2011 GBCA Annual Report

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REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover photo and inside front cover photo: Halkin Photography LLC

Stability. Leadership. Direction

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Leading the Way

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Labor

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Education

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Public Affairs

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Safety & Health

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Communications

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STABILITY. LEADERSHIP. DIRECTION. With an epic and far-reaching recession finally starting to wane, it’s time once again for our industry to focus on growth instead of simply survival. Experience has showed us that difficult economic times are always part of a larger cycle. Knowing this has allowed the union construction industry to remain as stable as possible while we worked through the challenges of the past few years. Together we put our collective knowledge of survival into action. But today we must work on innovative growth and a new direction.

Innovation is the difference between moving forward, and staying mired in fear that the industry will never bounce back. These difficult times taught us all to manage change. Now to think innovatively, there is additional work to be done and changes to be made. We need to ask ourselves, how can we think differently? How can our industry be agile and quick in the absence of predictability?

The men and women of our industry are there until the job is done, and is done right. There are a lot of us in this industry and many have been involved for decades. New or old, we know how to collaborate to get the strongest building built. Our teams consist of contractors, architects, engineers, service providers, and labor. We are experienced in directing teams that get things done.

To help our members answer that, the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) provides its members with the infrastructure, tools and information needed to solve both company specific and industry wide problems.

For over 200 years contractors have looked to GBCA for best practices in the industry.

Governed by the Board of Directors and the various committees of the Association, we strategize ways to adapt to the unpredictable environment we are faced with every day. The men and women the Association serves—the builders of commercial, industrial and institutional structures critical for thriving communities— can count on getting the GBCA’s best, so that they can be the best informed, best educated, most productive, and most innovative in the construction industry.

Building is not easy. Our members are faced daily with huge, multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts. Our men and women have to lead across their companies, across the industry, across government, and across communities.

STABILITY LEADERSHIP DIRECTION

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WHO WE ARE

STABILITY. LEADERSHIP. DIRECTION.

The General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) is a broad based membership association representing different types of union contractors, including general contractors, subcontractors, and specialty contractors. We are the Philadelphia Builders’ Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

Advocating for union construction is a 24/7 job for GBCA. We are proud to provide a strong, unified voice on issues that matter to our members. The Association and its members strive to improve the construction industry using creative ideas and responsive solutions. The Association is governed by a 25 member Board of Directors. In addition the officers of the GBCA are President, First and Second Vice President, and Treasurer.

WHO WE SERVE GBCA members perform the majority of commercial, industrial and institutional construction work in the Philadelphia area. Our members include more than 350 commercial, industrial, and institutional general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and construction service firms in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester Counties. In addition to the five-country Philadelphia area, GBCA’s broader territory covers: the Pennsylvania counties of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon; the Delaware counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, and the Maryland counties of Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester.

Types GBCA membership: Active Members – General Contractors Associate Members – Subcontractors & Specialty Contractors Affiliate Members – Suppliers & Service Providers All employees of a member business are considered GBCA members and are afforded full membership benefits — it is not just the business owner who enjoys the benefits of membership.

Membership in the GBCA automatically includes membership in the Associated General Contractors of America, www.agc.org, a national construction organization with 96 chapters across the country. The AGC of America, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, is first class in keeping legislators abreast of important information effecting construction, safety, building technology, education and public relations. By joining the GBCA, the Philadelphia Chapter of the national AGC, you are joining a nationwide group of those dedicated to advancing construction.

To learn more about Membership Benefits or for a Membership Application, please contact the GBCA membership department at (215) 568-7015 or visit www.gbca.com.

One of the most important factors in the long-term success of the GBCA has been a strong and active committee system.

