From the desk of: glenn ely

In looking through the list of UTCA 2022 accomplishments that was recently published, I am amply impressed not only with the contractor and associate members who help get things done, but also with the depth and breadth of the work that our staff accomplishes. Our staff clearly is wholly engaged with our members and industry and leads us in excellence in all manner of realms. Thanks to each of them for their hard work and passion for moving issues forward that affect our members!

One realm in which they excel that was largely foreign to me until more recently in my career, is in the political and legislative realm. Growing up on a farm in Pennsylvania, my exposure to government and the processes that move and shape it, had me only understanding it in terms of the actions of those few that were the most visible in government. In recent years when my involvement with industry associations increased and now most notably with the UTCA, I’ve gained a dramatically different perspective on what shapes government and ultimately the power of one voice, particularly when that voice is joined by others of like mind. The UTCA is our industry’s paramount tool that is excellent at joining the voices of many to create a means of appropriately shaping the issues that affect us.

Two really good examples of the outstanding influence that the UTCA has in first bringing voices together and then shaping government and the law, are our Political Action Committee (PAC) and our Legislative Committee. Your contribution to the PAC is vital to equip staff to access and support candidates and politicians who are now or who through UTCA’s education become advocates for legislation and policy that is good for our businesses and industry. With that access, combined with our great staff, we are routinely put in the position of educator and influencer on our important issues.

The UTCA’s Legislative Committee and staff are likewise expert in first monitoring legislation that is progressing either in the NJ state Legislature or the federal congress. Secondly, they are quick to put such proposed legislation in front of committee members and the people within the UTCA who are expert in that area and who have important input on that critical issue. Then and most importantly, with the input of those members, they shape responses that set that legislation on courses that are consistent with the goals and expectations of our association and members. And the legislators listen when the UTCA staff and voices speak! This last impact is most amazing for a country boy like me to fathom and even participate in. The UTCA continues to develop, advocate for, and produce wins for our industry in the political/legislative realm.

With that backdrop, I want to again encourage you to engage within the political and legislative processes at the UTCA. Be a voice, give input when asked, contribute as you can to the PAC, and ultimately play a role in shaping our construction world.

I want to congratulate Concrete Construction Corporation for achieving seventy years in construction, and also Super Products which has accomplished fifty years in business. Great job!

While you are enjoying this issue, think again about how you can plug in to the political/legislative process and join your voice with others within the UTCA to move our state ever forward.

81

Pictured on the cover:

Standing left to right: Teresa Ficca, Charlie Woznick, Dave Burns, Eric Erler

Seated left to right: Charlie Dandeneau, Joe Farrell

Published Bimonthly During 2023

Publisher: Robert A. Briant, Jr.

Editor: Helene Nasdeo

Editorial Contributors: Dan Kennedy, Ryan Sharpe, Dan Neville

Advertising Manager: Helene Nasdeo

Production/Graphics: Lauren Hagan, Helene Nasdeo

Circulation: Helene Nasdeo