-four percent of employees lack happiness or fulfillment in their jobs.

• Fifty-five percent of workers believe management practices need to change.

• Fifty-three percent of workers say they’re not committed to staying with their current companies.

Successfully leading teams, business units and organizations over the past 30 years, I’ve identified six core leadership competencies that comprise my personal leadership platform. If mastered, these core competencies can help others overcome their leadership challenges.

1. UNWAVERING CHARACTER IS NOT AN OPTION Trust and respect in a manager is earned and essential to organizational success. Exceptional leaders consistently demonstrate their true character in their words, actions, and behaviors. People want to work for someone they trust and respect.

Managers earn trust and respect by doing what they say they will do, maintaining a high level of integrity, being sincere, telling the truth, being consistent in actions and decisions, being fair in decisions, embracing diversity, giving credit where credit is due, remaining humble, respecting the rules and avoiding hypocrisy.

Managers always should protect authenticity. They should make decisions rather than relying on other staff members, and they should mean what they say. Above all else, managers must do the right thing for the right reason.

2. MANAGERS MUST GENUINELY CARE To achieve maximum results, a manager must get the most out of all members on the team. The most effective leaders know that sincere and genuine caring earns loyalty, which is critical to the success of their team and the organization.

Managers can demonstrate care by paying attention to the people in the organization personally and professionally. Being aware of their career goals and aspirations and helping them achieve their goals to advance in their careers show employees that a manager cares about them. Additionally, managers can demonstrate caring by helping employees improve their performance through personal mentoring either with the manager or a manager-appointed mentor.

Managers should ensure employees are challenged in their job and that they like and understand the importance of their roles in the organization, ensuring they are fully engaged and that they see a future for themselves in the company. To achieve such engagement, employees must have the tools and resources necessary to perform their jobs well.

Managers must provide a safe, healthy work environment that includes attention to work-life balance. Managers can demonstrate that they care about employees’ lives and families by getting to know as much about them as possible. Managers should ask meaningful questions and be engaged in the employees’ responses.

Another demonstration of caring is preserving the culture of the organization by hiring candidates whose values align with the organizations’. Managers must pay attention to customer satisfaction and ask questions of the employees regarding product quality, work environment and policies.

Managers can demonstrate they care by spending time on issues that really matter to the organization and employees. Above all else, managers must treat others with dignity and respect.

3. MANAGERS MUST USE STELLAR COMMUNICATION SKILLS To fully engage their team, managers must be effective at employing a variety of communication strategies. Exceptional leaders

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MICHIGAN MERIT • SUMMER 2015

7

FEATURE

are masters at finding communication techniques appropriate for each situation.

Becoming stellar begins with becoming a great listener. An effective manager pays attention to the body language of others and knows how to interpret it. Managers must hear what’s going on around them. They must see it, feel it and know it. It is imperative for managers to smile and laugh, but they cannot laugh at others or their misfortunes.

Presentations must be engaging and full of purpose. Strong managers share information that is appropriate, provide valuable updates and include quotes from others to emphasize a point.

Employees don’t appreciate surprises; effective managers will communicate plans, expectations and consequences.

To maintain open communication, managers must be available or easily found. A manager’s schedule should be known by all stakeholders, and employees must have appropriate access to their manager.

Delegation is an important aspect of strong management. Tasks should be delegated with authority by sharing the relevance and importance of the task to the person responsible for carrying it out.

Managers must learn to ask great questions and have great conversations that lead to meaningful outcomes. Successful manag-

ers are good gatherers of information. Communication transferred with the eyes and body language must be positive and assuring.

An effective manager will deliver clear, concise and consistent messages through stump speeches and by leveraging technology to communicate effectively. Additionally, managers should write and send personal notes of appreciation or acknowledgement and ensure they are genuine and sincere. All communication should be necessary, brief and thorough. Above all else, managers must understand, appreciate and respect that stellar communication is not one dimensional.

4. STRONG MANAGERS MUST BE GREAT THINKERS Managers must learn to constantly think forward. They need to think about how to achieve the short- and long-term desired results and outcomes for stakeholders. By being a great thinker, leaders become great problem solvers and problem avoiders.

Great thinkers have a clear vision communicated through a vision statement; they must know their mission. They can create meaningful objectives, strategies and goals as well as detailed action plans to achieve their mission. Great thinkers can implement their plans but can realize when it’s necessary to change and adapt their plans to accommodate for future circumstances.

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ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

Great thinkers are proactive. They can focus on the problem or opportunities at hand, but more importantly, they are exceptional at preparing for situations in advance. They are unbiased in their decision making and know when it’s time to change the rules.

They consider their values and the company values at all times and in all situations.

Above all else, great thinkers find time and take time to think.

5. MANAGERS MUST POSSESS MENTAL TOUGHNESS Managers regularly face a myriad of stressful situations.

Their mental toughness in dealing with such situations is critical to the success of their organization and to the credibility of the manager. Exceptional leaders remain level-headed in such situations. They have learned to evaluate the situation, ask the right questions, and ultimately make the correct decisions.

Mentally tough managers are not easily distracted and can remain clear and objective during turmoil. They have discipline of focus, can stick to the plan, and are personally productive because they constantly eliminate time wasters in their personal and professional lives.

Managers who exercise such focus can deal with conflict.

Mental toughness allows managers to maintain excellent worklife balance and prevent stress in their lives. Effective managers will remain confident and consistent in actions and decisions.

They do not take things personal or become easily offended.

Above all else, mentally tough managers will not let things that cannot be controlled bother them.

6. MANAGERS MUST EMBRACE ACCOUNTABILITY If leadership doesn’t embrace accountability, no one will.

Without accountability, enterprises cannot thrive. Managers must learn how to hold themselves and others accountable for results, behaviors and performances. Once they do, they become more effective leaders.

As the leader, it is important for managers to understand that they are accountable for the overall performance of the company, and they must accept accountability for all outcomes. It is critical

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for managers to be committed to success, driven with a focus, and results and action oriented.

Strong managers can delegate responsibility, but they cannot delegate accountability. They understand and respect consequences.

Effective leaders will set realistic expectations, and they will not be afraid to hold others accountable for their overall performance. They will share good and bad examples of accountability with others as a healthy practice.

Managers are accountable for professional growth and development. It is the responsibility of effective managers to train, coach and mentor others for their professional growth and development.

Above all else, managers who maintain accountability believe neither they nor anyone else are entitled to anything. MM RANDY GORUK DEVELOPS LEADERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY THROUGH HIS COACHING, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING SERVICES. HIS WEBSITE IS WWW.LEADERSEDGE360.COM, WHICH OFFERS A LEADERSHIP SELF-ASSESSMENT AND TELLS HOW TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE HIS POPULAR LEADERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK. RANDY CAN BE REACHED AT RANDY@LEADERSEDGE360.COM OR 1.800.308.4002.

