Rod Luker, Superstition Mountain Properties 
2010 ACA Chairperson
I am grateful for the opportunity to correspond with you
again. I would like to first express what a sincere honor it is to be selected
for a second term by the Arizona Contractors Association Board of Directors as
its 2010 Chairman. I appreciate the remarkable support that I have received and
I will continue to do my very best to validate your confidence in me. I accept
the responsibility that accompanies the position and promise to work hard for
the association, our members and our industry.
With a deep sense of humility and pride I have sworn the
same solemn oath as many great leaders of this association before me. This
orderly transfer of leadership, as called for in our bylaws, has routinely
taken place by the ACA for over a half century now. It has included extremely
talented people representing companies such as Brad Thornton, University
Mechanical; Mike Gausden, Hunt Construction Group; Larry Dukeman, Turner
Construction; Chet Wood, Marwood; Carl McFarland, Barton Malow, currently part
of Bernards Builders; Lou Borelli, Partitions & Accessories and Michael
Chafin, Sundt. In addition to the few that I have mentioned, the caliber of
individuals and businesses that comprise our membership and association is
incredible. I welcome and encourage anyone who is not a member to come and see
how the ACA can provide your business with the services and tools that will
improve your outreach, expand your network, accelerate your opportunities and
eventually improve your bottom line.
I have had the pleasure of being a member of the ACA for
nearly a decade. Although the majority of these past 10 years have been
exhilarating, most recently our country is suffering from one of the worst
sustained recessions in its history. Within our idle industry, employment has
been reduced to 2004 levels. In essence, every job that we created in the past
five years has been wiped out. If you
haven't been personally affected chances are you know someone who has. The
impact is real and pervasive. Housing is no longer viewed as a positive growth
engine but as a symbol of a national economic collapse that has come about by
greed and recklessness. Even sound companies and conscientious investors have
not escaped the difficulties caused by those less responsible. The economic problems
we suffer have come upon us over several years. They will not go away in days,
weeks or months, but they will go away.
As we prepare for economic circumstances similar to the
especially challenging years of 2008 and 2009, I would like to share that the
financial strength of the ACA is stable. The board of directors remains focused
on our members, our industry, our economy and our state. Last year our newly
purchased office condominium played host to several events. The ACA hosted
welcoming receptions for leaders such as Arizona Speaker of the House, Kirk
Adams (R-Dist.19); Director General (Mayor) of Dubai, Hussain Lootah; Economy
Minister of Dubai, Sultan Almansoori; Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and U.S. Even Bayh (D-Ind.). We also met with our
state’s new Registrar of Contractors Bill Mundell and hosted many member mixers
as well as several training and informational seminars in our auditorium.
Brett and David
continued to closely monitor stimulus dollars and kept our members informed
legislatively while tracking more than 330 bills last year. The ACA continues
to be directly involved in Washington regarding accelerating payment procedures
of stimulus money to general contractors. During the past year the ACA has also
been developing a long-term plan to address Arizona’s infrastructure
deficiency. We supported the passage of SB1403 which has already assisted
Arizona in capturing manufacturing and renewable energy industries. This alone
continues to create hundreds of desperately needed construction jobs and will
go on to create thousands of sustainable jobs during and after the completion
of the project. In addition, the ACA continues to support Tucson’s Rio Nuevo
special tax increment district and the implementation of reform measures to
ensure accountability. Because of these funds, the ACA is excited to be a part
of the future Tucson Sheraton Convention Headquarters Hotel that is expected to
break ground this spring. Despite these trying times, the ACA made progress in
a though year but our job is not finished.
Collectively we can continue building a quality Arizona for our
companies, our employees and our families while regaining the strength and
stability of our industry.
The ACA in 2010 will continue to advocate Public Private
Partnership where it benefits our state and local communities for the
development of our infrastructure facilities and transportation systems. As our
economy and the number of available jobs continue to fall, much needed projects
have been set aside and our state currently suffers from a backlog of necessary
infrastructure projects that have been studied and approved. While cuts are
absolutely necessary among Arizona's state agencies during financial crisis,
the ACA is committed to protect the ACA from legislative cuts and raids to the
Residential Recovery Fund.
We also welcome our continued and pleasant relationship with
State Compensation Fund of Arizona. Over the years, this partnership has
consistently given back in excess of 30 percent over non participating members totaling
nearly $40 million in workers compensation dividends. The ACA is proud to
continue rewarding workers with compensation dividends for safe member
companies. This year we will also continue to monitor and host
AZtrainingonline.com. Through AZtrainingonline.com, each of our members have
more than 450 certified training courses available on line that can be
completed at a pace that still allows business to get done. For as little as
$32 per class, companies can protect workers and preserve profits. AZtrainingonline.com
has proven to be a cost-effective and a convenient alternative for our
industry’s training requirements.
