2020 was a rough year for networking events. After the CLC of Middle Tennessee’s “Ugly Christmas Mask” holiday event was cancelled due to city health regulations, they thought they were done for the year. But then the call came from the Ronald McDonald House of Nashville. The staff at the Ronald McDonald House of Nashville wanted to “Light up the House” for the holiday season. These families were under an extremely strict quarantine with their children in local hospitals. The staff wanted to bring some extra holiday cheer to their hearts. They immediately called the Construction Leadership Council and asked if volunteers would come out and decorate the main entrance of the House with family friendly holiday décor. CLC happily partnered with them, Lumenate, and the local News Channel 2 to help raise money and decorate the House.

Despite restrictions to in-person gatherings during the 2020 holiday season, the General Building Contractors Association’s (GBCA) Construction Leadership Council (CLC) still found a way to support Philadelphians in need and provide some much-needed holiday spirit. In 2020, the CLC moved its holiday fundraising activities predominantly online.

Jolsna Thomas has over 14 years of experience in the construction industry originally focused on the law and then she branched into the areas of business development, marketing, sales, and nonprofit work. Thomas serves as Business Development Manager for Rosendin Electric, Inc., one of the largest employee-owned electrical contractors in the United States. In addition to leading Business Development efforts in Texas, she serves on Rosendin’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee and is President of The Rosendin Foundation, its 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. Thomas serves on the AGC of America Business Development Forum Steering Committee as well on the board of directors for the Real Estate Council of Austin, Austin Convention Enterprises, Inc., and South Asian Bar Association of Austin.

GBCA’s CLC has dedicated itself to help emerging construction professionals build relationships in the industry. The CLC’s Virtual Coffee Chats are putting leading construction executives and newer construction professionals into the (virtual) room together. With COVID-19 response mostly eliminating in-person events in the Philadelphia region, GBCA’s CLC has worked to ensure that emerging professionals are able to introduce themselves to the industry’s leaders. The CLC’s Virtual Coffee Chats feature a construction executive sharing their stories of how they became leaders in the industry and answering questions from the audience. These 30-minute morning conversations create a casual and comfortable atmosphere for CLC members to connect with industry leaders.

Americans considered several significant state and local ballot initiatives this year that would provide public financing for K-12, higher education, and other education facility construction projects. AGC and many of its Chapters across the nation generally support increased construction investment in education facilities. The public approved many of these school construction measures, the details of some of which you can find below.

AGC’s Lean Construction Forum is focused on growing the implementation of lean practices in the construction industry by providing educational opportunities and developing a community where anyone with an interest in lean construction can come together to engage in a dialog on best practices, share information, and participate in a broad, coordinated effort to promote and define the use of lean concepts and processes within the construction industry.

In 2018 the Project Delivery Forum changed its name to Project Innovation and Delivery Forum to broaden its scope and put emphasis on the innovations necessary to deliver projects in the 21st century. The mission of the forum is to align the execution of construction projects with the latest innovations in safety, quality and productivity, and to educate the industry on best practices in order to deliver quality projects on time and on budget.

AGC of America's Specialty Contractor Council Steering Committee is looking for members like you to raise your hand and lead. AGC volunteers share their expertise, facilitate change, and work together to address industry issues. Your input and ideas are critical to moving our industry forward and making a real difference.

Tonya Jackson has over 25 years of experience in the areas of business development, marketing, and sales. Jackson is a 16-year veteran of RA-LIN and Associates Inc., a Georgia construction management firm, where she works as a business development manager. She serves on the AGC of America Business Development Forum Steering Committee as well on the board of directors for Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, Douglas County Education Foundation and Douglas County Schools Partners in Education; WellStar-Douglas Hospital Authority Board; University of West Georgia Foundation; committees of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; and the Society of Marketing Professional Services.

The COVID-19 response in the Philadelphia region has left young construction professionals working under strict safety protocols, working from home, or even temporarily out of work. In response, GBCA’s CLC moved all its activities, including community service, online.