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MICHIGAN MERIT • SUMMER 2015

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FEATURE

DEVELOPING YO U R O W N L E A D E R S H I P S T Y L E

BY COL. STEVE GRAY, US AIR FORCE (RETIRED) The best thing my bird dog ever taught me was to focus on what I’m doing, not on what everyone else is doing. In all my years of hunting, I’ve never once observed a bird dog looking to see whether the other bird dogs were outperforming him or her.

They’ve always been solely focused on the task they’ve been raised for and given…find the bird. I really started noticing this about five years ago when I was hunting a large field in Washington State with multiple hunters and dogs. It struck me that my dog, who’s a great hunter by the way, never concerned himself with how the other dogs were performing. He only worried about the field in front of him.

At the time, leading was my business; I was the Commander of the 1st Air Support Operations group, a 500-person organization spread across the Pacific. Because of that, my personal lesson was to stop comparing my leadership style to other leaders and focus on how I’d developed my own leadership style through training, experience and mentorship. It’s not that my style was better, it’s not that I was smarter, it simply allowed me to focus on what I knew and adapt as required to produce a highly successful organization.

10

ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

Photo taken by Mark Sawyer

In a country that produces 50 to 100 new books on leadership a year, why are we still striving to find the “right” answer or method? If 10 steps or seven habits are enough, why is leadership still such a hot topic, and the business world full of leadership consultants? I think a contributing factor is the focus on trying to sell a leadership style that works for the author or consultant, but may not work for you or your company. My point is not that people don’t have room for improvement in their lives. Rather, it’s that if you’re focusing on what others have to say to the exclusion of learning from your own experiences and honing your life developed leadership style, you may be chasing the wind.

The good, or bad, news regarding whether you’re getting it right or not in terms of outcomes, is that leadership and results are not always connected. Sometimes the organization is large enough or diverse enough to absorb the impact of poor leadership. Other times, the quality of the work force is high enough to overcome negative leaders. A third case is the will of leadership to produce gets the job done regardless of the cost to the organization. Conversely, sometimes the leader is an outstanding people person but the end result is failure. The connective tissue between effective leadership and positive results is not a linear relationship.

The worst leader I ever worked for still got the job done. Our squadron still met its daily and long term mission of producing top quality fighter pilots and people were still promoted into career and life enhancing follow-on jobs. Conversely, one of the most loved leaders I worked for sustained a deep personal tragedy and essentially checked out. That team still met its mission but the people were left to fend for themselves. Your personality and leadership style is not a clear determination of the quality of your results. They do, however, determine your value to the organization over the long run.

I believe leadership at its core is developing other people to lead. It involves a lot of other things…vision, the ability to make timely, sound decisions, creating a culture of honor in the workplace and accepting responsibility…but leadership’s legacy is development of the next generation of leaders. What you leave behind, your legacy, affects the future. That’s where understanding and developing your personal style will make all the difference. It’s where you need to “get it right” and that takes deliberate thought.

Your leadership experience is developed in the everyday crises of business. The skills you develop in the fight between the urgent and the important are crucial but they don’t represent the totality of what makes you a great leader. Developing your strengths with deliberate thought, spending time evaluating what you’ve learned/seen from others and picking and choosing the traits you want to pass down is how you ensure your legacy is long lasting. This is where books, speakers and consultants can help. My caution is to not attempt to make their style yours…rather, take the pieces that resonate with you and test them out. If they work - great, if not, go back to what you know. And my one caveat is… you are not always the best judge of your strengths or how well a change in style is working. Make sure to get input from others around you. Outside perspective is vital! Fight for feedback from people you trust.

One last thing about the daily struggle to keep you and your team functioning in the face of “more with less” and the tyranny of the urgent. Leadership is being passed on whether you intended it to or not. Your actions and decisions and how you deliver them silently speak to what you value. They can be positive, neutral or negative…the point is someone is learning from you even when you are just reacting. In fact “just reacting” is where a lot of the learning is occurring! Learning to recognize and shape your responses to the everyday allows you to find teachable leadership experiences in the mundane as well as crisis. I’d much rather lead with intent than by default.

So here is what I intended as takeaways….

• Focus on what you know and what you’ve learned, and develop your style of leadership. Chasing leadership trends and hot topics rarely build a lasting legacy of passing down outstanding leadership to the next generation.

• Developing your style of leadership takes deliberate

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thought and effort. Everyday crisis management is where leadership occurs, not where it is built, focused and refined. Much like sports or the military...if you’re relying on game time and not practice/training to teach you to play or fight, you’re mostly likely going to fail. At best, your wins may be less than what they could be.

Leadership is occurring whether you’ve been deliberate about it or not. It may be good, it may be neutral or it may be toxic. It’s tough enough to get it right with a plan. Not having one leaves a lot to chance. People deserve the best we’ve got. MM

STEVE GRAY IS A COMBAT VETERAN WHOSE AVIATION EXPERTISE LED TO HIS SELECTION AS A FIGHTER SQUADRON COMMANDER. HE IS THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF GRAYMATTER LEADERSHIP, HELPING CORPORATIONS BUILD LEADERS FROM WITHIN. WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM COL. GRAY? JOIN US FOR THE 2015 MICHIGAN CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, SEPT. 30 - OCT. 2 AT THE GRAND HOTEL ON MACKINAC ISLAND. STEVE IS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE THURSDAY OCT. 1ST BREAKFAST. HE WILL KICK OFF THE LEADERSHIP SERIES OF SESSIONS BY SPEAKING ON INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SUMMIT OR TO REGISTER VISIT WWW.ABCMI.COM/MCLS.

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MICHIGAN MERIT • SUMMER 2015

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FEATURE

THE POWER OF

AGREEMENT

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Such decisions occur in virtually all areas of our personal and professional lives. Despite the fact that change is often difficult, even painful, people throughout the world recognize that they have two fundamental choices when it comes to the future. Either boldly set a course for positive change or react to someone else’s agenda. Those who believe in the myth of the status quo are only fooling themselves. In fact, the only thing certain about the future

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is constant change.

Our world regularly experiences changes in the realms of politics, religion, trade, ethics and a host of others. As the waves of unprecedented change continue to roll, we struggle to find ways to cope. Some try to insulate and isolate themselves from the ever-rising tide, quietly comforted by the mantra, “This too shall pass…” Others attempt to ignore or avoid change; still others struggle to resist or even sabotage it. None of these strategies ever leads to success.

