AGC Maine Member News

AGC Maine Co-Hosts Green Forest Summit

On April 17th , speakers from across the country came to Portland’s Marriott at Sable Oaks to offer their thoughts on the array of opportunities and challenges facing Maine as it works to promote the Maine Woods as a sustainable resource.  Nearly 200 members of Maine’s forest products, construction, and alternative energy sectors listened throughout the day to presentations on the impact that an emerging environmental consciousness is having on paper, building and energy markets.

The stage was set for the day’s discussion by R. Neil Sampson, Founder and President of the Virginia-based Sampson Group, an international natural resource consulting group.  Mr. Sampson began his remarks by observing that the four primary phenomena driving current environmental discussions are climate change, energy prices, food prices and water issues.  He pointed to a variety of data that highlighted the increasing impact of these phenomena on both the natural environment and the economy. He also suggested a number of ways in which most, if not all, of these issues are going to increase the publics' desire for assurances that the forest fiber they are using, regardless of the end product, is coming from sustainably managed forests.

Sector Presentations
After Neil Sampson’s global overview, the morning presentations consisted of several speakers who offered perspectives from the paper, construction and alternative energy sectors.  The message from the paper sector, represented by Time, Inc.’s David Refkin and Hearst Enterprises’ David Schirmer, was loud and clear:  while there appear to be no price premiums for certified fiber coming to paper makers any time soon, certification is increasingly going to be simply a cost of doing business as an increasingly concerned consumer base demands it.

While paper consumers have been increasingly mindful of sustainability issues over the past several years, that awareness is only beginning to take hold among clients, both residential and commercial, in the building sector.  That was the message from the five speakers -- including architect Steve Rich of WBRC, a wood broker, Kevin Hancock of Hancock Lumber and John Ryan of Wright-Ryan – who presented a variety of perspectives on current developments in the building markets.

Given the emerging interest, the future for green construction seems bright.  At the same time, however, Hancock Lumber President Kevin Hancock appealed to the audience’s common sense by pointing out that, whether certified or not, wood remains the most renewable natural resource.  Consequently, he urged members of the forest products industry to take advantage of the benefits of certification while continuing to remind customers of the inherent benefits of using wood.

The morning presentations concluded with three speakers who highlighted emerging characteristics of wood use in energy production, as well as the research currently underway at the University of Maine concerning possible future uses.

As part of a luncheon speech by Jack Cashman, Senior Economic Advisor to Governor Baldacci, a number of longtime participants from the forest products sector were recognized for their years of contribution.  Specifically, Josiah and Kathleen Pierce were recognized for bringing honor to the State of Maine by being named 2007 National Tree Farmer of the Year by the American Forest Foundation.

Kurt and David Babineau, of Babineau Logging, Inc., were recognized for being named National Outstanding Logger of 2008 by the Forest Resources Association.

Finally, CLP’s Mike St. Peter was recognized for his many years of contribution to the management of Maine’s forests through the promotion and implementation of professional development for Maine loggers.

For the afternoon session, the focus changed from a general overview of various sectors to the specifics of certification, both as it is expanding globally and as it increasingly developing in Maine.

Jon Pampush, Senior Ecologist with Metafore, Inc., provided attendees with a look at how certification is gaining ground around the world.  He pointed out that, between 2000 and 2007, the number of certified forest acres around the world increased from 112 million acres to 750 million acres.  He went out to say, however, that that figure constitutes less than 10% of the world’s forest acreage.  Consequently, the increased demand for certified forest products should translate into an advantage for those companies producing or using certified wood.

Following Mr. Pampush’s overview of certification, a number of speakers looked more closely at certification in Maine and at new certification opportunities.  Maine Forest Service Director Alec Giffen took a look at recent issues concerning certification in the Maine Woods, while Mike Thompson spoke about efforts by the state to streamline certification procedures in order to make it easier for small landowners to get certified.

Charley Levesque, of Innovative Natural Resources Solutions, described the role of Chain-of-Custody in certification, while Vicki Worden and Peter Taggart, of the Green Building Initiative and Taggart Construction respectively, described an array of emerging options in green certified building.

At the end of the day, Neil Sampson spoke again to the audience, offering some closing thoughts based on what he’d heard throughout the day.  His presentation, as well as well as the presentation of all those who used PowerPoint, can be downloaded from the MFPC website.

In addition to AGC Maine, he conference was presented by the Maine Pulp and Paper Association, Maine Forest Products Council, SWOAM, the Independent Energy Producers of Maine, and the Maine Forest Service.

The conference was sponsored by:

Gold Level- NewPage Corporation, Sappi Fine Papers, Verso Paper, Maine Forest Service, Time, Inc.

