Hammersley Stone - AGC of Wisconsin

8 Wisconsin Constructor / Issue 1 • 2008
the positive impact that contractors,
design professionals and associations
have on their communities and industry.
Additionally, headlines like these
reinforce the need for construction to
pull double duty when it comes to image
building. The bottom line is that high
profile and widely publicized negative
events reinforce the public’s misconceptions
about the construction profession.
Because of misconceptions and lack of
information, construction is generally
NOT the career of choice for parents
seeking a career path for son or daughter.
We can do more to improve the image
of our industry by learning from other
industries. For example, automobile
dealers require that all of their service
technicians wear appropriate uniforms.
The next time you go to the dealership
notice the uniform and appropriate credentials
proudly displayed on the technicians’
shoulders.
Is it impractical for contractors to
impose a uniform requirement on their
field workers? It certainly is a new way
to think about the image we portray to
the public. In addition to the wearing of
clothes which meet safety requirements,
contractors should at a minimum have a
dress code which appropriately represents
company values and a positive
image. A big part of our career academy
initiative is taking students to job sites. It
is important that these students see an
industry which portrays a professional
image, from the president of the company
down to the craft worker.
Image improvement is a priority for
the AGC Board of Directors. We are
addressing the issue on several fronts.
One is through this magazine, Wisconsin
Constructor. Profiles of our members
are one way we show what good our
members do for their communities and
the state. The SIR (Skill Integrity
Responsibility) Council, Inc., AGC’s
new issue advocacy organization, is
working to improve our image in several
areas. Construction’s positive economic
impact on the state and workforce
development are two important
initiatives being addressed by SIR
Council. Last but not least, AGC’s Construction
Education Foundation is the
funding mechanism for AGC’s workforce
development initiatives related to
construction career academies; AGC
student chapters at UW-Madison, UW-
Platteville and UW-Stout; and the promotion
of construction as a viable career
option.
AGC’s workforce development
efforts over the past several years have
gained us the reputation as the go-to
organization for high schools and the
State of Wisconsin for workforce development
issues. Improving the image of
our industry will directly increase the
number of students pursuing construction
as their career choice.
Maybe AGC is overly sensitive to this
image issue because of our work in high
schools. The bottom line is that we are in
a war for talent; the image of our industry
needs to improve; and many guidance
counselors are steering students
away from construction.
The AGC Board of Directors has
made workforce development and
industry image a priority in our strategic
plan. We have a lot of work to do and
our commitment is unwavering. ■