January 2014
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High-Profile Focus: Forecast 2014
An Interview: Richard R. Fisher Richard R. Fisher was recently installed as president of Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts (ASM), the commonwealth’s leading trade association for the subcontracting industry. He is president of Red Wing Construction, of Beverly. In addition Richard Fisher to his serving as a member of ASM’s board of directors, he is a former director of the Architectural Millwork Institute and a member of the Massachusetts Building Congress and the Lean Construction Institute. High-Profile had the opportunity to interview him regarding his hopes and plans for the future of ASM. HP: Tell us about your involvement with ASM and what led you to become president. RF: I first got involved about 10 years ago recognizing the power of associations to change an industry and provide individual companies with the resources to succeed in their day-to-day business operations. For much of the past decade I have been actively involved in the association’s legislative efforts – in particular, the campaign that led to the passage of Prompt Pay Law in 2010. RF: After being so active for so
long a period, it becomes almost natural to progress through the officer positions. It was a privilege to be asked to serve as president, and I am excited to see what a difference we can make as a board team in the next couple of years. HP: What would you most like to accomplish during your term? RF: While staying active in ASM’s legislative efforts, as president I’d like to focus on strengthening the association’s educational and technical assistance programs, and its members’ access to business resources. ASM has been the preeminent organization for subcontractors in Massachusetts for decades, and my goal is for it to become an even more significant presence and be recognized even further by the legislature, the business community, and the construction industry. Given the importance of the construction industry to the state’s economy, and the critical role that subcontractors play, there’s no reason why that can’t happen. HP: What are ASM’s top priorities for the membership in 2014. RF: We’d like to expand our educational offerings and technical assistance programs, which members have long considered one of the most important services we provide. Already our Program Committee has a pretty robust schedule in the works for 2014.
We also want to provide more opportunities for members to network with general contractors and other potential customers and business partners – through our own events and through joint programs with other industry groups. This is an industry built on relationships, and we want to do all we can to provide members with opportunities to further those relationships...and to encourage owners and GCs to look to ASM for the professionals they need for their projects. And finally, we want to bring more attention ASM Health Insurance Co-op as the place for ASM members to obtain high-quality health insurance plans for their employees at competitive, members-only rates. ASM’s cooperative is one of just five that have been approved in the state to allow group purchasing by small business groups. The co-ops were designed to give small businesses some of the same leverage that larger businesses have long enjoyed, while also promoting wellness and driving down premium costs over time. While the federal Affordable Care Act has changed some of the rules for the cooperatives, our program is still a good deal – and ASM is working to get that message out to the members. We’re also working closely with other business groups to seek a waiver of the federal rules to allow the cooperatives to continue using Massachusetts’ special “rating factors” to achieve savings. With so much uncer-
tainty in the healthcare market right now, it’s hard to say what 2014 will bring, but we’re determined to continue offering this good option to our members as long as it remains available. HP: What about the political arena? What issues will you be dealing with on Beacon Hill? RF: ASM has always been known for our strong advocacy for subcontractors, and that tradition will continue. It’s in our mission to do all we can protect and promote subcontractor rights. But at the same time, we make it a point to be fair to all parties to the construction process. Our goal is to restore balance to an industry that has become seriously out of whack, and achieve a fair business environment that makes it possible for businesses at all levels to succeed. Specifically, we’ve been part of a group working on reforms to public construction… and we will continue to work to make sure the reforms are reasonable to subcontractors and don’t have harmful unintended consequences. We are working with another group on legislation that will fix some loopholes in the lien law and stop the erosion of subcontractor lien rights that has resulted from a string of bad court decisions that are contrary to the intent of the law. And finally, our top priority is Continued on page 35
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