Executive Committee is the pulse of the Association, directing and monitoring the policies and finances of the organization Education Committee monitors the tuition-free courses available to eligible GBCA member employees at various area educational institutions Government Affairs Committee addresses legislative matters relating to the business of construction, keeping GBCA at the forefront of pressing issues at the local, state and national level Labor Policy Committee sets the labor policy for the Association and works to improve the relationship between management and labor unions Safety Committee stresses safety in the workplace and helps contractor members achieve it Affiliate Member Council promotes the expertise of GBCA suppliers and construction services AIA/GBCA Joint Committee works with the American Institute of Architects of Philadelphia (AIA) in matters of mutual concern Associate Member Executive Committee strives to recognize the expertise of subcontractors and provide them with business and educational opportunities Young Constructors Committee promotes new/young member involvement in GBCA. The ultimate goal of the committee is to identify members who are involved and capable of leading GBCA in the future Numerous GBCA members also serve on national AGC committees and represent the contractor, subcontractor and service provider points of view on a wide variety of subjects important to our industry. Our members attend national meetings and conventions each year to present their views of the Philadelphia construction industry.

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LEADING THE WAY

STABILITY LEADERSHIP DIRECTION

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GBCA Promotional Piece 1960’s

Who We Are

The General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) is a broad based membership association representing different types of Union contractors, including general contractors, subcontractors, and specialty contractors. We are the Philadelphia Builders’ Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

“ If you want to be a leader, you like being top man on the job. Making big decisions. Tackling tough problems. And the construction industry looks good to you. It’s rugged. It’s challenging. It’s on the move.

As a leader in the construction industry you’ll have to be more than an engineer. You’ll have to be a good businessman too.”

Building relationships that both benefit members is always at the top of our agenda. GBCA offers virtually limitless opportunities for members to meet, greet and build lasting relationships with individuals, businesses and organizations in the public and private sectors. GBCA members choose their own level of involvement to satisfy their individual goals and interests.

Annual Meeting—Winter Each January, over three hundred GBCA members, friends and guests kick off the year with the GBCA Annual Meeting. It is the largest GBCA membership meeting and a night to reflect on accomplishments both as an industry and an association, and to look toward the future.

Region on the Rise—Spring Co-hosted each year by GBCA and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GPCC), Region on the Rise: A Construction & Development Summit, features informative panel discussions to bring the building community up-to-date on important issues involving the construction economy, design and development of the region.

EXPERIENCE

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Giving Back

GBCA Promotional Piece 1960’s

“ It’s a long way to the top. Leadership demands something more from a man. Ability. Dedication.

Knowledge. And work…hard work.”

As a partner in the Philadelphia community the Association has acknowledged its responsibility in giving back. Organizations that have benefited from its relationship with the association include the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Northern Home for Children.

Golf Outing—Summer The GBCA June Golf Outing is one of the association’s hallmark events. For the last five years the outing has been held at the outstanding Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown.

Construction Excellence Awards—Fall As the Construction Excellence Awards begins its sixteenth year, it is the premier awards program for commercial, industrial, institutional and craftsmanship construction in Philadelphia. The program highlights the quality of GBCA members’ construction.

To make the most of your membership to GBCA you must get active in the dialog and the deliberations on a multitude of critically important issues facing our industry and your company. GBCA and AGC provide outstanding services, programs, and printed materials.

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GBCA Promotional Piece 1960’s

A Powerful Voice

The General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania (GCAP) was founded in the early 1960’s as a united group of union contractors who wanted to have a positive impact in Pennsylvania. GCAP’s mission then, as it remains today, is to provide a single, powerful voice for union construction employers.

“ If you want to measure up as a leader you’ll need a good knowledge of scientific and engineering principles plus a lot of depth in business administration, accounting, business law, economics, finance, marketing, business policy and management.”

