Don't Miss the Annual BuildersConnect Event December 4th at the Drake

BuildersConnect
Thursday, December 4, 2014 
4:00 pm - Cocktail Reception
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm - Dinner Buffet & Program

We are pleased to return to the Drake this December for our BuildersConnect event which will include the following:

• Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for the AGC since 2001, will provide insight into the current economy and what it means for construction in our market in 2015. Ken has 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating and communicating about economic and tax issues. Before joining AGC, he was senior economic advisor in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy. Earlier, he was vice president and chief economist for the American Trucking Association. He also worked with the President’s Commission on Industrial Competitiveness, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and an economic consulting firm. He currently serves on the NABE Board, the Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Data Users Advisory Committee. 

• Carol Lord, Executive Director of MARBA for nearly 25 years, is our 2014 recipient of the prestigious Community Builder Award. We are honored to recognize Ms. Lord on this occasion for her contributions to the Chicago area construction labor industry. She has dedicated herself to making MARBA a respected and visible force in the industry, and has participated in over fifty negotiations with eight different trades. During her tenure, there were many noteworthy changes implemented, including the development of a detailed database, organization of a structured collective bargaining process, distribution of timely negotiation updates, publication of an annual wage chart, and establishment of a communication network for construction industry associations. 
  
  
• Keynote Speaker Rex Havens has entertained and educated audiences around the world (50 states, 15 countries and counting) for over 20 years. He honed his business acumen as a college professor of business and law and as an attorney for a Fortune 50 company.  But his natural gift for entertainment would not eave him alone; in 1991 he left behind the business and academia worlds to take to the stage.  We look forward to Rex's humorous and engaging take on how to ratchet up effective workplace communication, improve your corporate culture, improve employee engagement and productivity, and strengthen the team dynamic.

Milestone awards will be conferred, and government officials plan to attend as well. Sponsorship opportunities and registration are now available.  We look forward to your participation on December 4th!