Colorado Associations Offer Their 2008 Outlooks

The state’s key design and construction industry associations report their current member status and biggest concerns for 2008.

AIA—American Institute of Architects—Colorado

Current Members: 2,300
Increased Membership Target for 2008: 5%
Key Issues/Initiatives: Increase/strengthen member services, specifically focusing on emerging leaders; increase member participation; continue to partner with allied organizations
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: Focus on member services
2008 President: Chris Stumm, ctds architects inc.
Legislative Priorities: Continue to support sustainability initiatives and qualifications-based selection
Biggest Concerns: Continue to monitor potential changes in the design-construction economy in light of the impact of the home mortgage crisis

“Over the last several years, AIA Colorado has witnessed an increase in the number of architects now residing in Colorado. As an organization, we are now in a position to proactively influence and introduce legislation that affects our practices. The success of our future is dependent upon our members’ valued input and our ability to make our collective professional voice even stronger.” — Chris Stumm

ACEC—American Council of Engineering Cos. of Colorado

Current Members: 250 member firms
Increased Membership Target for 2008: 2% increase in firms
Key Issues/Initiatives: Increase awareness of the engineering profession to students, encourage aspiring principals to participate in the council’s activities and promote legislative advocacy
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: Legislative advocacy
2008 President(s): Brian N. Gidlow, principal, HDR; term ends April 2008; Lauren Evans, Pinyon Environmental Engineering Resources, term begins April 2008
Legislative Priorities: Affordable health care, funding for higher education and transportation
Biggest Concern for 2008: Shortage of engineers and rising health-care costs
“One of the most significant issues our member firms are facing is the declining number of engineering graduates and the difficulty in recruiting and retaining new employees.” — Brian Gidlow

ASPE—American Society of Professional Estimators—Denver

Current Members: 96
Increased Membership Target for 2008: 20%
Key Issues/Initiatives: Education in the form of outreach and involvement in local construction programs at the college level, providing continuing education opportunities related to estimating for the construction community
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: Growth of APSE’s value and services to members and the entire construction community
2008 President: Kye Holtan-Brown, senior estimator, Haselden Construction
Biggest Concern: While the scope of preconstruction services continues to grow, the pool of interested and experienced estimators is not keeping up. Like many skill groups within the construction industry, there is a talent shortage. ASPE is reaching out to college construction programs to educate students about the opportunities within the field of estimating and preconstruction.

“Being an estimator is about so much more than quantity take-off and pricing. ASPE is dedicated to helping estimators strengthen their skills and broaden their knowledge so they can meet the evolving demands of the industry.” — Kye Holtan-Brown

ASAC—American Subcontractors Association of Colorado

Current Members: 162
Increased Membership Target for 2008: 20%
Key Issues/Initiatives: Legislative, education, networking/collaboration >>
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: Legislative, education, collaboration—working in tandem and synonymously
2008 President: TBD
Legislative Priorities: Payment and retainage reform

ABC—Associated Builders and Contractors Inc.—Rocky Mountain Chapter

Current Members: 200
Increased Membership Target for 2008: 250
Key Issues/Initiatives: Further enhancement of delivered services and programs, escalating diversity outreach and delivering a unique and specified leadership program for mid-management industry personnel
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: Given the chapter’s current forward momentum, the board of directors and committee chairs seek to capitalize on current successes, posturing ABC to be even more proactive and responsive in addressing industry-related matters relevant to membership.
2008 President: Diane Miller, vice president marketing, Shaw Construction
Legislative Priorities: Assist in the successful passage of responsible prompt pay legislation and, at all levels, expand member participation and communication in the legislative and election processes
Biggest Concerns: Government’s interference with the free marketplace, issuing mandates addressing training requirements, best-value practices and prevailing wage

“The ABC is committed to providing its members with a path for success as industry challenges present themselves. As a membership, we are driven to promote the values of free enterprise and embrace those organizations who are aligned in values.” — Diane Miller

AGC/C—Associated General Contractors of Colorado

Current Members: 341
Key Issues/Initiatives: Continue outreach to northern and southern members along with membership growth in the Front Range
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: Focusing on financial growth to continue to support, grow and provide the necessary needs of members
2008 President: Charles T. Graft, Gerald H. Phipps Inc.
Legislative Priorities: Prompt pay legislation, monitoring issues on labor and workers’ compensation. The Democratic convention coming to Colorado is huge to the state both politically and financially.