Bronze Level – Hearst Enterprises, TRC Environmental

Morning Welcome- Plum Creek Timber Co.

Luncheon – The Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc., Maine Professional Logging Contractors
Reception – E.D. Bessey & Son

Members attend 89th AGC Annual Convention in Las Vegas

Syndicated columnist George Will addressed a capacity crowd at the AGC Convention in Las Vegas and gave a stark portrayal of the American political landscape circa 2008.

Nickerson-O'Day's Loren Clarke and AGCMaine's John O'Dea were able to spend a minute with George Will as he left the hall for another engagement.

The Build America Awards are a crowd favorite at the convention.  This year's event was sponsored by Aon and featured entertainer Michael Cavanaugh.


Joyce Starr and Donna Clarke share a laugh during Michael Cavanaugh's performance.


Loren and Donna Clarke led the Maine delegation at the Build America Awards.


Cavanaugh wowed the audience for almost two hours.


Outgoing AGC President Steve Massie leaves the stage after an emotional farewell address to industry leaders.


Let's not forget... this is the largest construction industry trade show in the United States!

Mark your calendars now... the 90th AGC Annual Convention will be held in March 2009 in San Diego California.

Bancroft Contracting Corporation & Other AGC Member Companies Help Build World's Tallest Snow Woman

122' Snowman; Vies for World Record
Excerpted from Fox News
BETHEL, Maine —  The world's tallest snowman is no man.  The "snow woman" towering over this village features eyelashes created from discarded skis and bright red lips made from painted car tires. She wears a giant red hat and a 100-foot-long scarf, and her blond tresses are made from rope. She gets a little bling from a snowflake pendant that's 6 feet long.

Mark Bancroft of Bancroft Contracting Corporation donated the 150-foot crane used during the project.  He noted that it has been a tough winter with high fuel costs and nasty weather.  "What does Bethel, Maine, do when it gets tough? We build a snowman!" he said to the muffled applause of mittens and gloves clapping together.  Bancroft added that his family has been a part of the Bethel area for more than 200 years and that they were "honored to have a chance to help."

"Olympia," named for Maine's senior senator, Olympia Snowe, stands nearly 10 feet taller than "Angus, King of the Mountain," who was dedicated by the town in 1999. That snowman, named for then-Gov. Angus King, was created by the same folks responsible for Olympia.

Although the snow woman's namesake was unable to attend Friday's dedication because of her duties in Washington, a statement was read to the crowd. "I've joked that it's just my luck I'd have a world record-breaking monument named after me — and it will be gone by summer," the senator said.

It took more than a month, dozens of volunteers and tons of snow to create Olympia. Jim Sysko, a civil engineer, oversaw design and construction.  To get an idea of scale, Olympia is about 30 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty (without the base). Her arms consist of 27-foot-tall evergreens. Her "carrot" nose, painted by schoolchildren, is 8 feet long. Her eyes are made from giant wreaths.

She was built with a series of concentric circles. The crane dumped the snow into frames, and volunteers climbed in for long hours shoveling and packing the snow.  Other AGC member companies participating in the snow woman project include NES Rentals, United Rentals and Trask-Decrow Machinery.

Read the complete story here at Fox News.   

Click here for Bethel's official snow woman site.

 
AGC Maine Kicks Off Black Bear Hockey Rally

AGC Maine members took to the ice on Saturday to spur the UMaine Black Bears onto their first of two exciting weekend victories.  Representing AGC at the pre-game on-ice ceremony were: Brent Cross of the Cross Agency, Loren Clarke of Nickerson-O'Day, UMaine Athletic Director Blake James, Consigli Construction's Matt Tonello, Brian Bowman of Bowman Brothers and Tim Folster of Sargent Corporation. Special thanks to other event sponsors including Chadwick-Baross, CCB, Inc., Bancroft Contracting Corporation, Berkley Surety, Cianbro, HRH and RF Jordan & Sons.

Maine Section ASCE preparing Report Card on Maine's Infrastructure

The first comprehensive national level Report Card issued on 12 major Public Infrastructure areas (roads, schools, water systems, energy, etc...) was in 1998 and can be found at www.asce.org/reportcard/2005/index.cfm.  The program's purpose was to build public support for public infrastructure renewal, and it continues to gain attention and is given much credibility. In fact, President Clinton referred to the Report Card in two speeches as did other key lawmakers at the time of the initial release.  In 2001, an update was released to standing room only crowd at National Press Club in Washington, DC.  Media coverage of the 2005 update reached more than 100,000 in the first six months.  In recent years, with the infrastructure disasters of Katrina and the I-35W collapse, ASCE was quoted and mentioned in every national media outlet with many references to the Report Card.  Recent updates to the Report Card (latest in 2005) have expanded the list to 15 major areas. In March 2007, ASCE also released an Action Plan for the 110th Congress outlining 11 legislative steps that could be taken to improve our infrastructure.