Fortunately, a unique group is emerging with the courage and wisdom to not only manage change, but also to initiate it. They possess an uncanny ability to perceive things as they should be, rather than as they are. Such innovators live much like professional racecar legend, Mario Andretti, who once said, “If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough…”

Some change masters are formal leaders with impressive titles such as president, chief executive officer, prime minister, senator, or general manager. Others, lacking in position or traditional power, are changing their world with rock-solid character and unwavering faith. Often, positive change is born more of will, than skill. It also takes great perseverance.

Regardless of the approach, few individuals have the power to create and sustain a positive change effort alone. In fact, virtually every significant change in society, politics, business and/ or religion begins with a simple three-step process that consists of 1) Creation 2) Communication 3) Commitment. Here’s how it works. First, someone [a leader] realizes that a problem, threat, or

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opportunity exists and creates a new vision for the future. Next, the leader communicates the vision to others, who then agree to help implement the change. Finally, the leader forms an effective team that commits to a strategic plan of action resulting in successful change.

As historians tell stories of dynamic leaders who changed the world for the better, a key ingredient in their success is often over-

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looked — agreement. British statesman Sir Winston Churchill, King David of ancient Israel, American president Abraham Lincoln, Microsoft leader Bill Gates, civil rights champion Martin Luther King Jr., and Jesus Christ of Nazareth, were leaders who understood the power found only in agreement. In each case, the individual leader built teams of committed followers whose hard work transformed their vision into reality.

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Predictably, such world changers have much in common. They all faced many challenges; however, they courageously stayed the course blazing a trail for others to follow. Each leader made a difference during a brief stay on planet Earth. They saw what others failed to initially see; they did what others initially feared to do. Each leader also understood the unique power of the human spirit.

While each individual has tremendous value, when groups of people work together amazing results are possible. Therein lies the foundation of the dynamic, self-generating power of agreement. In most instances, two or more people generate results far

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LEADERSHIP TIP

REFLECT ON THE DECISIONS AND CHOICES YOU’VE MADE IN THE PAST WHICH HAVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR TEAM OR THE RESULTS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION.

superior to those produced working alone. How is the multiplier effect possible? The old saying, two heads are better than one, helps us to understand the concept, but there is more to it than that.

When faced with a problem or opportunity to address, an individual draws upon his or her education, training, and experiences to find the path forward. Often, that is sufficient. When a problem is more complex or the opportunity is in a completely new area, however, the same individual will likely find himself or herself unable to succeed. If the individual is fortunate enough to be in relationships with others who are willing to work cooperatively, the odds are good that an innovative approach will surface through their teamwork, joint analysis, and brainstorming.

Under the proper circumstances, a meeting of the minds actually happens on a deeper level, the level of the heart. In reality, two heads and two hearts are better than one. In other words, when those involved are mentally and emotionally committed to the task, they work sacrificially to overcome any challenge, solve any problem and seize every opportunity. Organizations that harness the power of agreement achieve superior results because they understand how to unleash that marvelous human potential.

The famous sculptor Michelangelo was once asked how he

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created such beautiful sculptures out of shapeless blocks of granite. He humbly replied that the beauty was always hidden within the stone. He simply removed the parts that hid the beauty. I am convinced that we each have a similar opportunity, even in today’s world that often seems so disjointed and ugly. Here’s why.

In reality, our lives are lived within the context of multiple “organizations.” Starting with our family, workplace, community, place of worship, and ultimately, our nation and world. Each is comprised of people interacting with each other for a multitude of reasons. In addition, each “organization” has a corporate or shared culture.

Therein lies our opportunity. You see, unless careful attention is continually given to the culture, the vision becomes muddled, the values are compromised and the relationships break down resulting in failure of the organization. When failure happens, we can either throw up our hands in surrender or we can roll up our sleeves and rebuild the foundations of the organization. Or like Michelangelo, we can discover the true beauty lying dormant, and work diligently to remove whatever prevents others from seeing it as well.

Today, we desperately need leaders, from all walks of life, to serve as champions of change in business, industry, government,

LEADERSHIP TIP

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REFLECT FOR A FEW MINUTES ON THE CONTENT OF THE CHARACTER OF THOSE AROUND YOU. LEADERSHIP TIP COMPLIMENTS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EXPERT, RANDY GORUK. LEARN MORE AT WWW.LEADERSEDGE360.COM

education, health care and other realms of life. We need people… like you… to create a new vision; to communicate it to others; and to forge a team committed to release the dynamic power necessary for making positive change a reality. That is the power of agreement. MM BRIAN D. MOLITOR IS THE CEO OF MOLITOR INTERNATIONAL, A CONSULTING AND TRAINING COMPANY WITH NEARLY 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SERVING CLIENTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. BRIAN IS ONE OF THE LEADERSHIP SESSION SPEAKERS AT THE UPCOMING 2015 MICHIGAN CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, SEPT. 30 – OCT. 2 AT THE GRAND HOTEL ON MACKINAC ISLAND. BRIAN’S SESSIONS WILL GIVE YOU INSIGHTS INTO THE FOUNDATIONS OF EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND A LEADER’S LASTING LEGACY. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER FOR THE SUMMIT VISIT WWW.ABCMI.COM/MCLS.

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Wednesday, September 30, 2015 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Registration

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Welcome Reception

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Opening Night Dinner: Speaker – Bob Tagatz, Grand Hotel Historian

9:00 p.m.

Dancing & Drinks at the Grand Hotel

Thursday, October 1, 2015 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Registration

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast Keynote: Col. Steven Gray, “Intentional Leadership”

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Breakout: Randy Goruk, “Leadership Strategies for Explosive Growth”

Breakout: Peter Kok, “Labor Law Update”

SCHEDULE-AT-A-GLANCE

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. General Session: Construction Owners/Users Panel 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Grand Luncheon Buffet: Keynote Speaker Steve Ford, “Inside the White House and Hollywood…Getting to the Top with Character”

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Breakout: Randy Goruk, “Avoiding Leadership Landmines”

Breakout: Greg Sizemore, “Creating & Sustaining a Workforce Development Strategy”

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

General Session: Economic Development Corporations Panel

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Reception, the Jockey Club at the Grand Hotel

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Dinner at the Woods Restaurant

9:00 p.m.

Dancing & Drinks at the Grand Hotel

Friday, October 2, 2015 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Registration

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast Keynote: Anirban Basu, “The Pit & the Pendulum”

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Breakout: Brian D. Molitor, “Foundations of Effective Leadership”

Breakout: James Getting, “Creating a Positive Safety Culture From Within”

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Breakout: Brian D. Molitor, “A Leader’s Lasting Legacy”

Breakout: Tom Zimmerman, “Connected machines: Unlocked potential for the construction industry”

Lunch on Own

1:30 p.m.

