AGC San Diego Annual Report 2016 AGC San Diego Annual Report 2016 | Page 5

PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Dear AGC San Diego Members:
I am honored to have served as the AGC San Diego Board President in 2016. This Annual Report details the many
accomplishments of an engaged membership. The past year was a busy one, and many of the actions taken will have lasting
impacts to our industry. Here are some of the highlights.
New CEO. At the start of 2016, AGC members participated in a rare event. With the retirement of Jim Ryan, the San Diego
Chapter hired just its third executive in the past 40 years. The AGC Board developed and implemented a well thought out
transition plan that ensured our new CEO, Eddie Sprecco, would hit the ground running. With so much at stake in 2016, it
was crucial not to lose any momentum. The plan has been a success.
Political Action. The newly structured Political Action Committee (PAC) was put to the test in a wild 2016 campaign cycle. The
industry spent upwards of $1 million dollars in support of local construction-related ballot items. There were many triumphs,
including school bond measures, the re-election of San Diego “Infrastructure” Mayor Kevin Faulconer, and keeping a pro-
economic development County Board of Supervisors. While not all local efforts were successful, it is the constant pressure
each election cycle that keeps AGC issues in the forefront as “The Voice of Construction.” On the national level, the election
of Donald Trump gave the industry new opportunities to advance infrastructure investment. AGC will have to be aggressive
in holding all the newly elected officials accountable to their campaign promises.
Labor Relations. AGC San Diego negotiated seven master labor agreements with various building trades. Since the agreements
are of different lengths, negotiations are normally staggered with only one or two falling on any given year. In 2016, they all
happened to line up together, making for a busy year for the AGC Labor Relations Committee. These agreements are important
as they determine pay and working conditions for our union signatory members, and often set the prevailing wages for the
region. The adopted agreements retained the important provisions that reflect the unique San Diego market.
Workforce Development. Often the most cited challenge is contractors' need for a skilled and diverse workforce. The
AGC Education Committee expanded it’s mission to include outreach to local schools and career tech organizations. Taking
advantage of these partnerships, the AGC developed a “Build San Diego” website that brings all of these resources into one
place. A new AGC committee was also formed to improve and facilitate certified business programs, such as SLBE, DBE, and
WBE. With expanded outreach and encouraging “best practices,” AGC continues to help contractors and agencies better
meet their goals.
Member Engagement. In all areas, AGC continued its tradition of direct engagement with
members participating in 20+ councils and committees. AGC members answered the call
to testify at hearings, and directly lobby their representatives in Sacramento, D.C., and
here in San Diego. This year, an ad hoc group of AGC Government Relations

Committee members were tasked with helping find a replacement for

Dave Ackerman, who was retiring after a 48-year career in politics – the last

28 as AGC’s chief lobbyist in Sacramento. Former State Assembly Member

and Los Angeles Council Member Felipe Fuentes was selected and, with

the support of AGC San Diego members, will do a great job for years

to come.
It has been a busy and productive year, and the result has been a
stronger foundation for the future of the construction industry.
It has been a privilege to serve as 2016 president. Thank you!
JON CLOUD
J. Cloud, Inc.
2016 PRESIDENT
AGC SAN DIEGO
AGC SAN DIEGO
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