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ASA 2002

 Construction Managers, Specialty Trade Contractors Lay Foundation for Cooperation

SAN DIEGO, CA - The American Subcontractors Association Inc. (ASA) and the Construction Management Association of America Inc. (CMAA) broke new ground in cooperation within the construction industry at the CMAA National Conference & Trade Show. ASA and CMAA formalized the new level of cooperation between specialty trade contractors and construction managers when officials from ASA, CMAA and affiliated groups signed a partnering agreement on Oct. 15.

The agreement lays the foundation for construction managers and specialty trade contractors to communicate with each other on issues of importance, such as how the construction team can work to better satisfy the ultimate construction customers - the owners and users - and conduct business at the highest level of professionalism and integrity. The agreement also recognizes the need to support CMAA\'s Construction Manager Certification program and provide construction professionals with continuing education opportunities.

"As construction managers increasingly lead the project team in many markets, the relationship between the specialty trade contractor and the construction manager is more important now than ever before," said ASA President Anne Bigane Wilson, CPC, PE, president of Bigane Paving Company and Ogden Avenue Materials in Chicago. "This agreement represents a unique opportunity to open the doors between us."

"On construction management projects \'subcontractors\' become \'prime contractors\' as a result of signing contracts for the performance of their trades directly with the owner.  This establishes the need for construction managers and trade contractors to cooperate and work closely together throughout the bidding and award process, and during the course of construction." said CMAA President Blake V. Peck, CCM.  "The partnering agreement, with this vital and productive sector of the industry, will provide a perfect opportunity to find more and better ways to satisfy owners by improving the timeliness and quality of the constructed project."

The other signatories to the partnering agreement were the Construction Manager Certification Institute, the CMAA Foundation and the Foundation of ASA.

Under the agreement, the groups will:

  • Notify each other of issues, concerns and activities that may be of mutual interest.
  • Meet, when appropriate, at the staff, committee or officer level to engender mutual understanding of emerging issues.
  • Support and provide continuing education for professionals in the A/E/C industry.
  • Cooperate on educational products and services, including identifying opportunities to jointly develop, exchange and/or market each other\'s products and services. 
  • Provide speakers on topics of mutual interest at the others\' events.
  • Support and promote Construction Manager Certification as an essential component of professional development in the construction industry, including encouraging public policy makers, private corporations and educational institutions to recognize CM Certification as an indication of such professionalism. 
  • Help young professionals in the construction industry to recognize the value of joining and participating in their associations and professional societies.
  • Invite each other to designate a representative to serve on their appropriate committees or task forces responsible for promoting professional development.

Founded in 1966, ASA serves 5,500 member companies and is dedicated to improving general business conditions for all subcontractors through unified and cooperative actions. ASA\'s vision is to be the united voice dedicated to improving the business environment in the construction industry. 

CMAA is an industry association of more than 1,900 firms and professionals who provide program and construction management services to owners in the planning, design and construction of capital projects of all types.  Its mission is to promote professionalism and excellence in the management of the construction process. CMAA’s national headquarters are based in McLean, Virginia.