Tee Times Reserved – The Jewel Golf Course – registration required

Carriage Tour of Mackinac Island – registration required

Explore the Island – on your own

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Cupola Bar Reception (Wine tasting)

7:00 p.m.

Dinner

9:00 p.m.

Closing Celebration

Saturday, October 3, 2015 7:30am – 9:30am

Complimentary 5-Course Breakfast in Main Dining Room

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

DINNER HISTORY OF GRAND HOTEL, MACKINAC ISLAND

LUNCH INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE AND HOLLYWOOD… GETTING TO THE TOP WITH CHARACTER

PRESENTER: BOB TAGATZ, GRAND HOTEL RESIDENT HISTORIAN

Bob Tagatz

Get to know Grand Hotel from its opening day in 1887, after just 93 days of construction, to present day. As winner of a Historic Hotels of America Historian of the Year Award, Bob guarantees to deliver an insider’s scoop of Grand Hotel’s facts, fun and humor.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 BREAKFAST INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP

PRESENTER: COL. STEVE GRAY (USAF-RET.) Sponsored by: Miller Johnson “A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.” – Anonymous. As a leader, you’re communicating leadership every day in multiple actions and words. Often, in reactive ways rather than intentional ones.

This occurs mostly because the urgent so easily overwhelms the important. But Steve Gray the urgent can be used deliberately and intentionally if you look for opportunities to build leadership in people and as a culture.

This breakfast session is designed to help you think about leadership, but not just leadership – your personal leadership, how you lead, and how you intentionally build leaders across your organizations and across time.

Steve Gray, CEO, GrayMatter Leadership.

PRESENTER: STEVE FORD

During this presentation, Steve Ford will share not only the tools of his own success in Hollywood as an accomplished actor, but also those of his parents, former President Gerald Ford and Betty Ford. Steve’s presentation will focus on such issues as leadership, overcoming adversity, the value of a Steve Ford strong family unit, living with values and character, setting and juggling priorities, and making the right choices in life. Steve’s unique perspective of life as the President’s son, encompasses a broad range of fascinating subjects and is entertaining, enlightening, insightful, and inspirational.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 BREAKFAST THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM PRESENTER: ANIRBAN BASU Sponsored by: Kent Companies

This presentation provides a detailed, data-driven update of the performance of the global, national, and relevant regional economy. Special attention is given to key aspects of economic life, including trends characterizing financial, real estate, energy, and labor markets.

Anirban Basu

Anirban Basu is the Chief Economist for ABC National, and the Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY MORNING “DAILY SAFETY BRIEFING” SPONSORED BY GREAT LAKES SAFETY TRAINING CENTER

MICHIGAN MERIT • SUMMER 2015

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EDUCATION & EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 BREAKOUT SESSIONS 9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M.

LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH PRESENTER: RANDY GORUK

Improve your leadership while profitably growing your business. In this high-energy, fast-paced presentaRandy Goruk tion delivered by leadership development expert Randy Goruk, you will learn nine-thought provoking, proven and practical leadership strategies that will provide the “what-to-do” as well as the “how-to-do-it.” Takeaways include leadership guidelines designed to allow you to:

• Inspire and motivate

• Improve communication

• Reinforce organizational culture

• Grow your business

LABOR LAW UPDATE PRESENTER: PETER KOK

Knowing the rules and keeping up with important changes in labor law and union tactics are among the most important and effective priorities for top-performing Merit Shop contractors. Knowing your rights as an Peter Kok employer can help you increase market share and protect your successful business model.

This session will cover union organizing tactics and your rights as a Merit Shop contractor. Finally, this session will include a timely labor law update to prepare you for recent changes in federal and state labor law.

GENERAL SESSION

10:30 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. OWNER/USER PANEL MODERATED BY: MIKE BELLAMAN Panelists:

Michigan State University

Rich Wells Dow Chemical

McLaren Health

Mike Bellaman Sponsored by: Three Rivers Corporation Construction users and owners will discuss the major challenges the industry faces in Michigan and throughout the U.S and what they foresee for the future. The panelists also will discuss the creative approaches construction firms are using for continued growth in areas such as financing, skilled trades, management and unique locations. Some key questions panelists will address include:

• What drives their capital spending decisions;

• Key indicators that affect expansion and growth of their real estate portfolios;

• What they look for in contractors;

• Short- and long-term construction priorities and improvement opportunities and priorities they see for the construction industry.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 1:45 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.

AVOIDING LEADERSHIP LANDMINES PRESENTER: RANDY GORUK

Learn to lead on purpose by learning to avoid the most devastating mistakes that are made at the leadership level. Our presenter, Randy Goruk, will show you nine avoidable leadership landmines and conRandy Goruk trollable actions, inactions, behaviors and language which can negatively impact the growth of your business. Learning to avoid leadership landmines means leadership done right, with no collateral damage.

During this session you will:

• Identify opportunities to improve your leadership performance

• Identify opportunities to improve your leadership behavior

• Capture solutions for each opportunity that can be immediately implemented

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Grand Rapids, MI 49534 Fax: 616-735-3159

EDUCATION & EVENTS CREATING AND SUSTAINING A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY PRESENTER: GREG SIZEMORE

In this session you will learn valuable insights and best practices that will help you and your organization develop, implement, and sustain a workforce development strategy.

Greg Sizemore Whether professional or craft development we will uncover the “must have” components or building blocks to develop a workforce development strategy, “support structure” needed to implement the strategy, and “horse power” required to sustain to achieve a ROI. We will discuss these critical elements:

• The importance of investing in the right people

• Determining the individual learning curve

• Training to the needs of the individual and the organization

• The 3 E’s of workforce development success

GENERAL SESSION

3:15 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PANEL MODERATED BY: PAUL LEMLEY Sponsored by: Consolidated Electrical Contractors During this panel, economic development experts will talk about opportunities and challenges in their regions and across Michigan. The panelists also will discuss the crePaul Lemley ative approaches being used for continued growth in areas such as financing, talent development, construction, recruitment, management, and unique locations. Some key questions panelists will address include: • What drives capital spending decisions from businesses locating or expanding; • Key indicators that affect expansion and growth in each region; • What economic development experts look for in contractors; • Short and long-term trends; and • Improvement opportunities and priorities panelists see for the construction industry.

THURSDAY EVENING

Cocktail reception at the Grand Hotel’s exclusive Jockey Club followed by a horse drawn carriage ride into the center of the Island for dinner at Woods — a casual, bavarian-style restaurant with excellent cuisine in a warm, lodge-like atmosphere.

