Annual Meeting

• Andrew Cole
• December 11, 2007

Since helping to found the AGC of America in 1918, the Builders Association has a tradition of helping Chicagoland construction companies keep their eyes on the future and spot developing trends.

December 11, those eyes were on Crate and Barrel Director of Construction John Moebes, who outlined the advantages of Building Information Modeling as the headline speaker at the Association’s Annual Meeting at the Fairmont Hotel.

This marked the second consecutive year that the Annual Meeting was held downtown, and 160 construction industry professionals and community leaders came to renew old acquaintances and establish new ones. Attendees were greeted in the beautifully adorned International Ballroom. Piano music played during a social hour that included hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. Dinner was served from three carving stations.

The program featured outgoing Builders Association Board of Directors Chairman Paul Hellermann of Bulley & Andrews, LLC commenting on the state of the association and 2008 Chairman J. David Pepper of Pepper Companies going over the strategic plan for the future. Retiring Directors were recognized for their service before Pepper welcomed new Directors Sherwin Mirsky of James Schaeffer & Schimming and Ben Johnston of James McHugh Construction Company.

A number of companies were recognized for landmark anniversaries with the association, including:

The Lombard Company (50 years)

Telander Construction Company (50 years)

Case Foundation Company (40 years)

Interior Alterations (30 years)

Takao Nagai Associates (20 years)

Ceco Concrete Construction (10 years)

Custom Contracting, Ltd. (10 years)

Representatives from contractors and suppliers listened closely to Moebes, whose presentation demonstrated what owners are looking for in contractors and why companies who use BIM are attractive to owners like Crate and Barrel. While the area in general has been slow to adopt the technology, great strides have been made in the last three years, and Moebes pointed out why contractors who don’t look into BIM now could find themselves shut out in the future.

The Builders Association awarded its Community Builder Award to Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Jr., who was unable to attend due to legislative duties.