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The AIC Constructor News - Mr. Ethics - New Representative - FMI Forecast - Why AIC Certification - New President's Message
President's Message
Andrew J. Wasiniak, CPC

As we celebrate AIC’s 40th year, we can all take pride in knowing that we stand today, as we always have,  for professionalism, ethics, and education through a certification process designed to validate our  profession’s body of knowledge. We will continue to build our Institute on a strong foundation of outstanding members.

Not long ago, the AIC community lost an exceptional member and friend—Ted Benning, Jr. Ted exemplified what it means to serve AIC with passion.  His leadership and enthusiasm were the standards of excellence for which we should all strive.  He was a true Southern Gentleman who would always remind us to stay true to the founding purpose. Read More

AIC’s New Representative to ACCE
Norma Jean Andersen, Ph.D., CPC

AIC is proud and honored to have named Norma Jean Andersen, Ph.D., CPC, to be its representative to the American Council for Construction Education.   As a full professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Vice President of KWA Constructors, Inc., she has been a constructor since 1994 and a CPC since 1997.  Dr. Andersen has also served on the AIC CCC Certification Examination Committee since 2009 and has been active in ACCE since 1999 where she has served on numerous committees and task forces.  She was the first female educator appointed to serve on ACCE’s Board of Trustees where she serves on the Long Range Planning committee, task force assignments for the Standards Committee, Student Learning Task Force, and help with Visiting Teams Case Studies session.  In addition, she has given several presentations on programs and student learning assessment.  Read More

Professional Certification – Why?
By David T. Jones   CPC, DBIA, LEED AP, PMP
Sundt Construction, Inc.

So why do I need to be certified?
Does professional certification really get me anything?
How does my certification benefit the company?
These are just a few of questions that I have heard over the years.  Let’s try to unwrap this idea.

Over the last several decades, most major industries have taken steps to develop the professionalism of its members.  One notable exception is construction.  This fact has permitted many of the long-standing stereotypes about construction professionals (unskilled, unethical, uneducated, behind the times, etc.) to perpetuate.

Fortunately there are associations and organizations within the construction industry that have been trying to affect positive change.  Read More

Mr. Ethics

In a previous edition of Mr. Ethics, you were presented with a situation where a colleague asked attendees at an association dinner to bid projects in a consistent manner in order to raise contract amounts.  Of all the choices presented as possible responses to the above statements, the most ethical are: ignore the plea and bid projects in accord with your normal practices, and advise the association’s counsel of the incident.  Counsel needs to know in order to keep all members in ethical and legal waters since all attendees could be accused of bid rigging if the statements ever got out,   Here is another bidding issue recently sent to Mr. Ethics.

Dear Mr. Ethics,

I am an estimator for a general construction firm.  I have been with my firm for two (2) years.  We have a couple of subcontractors in each area of construction that are our “favorites.”  As “favorites,” these firms get 98% of our business. However, we take bids from several subcontractors (that are not our “favorites”) on each project.  These bidders are never awarded our good projects but always the little jobs in which really don’t require bidding.   I asked my superiors why we take bids from those companies on our larger projects when we will never offer them a contract, my superiors responded that “Those bids can keep our favorite sons “honest,” and do not ever say never. Remember they can always decline to bid.  It’s their choice.”  I know our non-favorite sons do get little jobs from us, and they do not have to bid our jobs, but something does not feel right.  What do you think?

Sincerely,

Bid Challenged

To View the Response Click Here

2011 FMI Forecast
Looking Ahead: Signs of Emergence

In the 4th quarter of 2008, the NRCI (FMI Nonresidential Construction Index) was only 34.1. Now, at 60.8 for the 1st quarter 2011, it appears markets are emerging from wherever it is that they go to “hunker down.” The Great Recession officially ended in June 2009 according to the Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research, although that news wasn’t announced until September 2010. Few would have believed it in 2009 anyway, but now we have significant signs the recession clouds are beginning to clear over the construction economy.

Construction Markets

For 2011, and likely into 2012 and beyond, we can expect a significant decline in federal and municipal construction projects as the federal government and states go into budget repair mode. The hope is that private owners will begin to come back into the market. However, the transition will not be smooth.  Read Entire Forecast Here

“Reprinted with permission from FMI Corporation, 919.787.8400. For more information, visit www.fminet.com or call Sarah Vizard at 919.785.9221.”  



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AIC News




Congratulations to New and Re-elected Board Members: L to R, David Bierlein, AIC, CPC; Matt Conrad, AIC, CPC; Terry Foster, FAIC, CPC, PhD; Dennis Bausman, FAIC, CPC, PhD; Mike Golden, AIC, CPC; Joe DiGeronimo, AIC, CPC and Past President Mark Giorgi, AIC



College of Fellows:  Allen Crowley, FAIC; Joe Matthews, FAIC, CPC; Dennis Bausman, FAIC, CPC, PhD; Roger Liska, FAIC, CPC, FCIOB, PE Ed; Tanya Matthews, FAIC, DBIA; Fran Dugan, FAIC, CPC; Terry Foster, FAIC, CPC, PhD

Newly Formed AIC Committees

In the spirit of improving our value to you we have established a Newsletter Committee, led by new board member Joe DiGeronimo (a motivated 2nd generation leader at Precision Environmental), and a Marketing Committee led by Wayne Reiter (Founder of Reiter Services).  You told us a while back in a survey that you wanted to hear more from us, and more consistently, as well as do a better job of getting the word out about the institute.  To the best of our ability in very demanding fiscal times, we are doing that and these changes reflect our commitment to your needs as members and your voices.

Student Award Winners in AIC Journal

The Spring issue of The American Professional Constructor is now available online and can be accessed from AIC’s website at http://www.professionalconstructor.org! Articles in this issue provide exceptional insight on project closeout, contracting, asset management and property valuation. In addition, in the General Interest section we feature two articles on ‘Initiating a Culture of Lean Construction within the Firm’ written by the first and second place student winners of AGC’s National Allhands Essay Competition. Check it out. We think you will find this issue interesting and insightful.

You can read this installment of the journal by clicking here.

55 Individuals Earn Their CPC Credential

55 construction industry professionals recently earned their Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) credential from the American Institute of Constructors. These 55 individuals join the more than 700 individuals who have earned the CPC designation since AIC began awarding it more than a decade ago.  To see a list of the newest CPCs click here.

Correction:

In the last newsletter three individuals who passed the Fall 2010 Level 2 Exam were omitted from the list who earned their CPC.  
Robert Aniol-Sundt  
Ben Martin-Sundt  
Joe Reitman-Kitchell  

We sincerely regret the error.

A Program on Construction Ethics:

The AIC produced "A Program on Construction Ethics" has recently been released and is now available to AIC members at a discounted rate.  The program is also available for educators and may be licensed for classroom use.  If anyone is interested in obtaining their own copy at the Members Only rate please visit www.aicwebstore.com and put in discount code: aicmember2011 to receive your $25 dollar discount.

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If you are looking for reliable and cost-effective shipping, you can count on FedEx to deliver. AIC members can save up to 26% on select FedEx® shipping services. There are no costs and no minimum shipping requirements to take advantage of this great member benefit. For more information or to enroll in this program, please call 1-800-MEMBERS (1.800.636.2377, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. EST, M-F) or go to enrolladvantage.fedex.com/4705 and enter passcode W4F5CV.






 

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