FRIDAY EVENING The closing night of our event features a wine-tasting reception in the two story cupola bar high above the Straits followed by a 5-course dinner in the dining room; then stroll down the hill to the Gatehouse for music, drinks and fun. Weather permitting, we’ll enjoy relaxing and roasting marshmallows at the outdoor fire pit.

SATURDAY MORNING Enjoy the Grand Hotel breakfast with friends one last time before departing for the ferry docks. Or...if you choose to stay on, the Grand Hotel will extend its low ABC rates to you for the remainder of the weekend.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 BREAKOUT SESSIONS 9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M.

FOUNDATIONS OF EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP (FOR TODAY’S CRAZY WORLD) PRESENTER: BRIAN MOLITOR

In this dynamic two-session track, leadership consultant and motivator Brian Molitor will lead participants in thinking through creating a leadership mission, the cornerBrian Molitor stone of relationship, and the four foundations: clear purpose and direction, caring, communication, and core values.

CREATING A POSITIVE SAFETY CULTURE FROM WITHIN PRESENTER: JIM GETTING

This session will provide the knowledge and tools for participants to gain an understanding of the factors that affect culture and how it impacts safety performance. Management Jim Getting Leadership/Commitment and Employee Involvement are the most critical components of having an effective Safety and Health Management System (SHMS). This session will explore data, examples, case studies, and activities to illustrate best practices and assist participants in improving their company’s safety culture.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

10:30 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. CONNECTED MACHINES. UNLOCKED POTENTIAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PRESENTER: TOM ZIMMERMAN

Discover better ways to monitor, survey, budget and streamline your operations with Verizon technology solutions. Solutions disTom Zimmerman cussed include: Field Force Management - manage your field in action, techniques to monitor workers, manage data, assign jobs and satisfy customers; Successful use of the mobile jobsite – oversee projects from the office or onsite. Making the most of these technologies: push to talk, tablets, surveillance cameras, GPS tracking and fleet tracking.

A LEADER’S LASTING LEGACY PRESENTER: BRIAN MOLITOR

In this final leadership session, Brian Molitor continues the leadership journey with in-depth discussion on the transition of leadership to legacy.

Participants will learn implementation strategies for handing off to the next generation, building a culture of transparency, mentoring your team, and getting to the BIG pay-off.

Brian Molitor

MICHIGAN MERIT • SUMMER 2015

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CONFERENCE INFORMATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The conference is being held at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Accommodation reservation form is found on page 22. Hotel reservations should be made directly with the hotel. A discounted room rate is available for conference registrants (see right). Learn more about the Grand Hotel at www.grandhotel.com. As a reminder, the rates include dinner and breakfast on the evening and morning surrounding the night (s) of your stay. Rates are subject to a 19.5% service fee, 6% sales tax, an $8.00 per person luggage charge and a 2% Mackinac Island assessment fee.

Spouse, guests, or families are welcome and encouraged to attend with you. Please note that the spouse/guest registration fee covers the meals and receptions except for the Thursday luncheon with Steve Ford which requires a separate registration for a spouse or guest.

GETTING TO THE GRAND HOTEL

Ferry service for the Summit is being provided by Shepler’s Ferry located at 556 E. Central, Mackinaw City, MI 49701. Shepler’s offers complimentary unsecured outdoor parking for up to five days/nights. Indoor and valet parking is available for nominal charges. Round trip passage for registrants is complimentary.

Additional ferry tickets can be purchased at the docks for your family and guests.

The boats operate from early morning until early evening, with frequent crossings throughout the day. The trip to Mackinac Island takes just over 15 minutes. The Shepler’s ferry schedule is available at our website: www.abcmi.com/mcls.

DISCOUNTED ROOM RATES WEEKDAY (SUNDAY – THURSDAY) DOUBLE (PER PERSON) SINGLE $172.00 $269.00 WEEKEND (FRIDAY – SATURDAY) DOUBLE (PER PERSON) SINGLE $191.00 $307.00

ROOM BLOCK EXPIRES AUGUST 28TH

CALL 800.334.7263 OR EMAIL RESERVATION@GRANDHOTEL.COM TO SECURE YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS BEFORE THE RATE EXPIRES.

4964 Technical Drive Milford, Michigan 48381

INDUSTRIAL  COMMERCIAL  RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURAL

SCHEIDEL ELECTRIC, INC. Bus. (616) 866-0192

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Call 248-714-5486

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Fax 248-714-5249

Commercial • Residential • Agricultural

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GENERAL CONTRACTING DIVISION Design Build General Contracting Construction Management P.O. Box 180 • 2322 Brooklyn Rd. • Jackson, MI 49204-0180 Phone: 517-787-2690 • Fax: 517-787-1970 • www.rwmercer.com

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ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

Steve

Thomas Doyle 248.223.3402 thomas.doyle@plantemoran.com construction.plantemoran.com

Phone: (313) 274-9800 Fax: (313) 274-7849

2015 MICHIGAN CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP SUMMIT BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS REGISTRATION:

FERRY TRANSPORTATION:

FRIDAY SAFETY BRIEFING:

THURSDAY BREAKFAST:

FRIDAY BREAKFAST:

CONSTRUCTION OWNERS’ / USERS PANEL:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PANEL:

GOLF LUNCH:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS MICHIGAN MERIT • SUMMER 2015

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Michigan Construction Leadership Summit Hotel Reservations Conference Dates: Wednesday, September 30, 2015 - Saturday, October 3, 2015 To: Reservations Department

Return this form by: Friday, August 28, 2015

Grand Hotel PO Box 286 Mackinac Island, Michigan 49757 Telephone: (906) 847-3331 Fax: (906) 847-0945

MR. MS. MR. AND MRS. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(circle one)

(please print or type)

Address___________________________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________ Phone (________)_____________________

State Zip Code _____________ Zip Code State _______

E-mail _______________________________________________________

If sharing a room, name(s) of person(s) sharing with you: ________________________________________________________________________ ARRIVAL DATE: __________________________________________DEPARTURE DATE: ______________________________________________ PLEASE RESERVE THE FOLLOWING ACCOMMODATIONS: WEEKDAY (Sunday-Thursday) DOUBLE, Daily, Per Person (Based on Double Occupancy) ______ $172.00

SINGLE, Daily ______ $269.00

WEEKEND (Friday-Saturday) DOUBLE, Daily, Per Person Based on Double Occupancy ______ $191.00

SINGLE, Daily ______ $307.00

Grand Hotel operates on the Modified American Plan. This means that your daily rate includes breakfast and dinner.

RESERVATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONS ______ 4 years of age and under, no charge, except for luggage charge

______12 through 17 years of age, $59.00 daily, per person

______ 5 through 11 years of age, no charge, except for luggage charge

______18 years of age and over, $139.00 daily, per person

For an adult staying in a guest room with one or more children, the adult will pay the single convention rate, the children will be at the appropriate children’s rates listed above. For any children staying in a guest room without an adult, the oldest child will be charged the single convention rate and the remaining children will be at the additional persons rates listed above.

DEPOSIT POLICY: A deposit of either one night’s stay or the full stay's room charge must accompany this form in order to hold your room.

METHOD OF DEPOSIT: __Visa __ MasterCard __ Discover __ AMEX __ Check ___ Please charge one full night rate to my credit card

___ Please charge my full stay to my credit card

CREDIT CARD NUMBER: _______________________________________________________

EXPIRATION DATE: ________________

SIGNATURE: _____________________________________________________________________________ (Not valid without signature) Grand Hotel accepts VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, traveler's checks, personal checks, and cash payments for bills.

TIPPING: Tipping to any employee anywhere within Grand Hotel is not required, expected or permitted. There is tipping at the following offsite restaurant locations: The Jockey Club at the Grand Stand, Woods, The Gate House, the Pool Grill, Cawthorne’s Village Inn and Fort Mackinac Tea Room.

TAXES & FEES: Michigan 6% Sales Tax applies to all charges, including a 19.5% added charge on the per person daily room rate. There is also a 2% Mackinac Island Assessment charge on the per person daily room rate. There is a one-time charge of $8.00 per person for transfer of luggage from the dock to the Hotel and return. Taxi transportation to and from the boat docks and the Hotel is not included in the daily rate.

RESERVATIONS DEADLINE: Please make your reservation no later than August 28, 2015. Rooms reserved at the rate above will be released after that date. Requests received after the block is filled will be contacted and given an option of being placed on a waitlist. The waitlist is not a guarantee of a room. Individual group reservations are subject to a 10-day cancellation policy. Reservation deposits will be refunded if cancelled 10 or more days prior to arrival, less a $45.00 processing fee. Reservations cancelled less than 10 days prior will forfeit the room deposit.

DEPARTURE DATE: Once a guest confirms a departure date upon check-in, should check-out occur earlier than agreed, there will be a $400.00 charge.

EXTENDING YOUR STAY: Accomodations may be available prior to and following the above dates.

CHECK-IN TIME: After 4:00 p.m.

CHECK-OUT TIME: Before 11:00 a.m.

Visit our web site at: www.grandhotel.com Your hotel confirmation will be arriving to you via e-mail. Please check your confirmation to make sure it is correct and print it for your records. Please contact us with any questions or changes.

In accordance with Michigan Law, all Grand Hotel guests rooms, meeting rooms, restaurants and bars are non-smoking.

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ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

SPECIAL MICHIGAN MERIT OFFER: EARLY BIRD RATES EXTEND TO AUGUST 24!

VISIT ABCMI.COM/MCLS AND REGISTER TODAY.

REGISTRATION FORM Name: Company: Title: ABC Chapter

q Greater Michigan Chapter q Southeastern Michigan Chapter q Western Michigan Chapter q Non-Member q Other ABC Chapter

Email address: Phone: Spouse / guest: Guest 2:

REGISTRATION RATES

EARLY BIRD REGULAR (Before 8/24/15) (After 8/24/15)

q Member Registration $295 $395 q Non-Member $595 $695 q Spouse / Guest $95 $95 q Non-Member Spouse / Guest $295 $295 q Spouse / Guest Thursday Luncheon $45 q Children (17 & under) Thursday Luncheon $25 q Non-Grand Hotel Guest (Meal Package) -Required for $450

registrants and/or guests participating in meal or reception events

REGULAR REGISTRATION COVERS: • Education sessions • All meal functions • Special luncheon event on Thursday • All receptions • Ferry transportation • Transportation to Thursday evening events

q Golf (Friday afternoon) - Nine holes of golf with cart includes lunch $70

REGISTRATION FOR SPOUSE OR GUEST COVERS:

Name:

• All receptions, dinner & breakfast functions

q Carriage Tour of the Island (Friday Afternoon)

Ninety-minute tour of island

$30

Name: q Children - If you plan to have your children attend any of the

• Ferry transportation • Transportation to Thursday evening events

evening or group meal events, please contact ABC of Michigan at (517) 853-2545 or meetings@abcmi.com

PAYMENT INFORMATION Payment types accepted: (check boxes)

q Check enclosed

q Total $ q Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express)

Name on credit card: Card number: Expiration date:

Security code:

Register online at: www.abcmi.com/mcls Questions? Contact us: Phone: 517-853-2545 • Fax: 517-853-2546 Email: meetings@abcmi.com • ABC of Michigan, 230 N. Washington Sq., Ste. 202, Lansing, MI 48933 MICHIGAN MERIT • SUMMER 2015

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REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN COTTER State Rep. Kevin Cotter ran for office with a view to improve Michigan’s struggling job market and believes repealing the prevailing wage law is part of the larger goal. The Isabella County legislator was elected in 2010 to represent House District 99, and was elected Speaker of the House for the 2015-2016 legislative session by his colleagues. A partner in the Kerr Law Firm of Mt. Pleasant prior to running for office, Cotter also worked in the transportation industry. He has served as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and Majority Vice Chair of the Elections and Ethics Committee. He was also a member of the Insurance, Michigan Competitiveness, and Tax Policy Committees. Cotter was recommended by former House Speaker Jase Bolger to serve on the Committee on Committees, which makes recommendations on legislator committee appointments.

Cotter earned a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and

business administration, and a master’s of science degree in administration from Central Michigan University, as well as a juris doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He resides in Union Township with his wife Jennifer.

Why did you run for office, and what are you most passionate about in your position?

I saw the difficulties many Michigan families faced during the last decade firsthand. Members of my own family had to leave the state in search of work and a place they could actually make ends meet and raise a family. Like everyone else, I knew things had to change in this state.

That is why I ran for office, even though I had never envisioned myself getting involved in politics. I knew there was a need and an opportunity to turn this state around and fix Michigan’s long-suffering economy. We’ve seen great progress, but there is always more we can do to spread the current comeback statewide.

Do you remember your first interaction with ABC? What impact has that had on your legislative efforts?

I remember working with Jimmy Greene, the president of ABC’s Greater Michigan chapter, during my first campaign. He did a great job showing me everything the organization offers its members and the great work they are doing preparing workers

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L O O M I S , E W E R T, PA R S L E Y, D A V I S & G O T T I N G P. C .

