Let’s start simply. Hello, my name is Tim Penno and I have been hired by the LCCA Board of Directors to serve as your new Executive Vice President. I am taking over for the retiring Gary Dowty. Thank you, Gary, for your many years of excellent service to LCCA and the construction industry. Thanks also for helping to acclimate me to LCCA and its many partner groups.

I’m sure many of you are asking – who is this new guy and how can he help LCCA? Well, I’m an experienced association pro with 15+ years of association management experience – including 10 years with union-based construction organizations.

I’m adept at problem solving. I have helped negotiate dozens of labor agreements, defended contractors on grievance proceedings & ADA discrimination charges and assisted contractors at informal OSHA hearings. I can routinely help members with their questions on building codes, OSHA regulations and continuing education requirements.

I also bring coalition building and leadership skills to the LCCA position. I have chaired industry legislative groups and spearheaded an ad hoc working group effort to preserve prevailing wage, lowest responsible bidder and multiple prime contractor provisions in state administrative rules on public construction projects.

Believe me; I understand exactly what it’s like to be a contractor. It’s in my blood. My father was a masonry contractor. I learned my hard work ethic from him and spent my high school and college summers as a laborer/mason tender. Growing up in a construction household, I vividly remember visiting job sites on weekends, late or missed family dinners and clearing dishes from the kitchen table to make room for blueprints.

I know the importance of building relationships in and around the construction industry. I plan to develop positive working relationships with other construction groups, government officials and union leadership. It is also my goal to meet individually with as many members as quickly as possible. I want to hear directly from each of you about your views on the association and construction industry.

In this current economy we will all surely face challenging times, but LCCA can provide helpful tools to benefit your business. The tools are there for your use. You just need to get involved, be involved and stay involved. If I haven’t contacted you yet to meet for a cup of coffee, don’t worry – I will! Or contact me first – I will gladly clear time in my schedule. I’ve got my sleeves rolled up, let’s go to work!

Brown R Cartage Co.
900 Grace Street
Elgin, IL 60120
Phone: (847) 841-6629
Fax: (847) 841-8939
        www.browncartage.com
CONTRACTOR
            Jorge Bonilla, President
Cartage/trucking services, aggregate/material sales.
SPONSORED BY: Mike DeNinno, Lake County Grading

Lankford Construction Co.
1455 Karlens Way
Johnsburg, IL 60051
Phone: (847) 497-0800
Fax: (847) 497-3300
            www.lcco.com
CONTRACTOR
                Judi Tipps, Corporate Secretary
General contractor/Painting contractor.
SPONSORED BY: Lena Alers, Illinois Architectural Glass

Dave Henderson, Jos. J. Henderson & Son, was the recipient of the 2008 Governors Award at the Annual Awards Extravaganza on November 7 at The Ivanhoe Club. According to President Lyle Ehlers, “Dave receives LCCA’s highest honor in recognition for his commendable service and leadership to the industry."

Mr. Henderson has served on the LCCA Board of Governors and as LCCA’s representative to the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO). He has served on CISCO’s Board of Directors since 1997, serving as its vice president in 2002 and 2003, president in 2004 and 2005 and continues as its secretary today. He also presented "CISCO A Decade of Service to the Construction Industry" to a national forum of labor and management.

Several LCCA Members generously sponsored the Entertainment and Beverages at the November 7, 2008 Annual Awards Extravaganza. We’d like to send a special thank you to these LCCA member companies:

Burris Equipment Co.
Camosy, Inc. 
Hard Rock Concrete Cutters
HNI Risk Services, Inc.
R J Underground
Waukegan Roofing Co.

Mike DeNinno, Lake County Grading, won the LCCA Member Recruiter of the Year Award for the third straight year. As a three-peat winner, Mike recruited 5 new members, totaling 30 new members since 2004. Way to raise the bar, Mike!

President Elect Lyle Ehlers, Boller Construction Co., has appointed the following dedicated members to head up LCCA committees in 2009. A short description of what each committee does is also included. If you are interested in joining any of these committees, just notify the LCCA Office. A form is enclosed for your use.

Education: Micky Day, DK Contractors, Inc. – The Education Committee is active in member employee development, providing seminars and training courses for supervisory personnel. They also work with Apprentice programs and schools to ensure a future supply of quality employees.

Finance: Skip McCann, Dam, Snell & Taveirne – The Finance committee is responsible for keeping the association financially healthy. They oversee budgets and advise on investments.

Future Leaders: Matt Happ, Happ Construction & Kevin Schwartz, Wm. Schwartz & Co. – The newest LCCA Committee, this committee will address the special needs of our younger members as they learn the industry.

Government Relations: Steve Dalbec, Concord Construction Services – Government Relations looks at all things political. From Truth in Employment in Springfield, to County Board makeup locally, all politically controlled issues are their focus.

Labor Policy: Rick Grabowski, Pickus Construction & Equipment – The Labor Policy Committee looks after all labor relations issues – negotiations, grievances, benefit funds and much more. They also meet with local union officials to improve communications and seek solutions to problems.