GBCA Overview of Activities – A Group Effort At the Association, we are aware that members have many choices in spending their precious time and resources, which is why GBCA carefully designs its programs to be the best value for the investment. Programs offered in 2011 included: • GBCA Annual Meeting

• Meet the Developers Forum

• ACORD Insurance Seminar

• Legislative Breakfast Forum

• NAWIC MAGIC Camp Closing Ceremony

• Spring and Fall Sporting Clays Outings

• Integrated Project Delivery: A Success Story at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery

• Construction Excellence Awards

• YCC Hardhat Tour of WHYY Studios • YCC Hardhat Tour of Bio Solids Facility • Fall Golf Outing for the benefit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia • GBCA June Golf Outing • Is Integrated Project Delivery The Answer To A Failing Delivery System? An Owners Perspective

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• “Getting Paid” Legal Seminar • GBCA Open House • Safety for Employers Seminar • Design on the Delaware • Region on the Rise Refer to www.gbca.com/events/ for a current list of events.

GBCA Promotional Piece 1960’s

Construction Excellence Awards

The annual GBCA Construction Excellence Awards Program is designed to inform the general public of the exceptional projects GBCA members have completed. The winners of the 2011 Construction Excellence Awards are showcased at awards.gbca.com

You name it, skilled craftsmen are there to build it.

But you don’t just pick up a set of tools and report for work. You have to learn a skill first.

Stable Relationships with Related Associations Where possible, GBCA partners with other organizations to get a good cross-section audience as well as a diverse panel of speakers. Some of the other industry associations the GBCA partners with include: • American Institute of Architects (AIA) Philadelphia Chapter

• General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania (GCAP)

• Architectural Glass and Metals Association (AGMA)

• Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GPCC)

• Associated Master Painters and Decorators of Philadelphia, Inc. (AMPD)

• Interior Finish Contractors Association (IFCA)

• Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania (CAEP) • Center City Proprietors Association (CCPA) • Center for Architecture • Design on the Delaware Annual Conference

• Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) • Mid-Atlantic Construction Safety Council • Region on the Rise: A Construction & Development Summit • Roofing Contractors Association (RCA) • Sheet Metal Contractors Association (SMCA)

• Employing Bricklayers Association (EBA)

STABILITY

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Safety Policy and Events

GBCA Promotional Piece 1960’s

“ Desk jobs aren’t for you. You like the outside where you can be part of a growing building. Where you can feel the rumble of concrete trucks rolling onto a job site. Hear the clang of steel girders dropping into place.”

Bottom line, “We want a seat at every table where Safety policy and or events are being discussed in the Delaware Valley Region, and eventually in this country.”

LABOR The GBCA Labor Department forges relationships to assist its contractor members, industry peers and stakeholders with key industry matters such as Responsible Contracting, Project Bidder Notification and industry collaboration to ensure projects are built competitively with the most skilled, educated and qualified labor force.

Stability We meet regularly with General Presidents and Business Managers to discuss critical industry issues that facilitate productive and competitive growth opportunities. The Association is a primary driver in successfully forming collaborative relationships between other regional multi-employer associations.

GBCA Negotiating Team members participate in industry meetings with other trade associations and teams engaged in collective bargaining to discuss matters of mutual concern and interest prior to, and throughout, area wide trade negotiations to be more effective during collective bargaining. We successfully facilitate industry meetings between both labor and management to develop solutions favorable to all industry stakeholders.

COMMITTMENT

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Your Image is Showing

Construction Today®

Construction Today® quarterly magazine is distributed to industry professionals, developers, building owners, and government officials and this complementary subscription is available to all interested readers. Members and industry experts comprise the authors of the magazine. Articles cover important projects, trends, and challenges facing construction today.

“ Every successful executive realizes that his company’s economic success is directly related to the attitudes held toward it not only by the people with whom he does business, but also by the people living in communities where his company conducts business.” – Your Image Is Showing, a GBCA Publication

Administering, Mediating & Negotiating Regional Labor Agreements We directly administer six trade agreements in counties throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. In addition, we provide comprehensive consultative support to many other associations both in the region and throughout the country.

The Association is an industry leader when it comes to mediation and grievance resolution and has facilitated agreements between labor and management on many of the areas most visible and notable projects.