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CONSTRUCTION & BUSINESS LAWYERS

Kurt E. Elliott Prinicipal

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JEFFREY S. THEUER jstheuer@loomislaw.com

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124 WEST ALLEGAN, SUITE 700 LANSING, MI 48933 (517) 482-2400

... the business of transitions

Cell: 269-665-0488 k.elliott@focal5.com

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ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

ICHIGAN ATERIALS, INC.

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GET TO KNOW YOUR LAWMAKER

for the modern economy and opening up new opportunities for students looking to excel in the skilled trades. Seeing the sheer number of opportunities available and learning more about how the industry is changing were both real eye-openers for me.

Of which legislative effort are you most proud?

I worked on a package of bills a couple of years ago that helped create more mental health courts in Michigan. Mental health courts are alternative courts that offer a different way to handle individuals who commit criminal offenses while suffering from mental disorders, sentencing them to treatment instead of jail time.

The new approach to criminal justice is a slightly increased investment on the front end that pays huge dividends on the back end. We’ve seen new studies of our state’s pilot program that shows a 300 percent decrease in recidivism rates and huge savings for taxpayers by replacing costly jail sentences with treatment.

What do you believe is the single biggest issue facing Michigan now and what do you think is the best solution to that issue?

Ever since the day I first decided to run for office, job creation has been the issue I hear about the most. After a decade of lost jobs and families fleeing the state to find work, people wanted to see real change. Five years later, we’ve seen terrific gains in this area – unemployment cut in half, 400,000 new jobs and a state population that is back on the way up. But the recovery hasn’t reached everyone in Michigan yet, and so we still have more work to do.

How can ABC members continue keeping lawmakers up to date on key issues and priorities for their businesses and employees?

House Republicans are a very diverse caucus, including teachers, farmers, small business owners, excavators and doctors. Some of us have decades of experience working with the construction industry and contracting issues, while others do not. Because of that, we always need to hear more from people with the right personal experiences to give us examples of the difficulties they face working in Michigan and who can let us know what we can do to help.

What are your top legislative priorities in 2015?

There are hundreds of bills at some point in the process being worked on in the legislature, ranging from economic development, criminal justice reforms and the future of Detroit’s public school system. But one of the biggest issues we will address is repealing Michigan’s outdated prevailing wage law.

Repealing prevailing wage is one of our top priorities in the House, which is why bills to do so were the first ones introduced at the beginning of the term and why the issue was highlighted

in our caucus action plan. The legislation is currently in committee, and it looks like the petition gatherers supporting a citizeninitiated law are going to get their version of repeal in front of our chamber first.

I look forward to looking at their legislation when that happens and finally moving forward on a good, pro-worker reform.

SENATOR MARGARET O’BRIEN Sen. Margret O’ Brien believes in relationship building and stresses the importance of good faith negotiating in the process of developing public policy.

A licensed REALTOR, O’Brien is a life-long resident of Kalamazoo County, and is proud to

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GET TO KNOW YOUR LAWMAKER

Of which legislative effort are you most proud?

While in the House, I was able to get two long term issues dealt with successfully! Eliminating housing inventory tax and allowing direct access to physical therapy. These issues had remained unresolved for decades. Currently, I am proud of the work I’ve done to eliminate politics from conversations regarding education policy in the state.

serve as senator of the 20th Senate District, which includes her hometown community. She was elected to the Senate in 2014, and previously served two terms representing House District 61 from 2010-2014. She was elected associate speaker pro tempore in the House and has chaired House proceedings. For the 20152016 legislative term O’Brien serves as chair of Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security Committees. She is also Vice Chair of the Banking and Financial Services Committee and is a member of the Health Policy and Insurance Committees. A graduate of Michigan State University’s, James Madison College, she was previously a social worker for Catholic Charities, and continues to hold a realtor’s license. When she is not at the capitol, O’Brien spends time with her husband and two children.

What do you believe is the single biggest issue facing Michigan now and what do you think is the best solution to that issue?

We must continue to grow and strengthen our economy. While Michigan’s economic factors are improving faster than the rest of the nation, we had fallen further. The economy is stabilizing, but the job is not done. Job growth is key to a stable economy.

Why did you run for office, and what are you most passionate about in your position?

Serving the community is a top priority for me. As a REALTOR, I understand the importance of relationships and good faith negotiating. I can bring these skills to shape good public policy. My passions include education and veterans’ issues.

How can ABC members continue keeping lawmakers up to date on key issues and priorities for their businesses and employees?

Members should stay current with their legislators. Meet for coffee, discuss local and state issues and talk about family. Relationships are vital.

Do you remember your first interaction with ABC? What impact has that had on your legislative efforts?

I have always had a great perception of and relationship with ABC. ABC has offered strong public policy thoughts during my time in the legislature.

What are your top legislative priorities in 2015?

1. Strengthen public education.

2. Improve Michigan’s veterans’ ranking.

3. Establish a long term road funding plan. MM

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26

ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS SUPPORT PREVAILING WAGE REPEAL DRIVE

A

ssociated Builders and Contractors of Michigan (ABC) announced its support on May 20 of a citizen effort to gather petition signatures to repeal Michigan’s prevailing wage law. The effort is being led by Protecting Michigan Taxpayers (PMT).

“We support this citizen effort to stop tax-dollar waste and keep Michigan’s construction economy strong,” said Chris Fisher, ABC of Michigan president and CEO. “It’s time to eliminate this outdated law that does little more than unnecessarily increase costs on taxpayer-funded construction projects across the state.

Our school districts, colleges and universities will especially benefit when costs are brought back in line with the private sector standards.”

Nearly every other state in the U.S. has a more competitive policy for determining wages on public construction, Fisher said, adding that repeal of the old law will help move Michigan forward to enhance its reputation as a place to do business.

“Michigan’s prevailing wage law exists only inside the bubble of state government construction and nowhere else,” Fisher noted. “The current law requires union agreements to supersede all

“It’s time to eliminate this outdated law that does little more than unnecessarily increase costs on taxpayer-funded construction projects across the state.” other standard practices used for all other construction in Michigan, thus boosting costs unnecessarily.”

Fisher serves on the PMT board of directors.

“Every day throughout the broader construction industry, workers across the state put on hard hats and deliver on-time, quality construction without a prevailing wage mandate,” he explained. “It’s time for the government sector to keep pace with the modern opportunities that benefit the private sector.”

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

SENATE PASSES BILL TO PREEMPT LOCAL PREVAILING WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT LAWS Michigan took another step toward economic recovery and job creation on June 16 when the Senate passed House Bill 4052, which preempts local prevailing wage and employment laws.