In addition, the ACA will continue to lobby for a lieutenant
governor position in 2010. Several times in our state’s history we have filled
the Office of Governor with an individual of the opposite party. This is not
efficient nor does it create a smooth and consistent transition of leadership.
To those associations and allies who share our common goals, the ACA will
continue to strengthen our notable ties and assure others of our support and
commitment. We will continue to be leaders of our industry and match loyalty
with loyalty.
I am pleased to announce that we were successful in growing
our membership last year. The quality
and growth of the ACA's membership continues to be an important priority of
mine in 2010. The ACA staff, board and newly formed membership committee
continues to be instrumental in achieving this goal. Our membership committee,
by going back to the basics, analyzed our mission statement, examined our
prospectus and asked our members what was important to them in a membership. We
found that above all, our members wanted to be kept informed of changes in our
economy and legislative activities affecting our industry and that they wanted
to do more business among other members of the association.
We are extremely fortunate to have David and Brett lobbying
and representing us to protect our companies from unreasonable legislation. In
my opinion this is one of our greatest strengths and one that I am very proud
of. Members receive updates and legislative alerts regarding current issues
that affect our industry through our grass roots network. This tool also works
to establish and maintain communication with legislators. Members, please take
the opportunity to learn ramifications of legislation that affect construction;
get involved in our grass roots network.
In addition to continuing to track legislation in 2010, our
members have asked us to focus on increasing business among members of the
association. In order to accomplish this, I must first emphasize the importance
of being involved. The old adage is definitely true here you will get out what
you put in. I’m excited to announce that the board has received several
commitments from our general contractor members to include additional staff
such as purchasing agents when attending events and member mixers. We are also
working on an arrangement to host special events where one or a limited number
of general contractors will be present to discuss current and future projects
in order to recognize companies that are interested in working together. We
have also received commitments from contractors to better utilize our member
list when soliciting proposals. Members, it is beneficial to have the ACA logo
on your business cards and letterhead when networking and submitting proposals.
As we initiate these new programs I ask for everyone’s support and commitment
to work together within the association. It is an important benefit as well as
a responsibility of being a member to utilize and support one another.
During these tough economic times the ACA has implemented a
plan to make it a little easier economically for us to manage and maintain our
membership dues. As we continue our efforts toward increasing our membership,
opportunities to increase business among members of the association will also
increase. Another exciting program the ACA is launching in 2010 is "ACA
4Free". Simply have four companies join the association within one year
(based on your company’s annual renewal date time frame) and your company will
receive, on your membership renewal date, a free one-year membership.
Additional savings are also available. By signing up one new member, your
company will save 25 percent on dues at your renewal date, two new members will
save 50 percent, or three new members will save your company 75 percent. More
information on how to make "ACA 4Free" a success is available on the
web site.
As we enter a new decade, solutions to many of the same
challenges of the past will be outlined by lower growth expectations. The
environment and the green building movement will determine how business is done
in the future. The industry will prepare for smaller, more efficient and
affordable housing to be developed in communities where people will live, work
and play within them. Financing will continue to be a challenge as we prepare
for the last wave of creative mortgages to default. China is expected to be the
leader in the global construction market which is expected to account for
nearly 15 percent of the world’s gross domestic product. As our United States
population grows by approximately 30 million each decade, believe it or not our
industry will be affected by a labor shortage of field workers and construction
managers.
In today’s market it is more important than ever to network,
maintain relationships, stay involved and continue to support the ACA. We
assist commercial and residential contractors, sub-contractors, material
suppliers, vendors, architects and engineers. The ACA has come this far because
all of us have worked together to accomplish common goals, goals that go well
beyond satisfying our personal needs.
The unique strength of the ACA membership and its talented
staff has proven to be one of our state’s greatest assets. The ACA has played a
major role in the success of many of our projects and the construction industry
as a whole. It understands and exceeds the needs of our industry through safety
services and programs, lobbying for the good of the industry, networking, and
promoting businesses. I often attend board meetings or other events together
with contractors and associate members who might have just finished competing
for the same project or will be tomorrow. I have always been proud of the fact
that we have never met together as rivals as competitors, yes, but our goal is
to maintain an intimate feel while creating that “sense of place,” a place where members could develop lifelong
friendships in a close-knit association.
Your active participation and commitment in 2010 will assist
your business and our industry during these difficult times. I encourage
everyone to join the association and be involved and I thank you for this
extraordinary opportunity to serve as your 2010 Arizona Contractors Association
Chairperson.
| 