Maine's needs are not much different from the Nation's. Public infrastructure needs in general are not always seen as a top priority by policy makers.  Typically public agencies and public owners are not able to "lobby" in a traditional sense for more funding.  A local, Maine based Report Card can provide information that creates public awareness and drives public demand for solution.  Opinion research has shown that the public views civil engineers very highly, thinks they are very credible and wants to hear what they have to say about infrastructure issues.  ASCE, as the association that represents Civil Engineers is seen as credible and non-biased.  We have been encouraged to hear that Legislators and Congress members are looking for local Report Cards to use as a resource.  Thus, the Maine Section ASCE will undertake this task in 2008, culminating with the Report Card release by December 2008 (prior to the new legislative session in early 2009). Peter Merfeld, PE, M.ASCE, immediate Past-President of the Maine Section is Chairing the Committee of volunteers that is tasked with this hefty endeavor.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has over 140,000 members worldwide with over 700 right here in Maine. The association is over 150 years old.  With full-time staff of over 250 in Washington DC, the association is a strong advocate for the profession and civil engineering-related issues, like infrastructure. In addition ASCE provides many educational opportunities and important publications. Locally the Maine "Section" operates with a much smaller budget and a fully volunteer Board and Leadership Team. The Section is proud to offer many professional development and networking opportunities. More info about ASCE can be found at www.asce.org and on the Maine Section at www.maineasce.org. 

AGC Members Chadwick-BaRoss and R.F. Jordan & Sons Appear on  ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Bangor, ME--January 6, 2008- Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc, Maine's Volvo Heavy Equipment Construction dealer had two of their customer-owned Volvo EC240 excavators along with a Volvo L90F wheel loader equipped with forks and bucket at work on the site of the recent Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC) in Milbridge, Maine. Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc has been serving the needs of local construction  companies in sales and service in Bangor, Maine since 1963.  Volvo customer, R. F. Jordan & Sons Construction, Inc., is owner of the Volvo machines, sold and serviced by Chadwick-BaRoss.

R. F. Jordan & Sons Construction, Inc., have been a satisfied customer since 1990. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design team prepared to build a new  home for the Ray-Smith family of Milbridge, ME and found R. F. Jordan & Sons Construction with online research. President and owner, Pat Jordan did not hesitate to get involved in the project to assist another local Eastern Maine family in such a rewarding project. John Thebarge, General Manager of the Bangor and Caribou  Chadwick-BaRoss branches said, "R. F. Jordan & Sons Construction has been a customer of ours for many years. When Pat told us about his involvement in the project and that Chadwick-BaRoss would have  Volvo machines on site of such a reputable, inspiring national  program, we were thrilled for them and for the Ray-Smith family!" Thebarge continued,   "Under those kinds of time restraints and conditions, the show's construction team really needs a company that operates equipment that is dependable and reliable. Volvo CE really has a lot of pride in the safety features in all the machines, as well as the operator comfort  features and environmentally friendly engineering... it was so great to know that several of our Volvos were working on such an important project, since we trusted they would be up for any jobsite needs that may come along - and under those conditions...

Stuart Welch, Chadwick-BaRoss President and CEO, notes that "Our customer, R. F. Jordan & Sons Construction, and their team of skilled operators did the work on this with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but it is a real pleasure to be a part of something of this magnitude. Seeing to it that our customer's machines are in top condition at any moment is one of our  goals, and because of this, customers like Patrick Jordan can trust that we will be right there providing necessary assistance to get any project done with as little downtime as possible, including a high pressure job like this extreme makeover in Milbridge." Welch adds, "Volvos  are technologically advanced machines with new service advantages, like Care Track - a satellite and computer monitoring system that tracks machine usage and directly alerts owners and us, right to our manager's desktops in fact, of any service concerns machines  may have. We can then promptly address them and keep our customer's machines working for them... we like to think of it as a new partnership in this advancing age of technology, where we are literally working for our customers 24/7."

Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc. began in 1929 as the Portland Tractor Company in Portland, Maine. Beginning as a dealer for Oliver crawler and wheel tractors and Walters all-wheel drive  trucks, Chadwick-BaRoss is now one of the largest multi-line heavy equipment dealers in New England. In 2000, they were voted one of the top 100 companies in the State of Maine.  They represent the finest manufacturers in the industry; meeting the needs of the heavy  equipment markets from Maine to Connecticut with five conveniently located facilities.