The move will prohibit the creation of new local prevailing wage mandates. The handful of communities that have a prevailing wage mandate are currently subject to legal review by the Michigan Supreme Court in a lawsuit brought by Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan.

“To continue to advance Michigan’s economic rebound and competitiveness, we need to consistently limit costly prevailing wage and other wage rules from one locality to another,” said Chris Fisher, ABC president.

Local government erroneously believing they can mandate certain wage rates and other rules is burdensome to Michigan’s job

providers, especially those that operate in several locales, such as franchises and multi-facility operations, Fisher said. Eliminating the confusion and bureaucratic workload for employers will have a positive effect on job creation, he says.

“The hodgepodge of costly rules that now exist across the state are deterring economic growth that creates new jobs,” explained Fisher. “The compliance challenges such disparate rules create send a negative message to employers, many of which have a choice whether to operate in Michigan. Instead, we need to convey that Michigan supports its employers and values the jobs they offer to its citizens.

“Enacting HB 4052 into law to help protect workers and taxpayers from prevailing wage waste will be another important milestone in Michigan’s economic rebound.”

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

BOARD OF CANVASSERS APPROVES CITIZENS INITIATIVE LANGUAGE FOR DRIVE TO ELIMINATE PREVAILING WAGE

Move Sets Stage for Push to Protect Taxpayers The state Board of Canvassers approved citizen initiative language to repeal the state’s costly prevailing wage regulations as submitted by Protecting Michigan Taxpayers (PMT) on May 26.

Michigan’s prevailing wage law forces taxpayers to pay hundreds of millions of dollars more annually for construction projects, studies show.

Michigan is one of only six states with a costly prevailing wage mandate determined exclusively by union classifications, dramatically driving up costs on everyday taxpayers, said Chris Fisher, president of ABC of Michigan and a member of Protecting Michigan Taxpayers.

“Approval by the state Board of Canvassers was an important step in the fight to make sure Michigan taxpayers’ dollars are spent more wisely,” he said.

• • • •

A COUSTICAL C EILINGS M ETAL F RAMING D RYWALL EIFS

According to a 2013 study by the nonpartisan Anderson Economic Group, prevailing wage regulations cost taxpayers more than $224 million each year on public school and higher education construction projects alone. Prevailing wage regulations also discriminate against more than 80 percent of the state’s construction workers who do not belong to a union.

Repealing prevailing wage would leave intact all state quality and safety requirements.

Following the approval of the initiative language, PMT will prepare to collect roughly 250,000 valid signatures to place the prevailing wage repeal before the state Legislature.

Protecting Michigan Taxpayers is a grassroots organization that aims to keep Michigan moving forward by ensuring fairness for our state’s taxpayers. MM

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MICHIGAN MERIT • SUMMER 2015

29

SPRING 2015

MICHIGAN

ADVERTISER INDEX

A PUBLICATION OF ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS OF MICHIGAN

CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHER Chris Fisher fisher@abcmi.com MANAGING EDITOR Mary Boardway, CAE boardway@abcmi.com COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Breanna Cope cope@abcmi.com PRINTING Keystone Millbrook www.keystonemillbrook.com

ABC Self Insured Workers Comp Fund........32

Jimco Fire Protection....................................27

AIS Equipment...............................................2

K&S Plumbing Co., Inc................................31

Andrews Hooper Pavlik, PLC.......................31

K&T Electric................................................26

Ann Arbor Fire Protection............................15

Kent Companies...........................................14

Arrow Concrete Cutting...............................11

Kolbi Pipe Marker Co...................................28

ASHA Safety.................................................27

Liquid Calcium Chloride Sales.....................31

Attitude & Experience..................................15

Livingston County Concrete.........................26

Bailey Agency...............................................27

Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis, Gotting..........24

BCT Benefits Plan.........................................31

Lyman & Sheets Insurance...........................29

Blackstar Building Group.............................18

Maner Costerisan.........................................31

Blue Book Building & Construction Network.................2

Merlo Construction......................................20

Bobcat Excavating Grading & Service...........20 Brigade Fire Protection...................................4

GRAPHIC DESIGN Melissa Travis Ink Ideas Graphic Design, LLC www.inkideasgraphicdesign.com ADVERTISING Strategic Value Media www.svmmedia.com Michigan Merit (ISSN# 1938-9051) is the official publication of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. of Michigan (ABC of Michigan) and is published quarterly at 230 N. Washington Sq., Suite 202, Lansing, MI 48933, (517) 853-2545. Please direct all inquiries to the previous address. Articles written by outside authors do not necessarily reflect the views of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. of Michigan. ABC of Michigan reserves the right to reject or edit all material submitted for publication. The appearance of an advertisement in Michigan Merit does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor do Michigan Merit or Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. of Michigan guarantee or warrant any claims or offers made by the advertisers.

Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: “Reprinted by permission from Michigan Merit, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. of Michigan.”

C&E Pipeline Services..................................29 Capital Insurance.........................................13 Capital Steel & Builders Supply......................2 CDI Construction...........................................2 Covenant Occupational Health & Wellness..........................................4 Creative Window Treatments........................15 Crowe Horwath LLP.....................................27 Desai Nasr Consulting Engineers..................29 DJ Maltese....................................................20 EJH Construction.........................................15 Fisher Companies.........................................29 Focal 5 Group..............................................24 GBM Recycled Concrete...............................20 G&G Electric...............................................27 Grand Equipment Company..........................4 Great Lakes Industrial Supply......................20 Guy Hurley Blaser Heuer..............................28 HD Supply Waterworks..................................9 Hickey Electric.............................................24 HNI........................................................13, 28 Independence Commercial Construction......15 Jackson Associates, Inc.................................14 JBS Contracting, Inc.....................................15 JE Johnson.....................................................2

Metrocom Technologies................................31 Michigan Cat..................................................8 Mid Michigan Materials, Inc.........................24 Mike’s Finish Carpentry................................15 Pamar Enterprises........................................31 Plante Moran................................................20 Power Doors.................................................14 R Bruton Electric............................................2 RCI Electric....................................................9 Rehmann........................................................4 Rock Products..............................................11 Ronald B Rich...............................................12 RW Mercer...................................................20 Schaefer & Bierlein.........................................2 Scheidel Electric...........................................20 Scientific Brake & Equipment........................2 Summit Electric............................................12 Timpson Transport, Inc................................12 Titan Interiors..............................................29 Tradesmen International...............................26 Universal Spiral Air......................................31 Universal Wall Systems.................................11 Valenti Trobec Chandler.................................8 Valley Electrical Contractors...........................4 Vanguard Fire Security Systems....................25 Walton Agency.............................................31 Wm. Molnar Roofing, Inc...............................9

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