Direction We are at the center of activities during labor negotiations. Through our Labor Policy Committee, the Association forms and manages up to six contractor based negotiating teams that are responsible for leading negotiations with the Carpenters, Laborers, Cement Masons, Operating Engineers, Rodsetters and Drywall Finishers. The Department provides regular guidance and opinions throughout the year, tapping into the extensive knowledge base contained within this Department’s Labor Policy Committee members and through its extensive database of regional past practices.

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Extensive Knowledge

Company Image

The importance of a favorable company image has industry-wide implications, since the image of an industry is enhanced only through the unified efforts of companies within that industry.

The construction executive today is a professional businessperson. In addition to the skill, experience and judgment required in the erection of buildings, he must be knowledgeable in civic, governmental, legal, financial and economic affairs.

Regional Labor Data The Labor Department administers the Association’s industry hours across trades and tracks regional labor matters.

We provide support to both regional and national economic forecasts and publications as it relates to labor statistics and industry specific data. The Department also distributes “Regional Settlements” sheets which are the baseline gauge by which settlements are reviewed and judged throughout the region. We create and maintain industry-wide wage & benefit rate sheets as a valuable resource to all of our industry stakeholders.

Serving as Industry Advancement Program & Association Financial Guarantee Administrator The GBCA Labor Department provides administrative oversight for the Association’s Industry Advancement Program (IAP) and its financial guarantee for payment of fringe benefit funds. The IAP is administered solely by the GBCA and used specifically for the advancement of the local construction industry.

The IAP is contained within most regional collective bargaining agreements and mandates that a cents-per-hour employer contribution shall be paid for each employee working under that agreement. The IAP provides the resources to permit the GBCA to carry out much-needed industry-wide programs that benefit the construction industry and the community alike.

Through broad based, IAP funded activities, every segment of the construction industry, as well as the City, State, and even the general public have benefited from activities in labor & industry relations, safety, education, apprentice training, public relations, market development and research. An additional benefit to industry participants as a result of the IAP is a financial guarantee to our signatory labor counterparts in support of our employees’ health & welfare programs.

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Fighting for Single Prime

“Top of the List”

Washington Business Journal named the Associated General Contractors of America to its “Top of the List: Trade Associations” for 2011.

AGC is one of only three construction industry related trade associations on the journal’s Top 50 list, and the only general contractors association on the list.

A great advantage of the Single Prime contract is that the responsibility for job supervision and quality of construction rests entirely in the hands of one qualified person – the General Contractor.

This support is provided in the form of a financial guarantee to our labor peers on behalf of our membership that have maintained their status in good standing with the trades and the Association. Additional financial support is also provided to industry contributors that are not members of the Association, enabling the GBCA to provide a protective structure of industry-wide support to those constructors that have chosen to be union contractors.

Developing Solutions for Industry Wide Issues The Labor Department leads the way in addressing and resolving industry concerns such as Competitive Adjustments and Worker Eligibility. Through the Labor Policy Committee’s Task Force structure, members meet with representatives of affected trades to address critical industry matters such as competitive solutions in the counties and a mutually agreeable Worker Eligibility Program for our respective trades. When necessary, the Labor Policy Committee meets to discuss jurisdictional disputes and to develop a solution that supports and reinforces the right to award work to the most economic and efficient contractor.

SUPPORT

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Working Together

Plan Buldozer 1960’s

Natural disasters develop unexpectedly. A need arises for experienced personnel and construction equipment to be readily available to operate at the disaster site. The GBCA worked tirelessly in the 1960’s to create a plan for the Philadelphia five county area to ensure immediate assistance from the construction industry should a disaster strike.

The Pennsylvania Separations Act requires public entities to solicit separate bids and award separate contracts for general trades, electrical, heating, ventilating and plumbing work. For nearly a century the GBCA has worked with its sister chapters across the state to repeal this Act.

EDUCATION GBCA has always been committed to providing educational and training services to our members and IAP contributors.