Membership: Mike DeNinno, Lake County Grading & Rick Grabowski, Pickus Construction & Equipment -– The Membership Committee is charged with helping staff to build and retain membership in the association.

Nominating Committee: Micky Day, DK Contractors – The Nominating Committee is responsible for seeking out quality candidates to serve on LCCA’s Board of Directors.

Program & Entertainment – Mike Ryan, H.H. Holmes Testing Laboratories – This committee is responsible for all LCCA meetings – Membership Meetings, Golf Outing, etc. They select speakers, locations and other arrangements.

Safety: Fred Rodheim, Abbott Laboratories & Scott Johnson, Kelso Burnett – The Safety Committee reviews current safety issues and arranges for safety training and other products to assist members in meeting their safety goals.

Winter Workshop: Allan Pickus, Pickus Construction & Equip. – LCCA offers a 10-14 day Winter Workshop to a sight-seeing destination. This committee handles all arrangements for the trip.

LCCA’s Program Committee is pleased to announce that our January 22, 2009 Membership Meeting will be of a financial nature – specifically addressing the current and constantly changing economy and how it will affect you.

The meeting will be held at The Arboretum Club on Route 22 in Buffalo Grove and will begin at 5:00 p.m. For registration information contact Sherry at 847-623-2345 x5.

Thanks to our 2008 advertisers, a chunk of the ad space for LCCA’s 2009 Membership Directory has already sold. However, we still have premium ad space available. The advertising rates for the 8” x 4-1/2” pages will be:

Full Page (Color)	$750
Full Page (Black & White)	$500
½ Page (Color)	$425
½ Page (Black & White)	$300

And since the production schedule for these pages is shorter, the deadline for ordering your ad will be December 15. The deadline for artwork (camera ready or digital) is Friday, December 22, 2008.

The LCCA Directory is distributed to about 1,200 members, engineers, architects, building commissioners, developers and many others looking for construction supplies and services. To make sure you get in, complete the enclosed form and return it to the LCCA Office ASAP.

How do you think your business will be next year? On Wednesday, December 3 every member will be e-mailed a short survey to help us understand just what you are expecting from the economy in the next year. It is very important that all LCCA members participate to provide accurate information.

The survey will be conducted using an internet survey form. The email that provides the link has “LCCA 2008 CONSTRUCTION CONFIDENCE SURVEY” in the subject line. If you have already completed the survey, thank you. If you have not, please take the survey. If you have already deleted the email, just call the office or email heidi@lcca-il.org and she will resend the link. The results will be published in next month’s newsletter.

The LCCA Office will be closed on Thursday, December 25, and Thursday, January 1, in celebration of the holidays. Most unions will be working at straight time on Wednesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 31. Check your own labor agreements to be sure.

Lake County is implementing a new procurement system for many small works construction projects and will host an informational breakfast seminar at 7:30 am on January 7, 2009, at Country Squire Banquets in Grayslake (US 45 & Route 21). Learn about Job Order Contracting (JOC), how to bid and how to seek subcontracting and small works contracting opportunities with Lake County government.

The county believes that JOC can provide numerous advantages for both the county and the contracting community and will quickly reduce the extensive backlog of funded work. LCCA is assisting the county on this project. Watch your mailbox for more information.

Last month OSHA proposed a new rule on Cranes and Derricks and launched a National Crane Safety Initiative to promote awareness of safety hazards associated with construction crane operation. For more information on the proposed rule & initiative, please see:

www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=16784.

OSHA has also unveiled the Powered Industrial Trucks (Forklift) eTool for employers who use forklifts on the job. This web-based training tool was developed in conjunction with input with several industry groups. For more information, please see:

http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/products/etools/pit/index.html

OSHA recently proposed $152,000 in fines against a Waukegan steel company for allegedly failing to utilize energy control procedures, guard against the press brakes point of operation, address stair access to work area hazards, properly use and store liquefied petroleum tanks and welding curtains. OSHA is also proposing penalties for alleged repeat violations of training requirements on lockout/tagout and removing unsafe forklifts from service. LCCA members are advised to check their safety conditions and procedures to ensure a safe workplace for employees. OSHA is out there and inspecting!

Christmas Holiday Pay Differs - As we approach another holiday, it is important to know just what your labor agreements require for payments of wages and fringes during the holiday season. All agreements recognize Thursday, December 25 and Thursday, January 1, as the official holiday and require double time if you work the day.

Last month leadership representing 15 construction trade associations and 8 Union Building Trades Councils in Northern Illinois met at the Residential Construction Employers’ Council (RCEC) offices in Downers Grove to discuss problems and solutions in the standstill residential construction market.

The discussion was facilitated by labor-management advisor Richard Barnes of the Atlanta-based C. Richard Barnes & Associates. Barnes, who served as the national director of the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS) under Presidents Clinton and Bush, was brought into the meeting to help foster a frank discussion and to focus the parties on a goal of keeping the area’s residential construction work union and to help motivate new home buyers.