“We will continue to focus on maintaining current affiliate groups and strengthen those relationships.” — Charlie Graft

CAPA—Colorado Asphalt

Pavement Association
Current Members: 200
Increased Membership Target for 2008: 5%
Key Issues/Initiatives: Quality improvement, value-added training and education
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: Environmental sustainability
2008 President: Craig Lamberty, United Co.s
Legislative Priorities: Transportation funding
Biggest Concerns: Downturn in the economy, especially the housing market

“CAPA is positioned well to be a key resource organization to the asphalt industry and our agency partners statewide.” — Craig Lamberty

CCASLA—Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects

Current Members: 675
Increased Membership Target for 2008: 10%
Key Issues/Initiatives: Increasing member services with emphasis on continuing education opportunities
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: We are currently working on two areas: improving our member communications, including a Web site relaunch, and developing a stronger organizational framework for monitoring and participating in government affairs issues
2008 President: Patrick Mundus, Mundus Bishop Design Inc.
Legislative Priorities: We are continuing to support and promote sustainable “green” practices at both the planning and policy levels. CCASLA is partnering with a number of organizations to continue to envision and plan for the future of Colorado. Our statewide planning and design conference kicked off this initiative in October with a two-day conference titled “Towards 2025, Advancing Our Communities.”
Biggest Concerns: The balancing act of keeping our Colorado economy strong and preserving the wonderful resources we have in this state.

“CCASLA had a very strong year in 2007, achieving many of the goals that were set. We will continue that trend in 2008, improving our organization by offering improved services to our members and working within our communities to build coalitions with other organizations and allied professions.” — Patrick Mundus

CCA—Colorado

Contractors Association
Current Members: 186 contractor members, 225 associate members
Increased Membership Target for 2008: CCA has enjoyed steady membership growth of about 10% per year with better than a 98% retention rate. We hope to continue that trend in 2008.
Key Issues/Initiatives: CCA has been working to develop an aggressive communications program that will highlight the need for Colorado to re-invest in its infrastructure and educate the public on the benefits associated with investing in public works.
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: Aggressive legislative advocacy for the statewide heavy, highway and utility industry
2008 President: Don Hanneman, Castle Rock Construction Co. of Colorado LLC
Legislative Priorities: Protect current transportation funding through SB 1 and HB 1310 and advocate for increased dedicated funding for infrastructure investment
Biggest Concerns: The effect of current budget restrictions, which result in a lack of funding for core governmental services, including investment in infrastructure, health care and higher education. The impact of overly zealous environmental regulations that negatively impact the construction industry.

“The most important things CCA does is promote our industry, grow our markets and develop a future work force. We need to continue to find new and innovative ways to successfully provide these critical services.” — Don Hanneman

DBIA—Design-Build Institute of America—Rocky Mountain Chapter

Current Members: 255, corporate memberships
Increased Membership Target for 2008: 15%
Key Issues/Initiatives: Educate on new legislation for Colorado and Wyoming, increase awareness in regional states; transition into the new bylaws
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: Improve awareness and opportunities in higher education for disseminating knowledge of integrated delivery
2008 President: Will be elected at the Annual Members’ Meeting on Dec. 11 (after press time)
Legislative Priorities: Monitor existing and proposed legislation for any impacts to the industry, increase awareness in the regional states on the opportunities created by the new legislation
Biggest Concerns: Monitor state legislation to make sure positive gains are not eroded by special interests. The industry is undergoing major growing pains with the advent of new project integration tools such as building information technology and the requirements of sustainable, green design. This is coupled with a shortage of skilled crafts, material escalation costs and a robust market, which will all put strains on the system.