Education and training benefits all aspects of the industry and is as important in lean times as in boom years. Education and training helps increase productivity and enables us to stay competitive in even this challenging economic environment.

The bottom line is that a better educated and trained work force and management team are in a position to offer a superior outcome for owners.

Leadership One of the main beneficiaries of the IAP is our education program. Thousands of eligible employees have taken advantage of this program to better themselves, their employers and owners over the past fifty years. Courses are suitable for the youngest novice to the most seasoned project manager and senior executive.

Classes are offered in such areas as blue print reading, pre-construction management, building materials and systems, building codes, estimating and scheduling. More advanced classes are given in business development and advanced marketing techniques. We like to think that the GBCA education/training program offers something for everyone, whether they work in the field or the office.

GBCA sponsors classes at a variety of local colleges, universities and institutions of higher learning. We also work with the American Society of Professional Estimators to provide hands on classes in estimating and project management.

LEADERSHIP

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Safety and Health Advancement

Construction Today® AIA Award

In 2011 Construction Today® magazine received the American Institute of Architects’ Louis Mumford Award for Architectural Journalism, presented to a person/publication that fostered public communication about design and construction.

Understanding that real advancement in safety and health tends to be based on innovation, relationships and sometime simply viewing opportunities through different eyes, we have sought to think and move in a wider circle.

All the classes are given at no cost to eligible employees of GBCA members and IAP contributors.

The classes take place at a variety of local institutions including: Drexel University, Temple University, Penn State Abington, Philadelphia Community College, Delaware Technical & Community College and the Engineers Club of Philadelphia. Each one of these institutions has a somewhat different approach to the teaching of construction related classes and we want to offer eligible employees the largest possible choice of educational options so they can choose the best institution for their individual circumstances.

Supervisory Training Program (STP) GBCA is proud to sponsor the Supervisory Training Program (STP). This program is geared towards those who wish to become supervisors or superintendents. Upon completion of 11 classes (with subjects from contract documents, planning and scheduling, project leadership and management, safety on the job communications and productivity improvement), students receive a valued certificate from the AGC presented to them at the GBCA Annual meeting. Approximately 60 journeymen participated in this training in 2011.

Apprentice Training GBCA is heavily invested in the apprentice system in the Philadelphia area construction industry. We believe the apprenticeship system leads to a highly trained work force that guarantees quality work, on budget and schedule. Owners value this.

GBCA members and IAP contributors are involved in the administration, financing and running of various union apprentice programs throughout our area.

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GBCA Promotional Piece 1960’s

Apprentice Training

The carpenter apprentice program is one of the finest trade apprenticeships in the nation. A four year work/study program, it is administered jointly by the Carpenters’ District Council of Philadelphia and the GBCA.

Many young men and women have taken advantage of apprentice training in a wide variety of trades. It’s the oldest form of transferring skills from one generation to the next.

Apprenticeships have always been especially strong in the construction industry, where skills learned in the field are passed down from experienced journeymen and supervisors to the apprentice. It is still accepted that a union apprentice program (with a combination of on the job training and class room teaching) is superior to anything the non – union sector has in place.

Direction To fulfill the objective of attracting promising young men and women to careers in construction, GBCA participates in an extensive program with the area high schools.

Even in these tough economic times, we promote construction as a viable career choice for high school students. We maintain a close relationship with CHAD (Charter High School for Architecture + Design) and MVHS (Mercy Vocational High School).

To this end, and to expose students to the collaboration and team work that should exist between architects, contractors and the building trades, we sponsor an annual project- CATT (Carpenters, Architects and Contractors Team Together).

The overall objective of this project is to bring together different groups of people, who will have differing perspectives, to work over a period of time on a project involving the whole construction process- from early design and planning, through budgeting, estimating and scheduling to final construction at the JAC open house. Of course, what makes this whole project particularly interesting is the participation of the high school students from CHAD and MVHS. This year’s project was to make room dividers for the schools’ class rooms.

