TAUC Well Represented at CURT's National Conference

December 19 2006

The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) was well represented at the recent Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) National Conference in Tucson, Arizona. The CURT National Conference, held Nov. 13-16, featured more than 25 educational sessions conducted by industry leaders, covering a wide variety of issues relevant to the construction industry. Todd Mustard, executive director of association services for TAUC was in attendance. “The CURT National Conference was a well-organized and comprehensive industry event. The Concurrent Educational Sessions addressed topics ranging from future manpower shortfalls to the changing global oil and petrochemical marketplace,” said Mustard. When asked what he found most enjoyable about this year’s CURT conference, Mustard observed that, “often, we become so single-mindedly focused on one or two aspects of the industry that we tend to lose sight of the larger picture. Events like the CURT conference and other industry-wide events, provide a great opportunity to sit down and listen to the challenges that different areas of the construction industry are most concerned with. At times, it’s surprising just how much crossover there is and how often interests and concerns among labor unions, contractors and owners intersect.”

Kevin Hilton, vice president of industrial relations for both TAUC and the National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee, Inc. (NMAPC), also attended. Hilton valued many of the educational sessions held during the conference but found the Union Leaders Speak out Session among the most enjoyable and informative of the conference. “The number of owners, contractors and labor representatives who attended the union leader session was impressive in itself. It was a standing room only event. The speakers covered emerging union marketing efforts, new business model development to generate growth in the union sector, the adoption of the Code of Excellence for all trade unions, as well as answered questions from the audience, which touched on many topics,” said Hilton. “Every aspect of the session demonstrated a commitment to recapturing market share by reinforcing organized labor’s strongest selling point – excellence in performance on the job site,” added Hilton. The Union Leader session was conducted by William Hite, General President of the United Association; Edwin Hill, International President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; and Sean McGarvey, Secretary-Treasurer, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

TAUC members, NMAPC representatives, construction customers and associates also in attendance at the CURT National Conference were: Mark Ayers, IBEW; John Bartnett, Alberici; Ric Carter, Fluor Constructors International, Inc.; Michael DiCicco, Boilermakers International Union; Timothy Driscoll, Bricklayers International Union; John Hewitt, Aker Kvaerner Songer, Inc; Robert Hoover, Aker Kvaerner Songer, Inc.; Tom Householder, American Electric Power; Hollis Johnson, BP Oil Refinery; Robert Krul, Roofers International Union; Dewey Pearman, Industrial Contractors and Builders Association; Reggie Phelps, Bechtel Construction; John Porada, Construction Employers Association; Ray Poupore, National Construction Alliance; Tim Reddington, Day & Zimmermann NPS; Wayne Rice, Building Trades; Michael Ronning, Danny’s Construction; Gerard Schreiber, MC Industrial; Tim Stephenson, PSEG, Inc.; Al Trajillo, Building Trades; and Larry Wargo, FirstEnergy.