“The past two years have seen positive growth in integrated delivery opportunities within the four-state region of the Rocky Mountain Chapter. Educating our constituents with the knowledge and tools to respond to the growth will be paramount.” — Greg Gidez, 2007 DBIA president

DDP—Downtown Denver Partnership

Current Members: 600 member businesses
Increased Membership Target for 2008: N/A
Key Issues/Initiatives: 2007 Downtown Area Plan, panhandling/homelessness, 16th Street Mall remodel, Union Station
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: 16th Street Mall
2008 President/Chair: Tamara Door, President and CEO; Gene Commander, Board Chair
Legislative Priorities: Inclusionary housing ordinance

“Our goal is to creatively plan, manage and develop downtown Denver as the unique, diverse, vibrant and economically healthy urban core of the Rocky Mountain region.” — Gene Commander

HCC—Hispanic Contractors of Colorado

Current Members: 131
Increased membership target for 2008: 12%
Key Issues/Incentives: Outreach to the Spanish-dominant contracting community and work-force development
Highest Priority Issue on Strategic Plan: Developing small/disadvantaged/minority- and women-owned construction-related companies so they can compete and be successful
2008 President: Nonie Rivale Willisch, CRS Insurance Brokerage
Legislative Priorities: Immigration is a very complex issue that has three very important components: national security, citizenship and assimilation—all critical to the construction labor force. As an advocate for small, minority and Hispanic companies, we hope to become their voice locally and nationally.
Biggest Concerns: Initiative 31—Anti-Affirmative Action

“The HCC’s objective is to be the ‘source’ and the ‘voice’ for small, minority and Hispanic companies within the construction community by continuing to help create work opportunities, education and safety training. As the ‘voice,’ we hope to become the association politically to represent the needs of these companies to create change, especially with issues like anti-affirmative action and immigration.” — Nonie Rivale Willisch

SMACNA—Sheet Metal, Air Conditioning Contractors National Association—Colorado Chapter

Current Members: 57 contractor members, 25 associate members
Increased Membership Target for 2008: 10%
Key Issues/Initiatives: To continue the productive and cooperative working relationship with our labor partners, Sheet Metal Workers Local #9, and promote our HVAC expertise
Highest Issue on Strategic Plan: The re-negotiation of our collective bargaining agreement with Sheet Metal Workers Local #9
2008 President: Jim Matthews, Precision Test and Balance, Colorado Springs
Legislative Priorities: The passage of an industry-approved prompt pay bill
Biggest Concerns: The continuation of a strong economy

“SMACNA Colorado provides its members with first-rate technical expertise, education and training in all aspects of the sheet metal and HVAC industry, which translates to first-rate products and services for our owners, general contractors and the buying public.” — Jim Matthews

SDA—Society for Design Administration—Denver

Current Members: 54
Increased Membership Target for 2008: Desire to double membership
Key Issues/Initiatives: Member retention and new member gain
Highest Issue Strategic Plan: Chapter excellence; continue providing high level of educational opportunities in the design industry as it relates to business acumen
2008 President: Lou Ann Hight, SlaterPaull Architects, Denver
Legislative Priorities: AIA licensing
Biggest Concerns: Build interest and involvement within our organization

“2008 promises to be a pivotal year for SDA Denver.” — Lou Ann Hight

CDA—Constructors & Designers Alliance Current

Members: 22 member organizations in the design and construction industry
Key Issues/Initiatives: To promote a positive image of the construction and design industries to the public, to be a resource to public officials about design and construction practices and to coordinate joint activities between the 22 member organizations.
2008 President: Cheri Gerou, Gerou & Associates, American Institute of Architects Colorado

“CDA looks forward to continued support of the Construction Career Days, networking opportunities for all member organizations and a coordinated exploration of opportunities for the advancement of the construction industry through our association.” — Cheri Gerou

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