INNOVATION

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America’s Oldest Trade Association

Giving Back

The following contractors and architects gave generously of their time for the 2011 CATT project: Bittenbender Construction, Gilbane Building Co., Haverstick-Borthwick Co. and Frank V. Radomski & Sons, Inc., Ballinger, Kling, Meyer Design and SPG 3. These contractors and architects should be recognized for the time they took to work with the high school students and give them an opportunity to see what their jobs entail on a day-to-day basis.

We are proud of the fact that the GBCA is perhaps the oldest trade association in the United States.

We trace our roots back to early Philadelphia, where in 1724 the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia was formed. Its members companies were the builders of Colonial Philadelphia.

The following architects and contractors gave so generously of their time – from the architectural side; Ballinger, Kling, Meyer Design and SPG 3. From the contractor side; Bittenbender Construction , LP, Gilbane Building Co., Haverstick-Borthwick Co. and Frank V. Radomski & Sons, Inc. These teams should be recognized for the time they took to work with the high school students and give them an opportunity to see what their jobs entail on a day to day basis.

The ACE Mentor Program GBCA continued to cement its relationship with the Ace Mentor Program in the Philadelphia region this past year.

Meetings are now being held at our offices on a regular basis with the Ace board of directors.

GBCA members (Clemens Construction, Gilbane Building Co, E.P.Guidi, L.F. Driscoll & Co and O’Donnell & Naccarato, Inc.) are mentors in this excellent program that gives students the chance to learn how architects, contractors and engineers operate. These professionals mentor students who work on projects that approximate real life building projects. Students can also gain scholarship funds to attend college/university through the ACE program.

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All Things to All People

1960’s IAP Educational Booklet

A low bidder can be too low — low enough to cross the slender line that divides profits and losses. To remain in business and remain being a contractor, the contractor must submit an educated bid — one that will be low enough to win the contract and high enough to insure his remaining in business to be able to bid again on future work. — 1960’s IAP Educational Booklet

America’s progress can be charted through construction and the general contractor is the construction chief. Contractors are all things to all people and the people whose talent for organizing and coordinating are second to none.

Drexel University Construction Advisory Committee GBCA continues to sit on the Drexel University Construction Advisory Committee. This Committee is widely recognized as one of the leading bodies of its kind in the country. One of the most important aspects of the Committee’s work is that it is constantly keeping the Drexel Construction Management program updated on “real life” issues that effect the construction industry, particularly in relation to the hiring of young Construction Management graduates. It also acts as a conduit to advise the university of what attributes industry is seeking when hiring Construction Management undergraduates. It is a two way street- Advisory Committee members also have the first opportunity to hire the best of the best graduates (either full time or in a co–op position).

Forums GBCA remains committed to keeping our members up to date on the latest trends and opportunities in our industry. Our Affiliate Council uses the expertise of our members for the benefit of the membership at large. Forums are offered in the areas of business opportunities, educational and legal issues and technical concerns. This past year a wide array of topics were addressed including BIM, recent issues in insurance affecting the construction industry, getting paid in difficult economic times and new storm water legislation.

OPPORTUNITY

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DIRECTION

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS The GBCA is your direct connection to local, state, and federal governmental officials and policy-makers. Legislation that affects regional business is a top concern, and we are engaged as a voice for the entire membership. We continually monitor, initiate, and influence legislation on the local, state and national levels. GBCA is a strong voice for union contractors throughout Pennsylvania and considered the “go-to” expert for matters relating to the business of union construction in the region. Our unique influence at the local and state levels and in Washington, D.C., is your unique influence.

Local We take the lead on behalf of our members on a variety of construction-related issues. On the local level, we develop and maintain working relationship with the Philadelphia City Council, the Mayor and various city agencies. The GBCA also attends regular City Council sessions, as well as hearings, announcements, and special events.

