Blog
2023 Year in Review
A year goes by fast! Looking back, a lot has been accomplished in 2023.
A year goes by fast! Looking back, a lot has been accomplished in 2023. Guided by the chapter strategic plan set forth by the board in 2021, AGC staff continue to move the association forward in key action items concerning membership needs and value. These areas include Advocacy, Workforce Development, Membership Value and Engagement, and Technology. Let us look at what has been completed in 2023.Advocacy – In the fall of 2022 the board officially partnered with our sister chapter, AGC of Kentucky in Frankfort to form a dual AGC chapter Political Action Committee (PAC). In 2021, the board recognized that greater involvement was needed in the state legislative process. The AGC board of director members began to support this dual PAC through personal, individual contributions. In 2023, AGC membership was given the opportunity to contribute personally to the PAC. A total of $16,000 has been raised through November 2023. With the upcoming 2024 legislative session starting in January, we look to utilize this partnership to have greater voice in supporting our industry and protecting small business interests in the political arena.
Workforce Development – Joel Crider, AGC Workforce Coordinator continues to build on the Tech Student of the Week program that was started in 2017. This successful program continues to expand into other media outlets and growth in sponsorship. Added this year in student and sponsor recognition is a new digital format with the regional West Kentucky Star news source and local radio coverage on WLLE 102.1 and Talk Radio 94.3. At this point all media sources in the region are being utilized (Paducah Sun, WPSDTV, Vue Magazine, Facebook). Highlighting these quality tech students, their regional high school tech programs, and our member businesses has been an important approach to overcome the workforce shortage facing our membership. In addition, the 12th annual Construction Career Day held each fall had a record attendance in student and school participation. Approximately, 20 schools sent over 1,500 high school tech, Ag, and pre-engineering students. They were exposed to over 33 exhibitors that included regional apprenticeship programs, contractors, industry related businesses, two-year technical training programs, community colleges and other industry professionals.
Membership Value and Engagement – Scott Thomas, AGC Safety Director, provided a record number of safety training sessions and safety audits for our members. This valuable chapter service assists in keeping member employees safe and their companies in compliance with OSHA requirements. At the end of November, Scott had conducted over 58 safety courses for 60-chapter members. Having a full-time safety professional on staff a phone call away to assist our members in a personal, customized way is of great value. No other trade association in the state has a full-time safety professional with such immediate access.
New approaches were introduced this year to expand membership engagement region wide. Instead of coming to us, the AGC went to our members. Staff led cookouts, geared for field and office personnel for AGC members, were held in Mayfield and Murray. This membership appreciation effort fed over 200 employees from over 20 member firms at no cost. A great means of giving back to our AGC members! AGC staff looks to expand these events in 2024. Also, in October AGC members were treated to the A-Maize-ing Farms corn maze in Mayfield. Over 100 member employees from 13 AGC firms participated in this family friendly event. More is to come in 2024.
Technology – Christy Dawes, Membership Director, leads the way in moving the association forward on the use of technology to provide important information to benefit our member needs. A key information source for our members is the plans list and bid tabulations for upcoming projects. In 2023, over 100 projects were listed and bid tabulations received. AGC staff attended over 99% of these bid openings providing immediate bid results for our members. In November, members were offered a chapter webinar on Succession Planning led by an AGC member attorney and investment professionals. This successful event will be continued with a part-two session. Other informational/educational webinars are being planned for 2024 along with website improvements to benefit our membership.
Other important accomplishments in 2023 included:
- Revitalizing the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) with a crop of new young professionals. With their leadership the CLC will engage their peer group in providing networking and education opportunities, connecting with, and supporting the MSU Construction Management program, performing community service projects, etc., which they have already initiated in 2023.
- AGC membership grew with the enrollment of over 18 new firms in 2023. Largest growth in membership over the past three years.
- Supporting the MSU Student AGC Chapter through the newly revised AGC Golf Tournament. Approximately $7,000 was raised for the AGC student chapter to be used for various professional development activities, National AGC Convention attendance, job site visits, etc.to prepare these future employees for the industry.
- Through board approval, the association provided $25,000 to establish the AGC/Danny Claiborne Professorship Endowment specifically for the MSU Construction Management program. This will assist with retaining and recruiting faculty instructors within this program. Enrollment in the MSU Construction Management program is at an all-time high. Efforts such as this provide valuable support for a program that is an essential feeder for our regional construction industry members.
- National AGC of America overall award winner for the AGC in the Community Award. Our chapter was recognized nationally at the AGC Convention and publications for the Tiny Homes project to support homeless Mayfield tornado victims. This was spearheaded by Joel and Jamie Crider with the support of AGC members who provided over $250,000 in labor, material, expertise, time, etc. at cost or no cost for the construction and placement of 20 tiny homes for temporary housing for victims.
2023 was a successful year for the association and our members. We look to build off and expand on these efforts to meet our membership needs and provide valuable services that will make the construction industry the best it can be for years to come!