Participants included association executives and contractors from the Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Authority of Northern Illinois (PAMCANI); RCEC; chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA); the Plumbing Contractors Assn. of Chicago & Cook County (PCA); the Underground Contractors Assn. of Illinois (UCA); Three Rivers Construction Alliance; the Finishing Contractors Assn of Illinois (FCAI), the Northern Illinois Painting & Drywall Institute (NiPDI); the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Assn (PMCA) Joliet; the Concrete Contractors Assn. (CCA); the Finishing Contractors Assn of Chicago (FCAC), the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO); Mid-America Regional Bargaining Assn (MARBA) and the Lake County Contractors Association (LCCA). Also in attendance were officers and union leaders representing Lake County Building Trades; Chicago & Cook County Building Trades; DuPage County Building Trades; Fox Valley Building Trades; IBEW Local 176; UA Local 93; McHenry County Building Trades; Carpenters Regional Council and other invited participants.

After nearly six hours of intense and productive conversation, the attendees formulated a list of short and long term ideas. A smaller sub-committee of the participants - including LCCA EVP Tim Penno - will meet again this month to refine ideas for a future presentation to key area home builders.

Route 83 Widening Announced - Last month State Sen. Michael Bond (D-Grayslake) and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Milton Sees announced that Route 83 will be expanded into a four-lane road through Lake Villa and Antioch. Sen. Bond specifically credited efforts of the Lake County Transportation Alliance (LCTA) in making this planned expansion a reality.

LCTA Chair Suzanne Zupec, President of Camapnella & Sons in Wadsworth (and LCCA Board member), was on hand at the announcement and said that she views the project “as a first installment on Lake County’s Consensus Transportation Agenda.” Other transportation agenda items include the Route 120 Bypass and the Build 53 corridor.

Illinois Senate Has New Leadership - Long-time legislator John Cullerton (D-Chicago) will assume the Senate's highest ranking post, replacing retiring Senate President Emil Jones, Jr. (D-Chicago). The Democratic caucus chose their new leader in a private election last month.

Cullerton was the Majority Caucus Whip in the last session. He also served in the Illinois House from 1979-1991 before moving to the State Senate and was a strong supporter of House Speaker Michael Madigan. Cullerton is likely to have much less allegiance to Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) than Emil Jones. Lake County Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills), who also was a candidate for the Senate Presidency, is expected to continue in leadership.

Across the aisle, Republican senators made history by choosing the first woman in Illinois to lead a legislative caucus. Sen. Christine Radogno (R-LaGrange) will replace current Senator Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville), who announced he was stepping down as leader after suffering a stroke earlier in the fall.

2009 promises to bring many challenges to the Illinois legislature, which will begin its 96th session on January 12^th, but there appear to be high hopes for construction legislative prospects with Cullerton and Radogno as they have both called for a breakthrough on the long-stalled transportation capital program.

LCCA is pleased to announce we have scheduled a Construction Quality Management for Contractors Course for Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The Construction Quality Management (CQM) Course for Contractors was developed by the Corps of Engineers to help familiarize contractor personnel with the Corps CQM concepts and procedures. This CQM Certification is necessary when working on ANY Navy project. The instructor for the course will be John Parker formerly of NAVFAC SE. Space is limited, so sign up today! To register, or for more information, give Heidi a call (847) 623-2345 x3 or register online at www.lcca-il.org/events.

Applications are now available for the Construction Industry Service Corporation’s (CISCO) 2009 Scholarship Program. Applications for both the two-year Continuing Education and the four-year scholarships are available now at www.cisco.org/schol.htm or by calling CISCO at 630-472-9411. The candidate must be a child of a member of a building trades union or a non-bargaining unit employee of a union contractor that is affiliated with CISCO. This would include all LCCA Contractor members. All children of CISCO members are encouraged to apply.

Each year, four 4-year scholarships valued at $2,000 per year, and two 2-year Continuing Education scholarships valued at $1,000 per year are awarded. This is a great opportunity to get help with your education expense.

Completed applications, along with all required materials, must be returned to CISCO by February 13, 2009. All judging criteria, eligibility requirements, and deadline information can be found on CISCO’s website, www.cisco.org. For more information give Edward Maher a call at CISCO at 630-472-9411 or email Ed@cisco.org from more information.

Registration has started for the Construction Management courses offered for the Spring semester at College of Lake County. Two special offerings this Spring include: “BIM for Contractors” and “Green Building and Energy Efficiency Technologies.” Special scholarships are available for the “Green Building” class. For more information see the enclosed registration and scholarship information.

The Annual Open House at the Lake County High School Technology Campus was last month and freshman and sophomore students from area high schools converged to get information about the programs offered and decide whether they might be interested in attending.

Helping them make that decision this year were Tim Staples, Camosy, Inc., who, along with Tim Penno, Heidi Diederich assisted the Building Trades instructors in counseled students and parents on what they might expect.

To add a little fun to the process, Burris Equipment once again donated a lift for the day which current students learned to use and they gave “rides” to kids looking at the program. The Operating Engineers Local 150 also generously brought their crane simulator for the kids (and their parents) to give a try. Hands-on works!