The GBCA Public Affairs department worked closely with both our Government Affairs Committee and Councilman James F. Kenney to craft legislation that would not unnecessarily burden the contractor while helping the city meet its tax goals.

State GBCA participates in state activities through the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania (GCAP).

Three Percent Witholding On Nov. 21, 2011 President Barack Obama signed into law the 3 Percent Withholding Repeal and Job Creation Act. The law permanently repeals the requirement that federal, state, and large local governments begin withholding 3 percent of each payment of $10,000 or more to a contractor after Jan. 1, 2013. Today’s bill signing is the culmination of a five-year effort by AGC and GBCA member effort to repeal the 2006 provision.

The GBCA, Master Builders’ Association of Western PA and the Keystone Contractors Association are the forces that drive the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania (GCAP). This statewide lobbying group offers state legislators the opportunity to interact with union contractors across the state. All GBCA members benefit from the hard work of GCAP.

Stability The GBCA facilitates onsite meetings with Federal, State and local elected officials and political candidates to increase legislators’ knowledge of the construction industry. Association spokespeople testify before Federal, State, and local legislators on issues including labor, safety, taxes, and inclusion.

Information on GCAP can be accessed at www.generalcontractorsofpa.org.

Direction GBCA raises money through its Political Action Committee (PAC) to assist legislators and candidates who support contractors and issues affecting the construction industry.

National And on a national level, GBCA often joins forces with the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). AGC’s Legislative Action Committee sets legislative priorities and serves as a regulatory clearinghouse, while ensuring that AGC members have a voice in drafting AGC’s policy agenda. In order to get broad feedback, the AGC works with its chapters, such as GBCA to solve the most vexing legislative problems facing the industry.

Additional information on AGC can be accessed at www.agc.org.

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Leadership Contractor Disclosure Legislation Passed in late 2011, this legislation requires all contractors and subcontractors to report their involvement at a construction site electronically to the Department of Licenses & Inspections within three days of starting work.

The purpose of this Legislation is to ensure that all contractors and subcontractors performing work in the City are paying taxes and fees owed.

SAFETY & HEALTH The Safety & Health Department is charged with recognizing and addressing the diverse safety needs of our members while continuing to identify means to reduce modification rates, worker compensation premiums and associated operating cost. All of our activities are focused on fulfilling our main goal, namely “keeping our members’ worksites healthy and injury free.”

Stability Understanding that real advancement tends to be based on innovation, relationships and sometime simply viewing opportunities through different eyes, we have sought to think and move in a wider circle. We regularly interact with the following organizations to share ideas, success stories, resources and Safety Best Practices.

• American Industrial Hygienists Association (AIHA)

Leadership One of our past goals was to become a force in the Philadelphia Area Safety & Health Community. We understand that truly having influence in any field means being thought of whenever that respective topic is mentioned. To that end, we are now considered one of, if not “the major” influence in the Philadelphia Area Safety & Health Community.

• American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)

In 2011 we were consulted prior to, and in some cases intimately involved in, the planning and/or outcomes of most of the safety related events in the area. Our strategy continues to include identifying, creating, establishing and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships and alliances. We were an integral part of reducing scheduling conflicts and maximizing our collective Philadelphia regional safety resources.

• U.S. Department of Labor/Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA)

We gathered all of the safety organizations in the area and nurtured alliances with the Mid-Atlantic Construction Safety Council (MACSC), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections, and both the OSHA Region III and Philadelphia Area offices among others.

We are also a part of the national AGC Safety Committee and as such we fully expect to be a part of any national discussion and legislation affecting safety in the construction field. As proof of this initiative, we were one of the few organizations directly advising OSHA on the simple but far reaching task of determining and establishing the qualifications for an acceptable Third Party Safety Consultant.

Bottom line, “We want a seat at every table where safety policy and or events are being discussed in the Delaware Valley Region, and eventually in this country.”

• City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections (Phila. L&I) • Contractors Association • General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) • Healthcare Facility Managers Association • Mid-Atlantic Construction Safety Council (MACSC)

• Roofers Association • Steel Erectors Association • Sunoco Co-operative We have also assembled an unconventional Ad Hoc committee of non-safety professionals to look at safety issues. Recognizing a key benefit of diversity is identifying, understanding, considering other views, we meet for Awards selection, discussion and “cross interest” purposes.

Direction We have access to the latest in safety trends, thinking and training. As an example, OSHA recently initiated more significant changes than they had in the previous 30 years, many of them potentially affecting our members negatively. To address this concern, in November we hosted “OSHA UPATE 2011: World Class Safety & the New OSHA” specifically to help understand the new OSHA leadership, proposed legislative changes, newly revised standards as well as OSHA’s recent efforts to increase enforcement, penalty enhancements, multi-employer enforcement and a shift from compliance to enforcement. We continue to provide timely relevant training on the latest safety and health requirements in addition to topics deemed appropriate for modern safety programs.

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GBCA’s Public Relations Department promotes union construction in the public eye. It enhances the prestige of the contractor and the industry in the minds of the general public as well as with the architects, engineers, and building owners with which the contractor deals.

Construction Today® Magazine The Association’s award-winning quarterly magazine is an important tool for keeping both the construction industry and the larger public audience informed about issues facing the construction industry. In 2011 the magazine received the American Institute of Architects’ Louis Mumford Award for Architectural Journalism, presented to a person/ publication that fostered public communication about design and construction.

Executive Committee

COMMUNICATIONS

RUDY E. D’ALESSANDRO CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD J.S. CORNELL & SONC, INC. FRANK M. STULB SENIOR VICE CHAIRMAN L.F. DRISCOLL CO. EMILY BITTENBENDER VICE CHAIRMAN BITTENBENDER CONSTRUCTION, LP PATRICK S. PASQURIELLO, III TREASURER P. AGNES, INC. WALTER P. PALMER, 3RD

To receive your complimentary subscription or for advertising and story information visit www.gbca.com.

PRESIDENT & CEO GBCA

News-At-A-Glance The Association’s electronic newsletter is emailed weekly and covers a wide range of newsworthy stories. Blast emails are sent to highlight specific events.

FRANCIS A. PIETRINI IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN B. PIETRINI & SONS

To sign up to receive the newsletter visit www.gbca.com.

Construction Excellence Awards Web site (www.awards.gbca.com) The Construction Excellence Awards site was developed specifically to highlight the prestige of this program.

LaborLink Web site (www.laborlink.gbca.com) Labor Link provides updates to the status of labor talks, sometimes hour-by-hour. Labor Link is also the source for wage rates, expiration charts, and other articles relating to the topic of labor.

Membership Roster The printed GBCA Membership Roster provides members with contact information for member firms, unions and industry personnel. An electronic list of members can be found at www.gbca.com. To receive a copy by mail contact GBCA at (215) 568-7015.

Directors

Web site (www.gbca.com) GBCA.com contains current information about GBCA.

Michael K. Armento

Frank T. Lutter

Roger S. Ball

Craig Melograno

James J. Clearkin, Jr*

David E. Panichi*

Joseph P. Clearkin

Stephen W. Pouppirt*

James X. Clemens

Philip F. Radomski*

William A. Cobb, Jr*

Judith A. Ritter

Dean Cole

Craig J. Sabatino

Charles W. Cook

Mark Spadaccino

James J. Dolente

Michael A. Stepnowski*

Michael G. Erickson

Gregory C. Stewart

Michael M. Gerardi

Thomas J. Wentzel

B. Scott Holloway

George S. Young

Vicki W. Lee *Past Chairman

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STABILITY

FOCUSING ON INNOVATIVE DIRECTION

General Building Contractors Association

36 S. 18th Street, PO Box 15959, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Phone 215-568-7015 | Fax 215-568-3115 www.gbca.com