TO:  Washington Building Congress Members

From:  John Barron, FY'18 Nominating Committee Chairman

The WBC Nominating Committee is seeking the recommendation of qualified members who would like to make a contribution to the overall goals and objectives of our association.  Nominees have typically served several years in WBC volunteer roles as committee members, vice-chairs and chairs. The committee has developed the following brief nomination form to encourage membership participation in the process.

Please submit your nominations on this forms by Friday, August 25, 2017.  The election of FY’18 WBC officers and directors will take place on Thursday, September 28, at the WBC Fall Kickoff Bull & Oyster Roast at Columbia Country Club.  The new Board of Directors term commences on October 1, 2017.

CHAIRMAN-ELECT … (1 year term) …One Position

VICE-CHAIRMAN … (1 year term) … Three Positions

TREASURER … (1 year term) … One Position

SECRETARY … (1 year term) … One Position

DIRECTOR 2017-2020 … (3 year term) … Three Positions

There is no limit to the number of nominations a WBC member can submit.

Please use one of the links below to submit your nomination:

Online Form

Download the WBC Officer & Director Nomination PDF Form

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Deadline to be included on exhibit Donor Wall August 1, 2017

The Craftsman Hall of Fame Exhibit, collocated with the WBC at 1100 Vermont Avenue NW in the District, is officially open. Please feel free to stop by anytime during regular business hours to enjoy this amazing tribute to the individual craftsmen who make our industry a success.

The Hall of Fame Campaign supports the launch and ongoing operations of the Hall of Fame through June 2025.  Established in 2008, the Hall of Fame currently honors 36 master craftsmen. Gift Commitment forms must be received by August 1 to be included on the Hall of Fame Donor Wall. Contributions of $10,000 or more can be amortized for up to four years. Please join with us to honor these spectacular achievements.

Click here for further details regarding the Craftsman Hall of Fame Campaign and to see the current list of supporters. Please contact WBC for further information.

1972-1973 WBC Past Chairman Frank Reaves passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, May 13, 2017 at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD. His family was grateful to be at his side over the last few days. Frank was born on May 2, 1924 in Richmond, VA, the son of Harry Lucius Reaves and Lillian Muncaster. He grew up in Martinsburg, WV and maintained many friendships there. He attended West Virginia University, the University of Louisville, Georgetown and American University. He was an engineer, a contractor, a business owner, an inventor and innovator, a veteran of the Navy V12 in WWII, a student of international law, and an incredibly thoughtful and generous family man and friend.

He was a supporter of many charities, churches, communities, and associations, including St. Luke's Church, Kiwanis, Rotary, and Central Union Mission. As the president of R.M. Thornton, Inc. for 29 years and chairman for 25 years, he helped build post-war Washington, DC and contributed to many landmark construction projects, from the Capital Reflecting Pool to the Metro, Washington National Cathedral, the National Gallery and National Institutes of Health. He was past President of the Washington Building Congress and the Mechanical Contractors Association of D.C. Frank cared deeply about the world and its people, with a particular focus on the environment, poverty, and international peace. It's impossible to count how many individual people he helped as well. He never passed someone asking for money without giving something; he never heard someone talk about their dream without offering his support in pursuing it. People who met Frank trusted him immediately, and he was always worthy of that trust. He believed in honesty, fairness, hard work and generosity, and taught those values to everyone around him by demonstrating them every day. Frank is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Jane Slater Reaves; daughter Jean (Paul); son, John (Cheryl); son, Robert (Rita); grandchildren, Nicholas, Emma, Julia and Amy; numerous step-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews, Wednesday, Frank, Lee, Ann, Vicky, John Paul, Matt, Nanci and Alan.

There will be a visitation from 10 to 11 a.m., and a service from 11 a.m., to 12 p.m., on Friday, May 19 at St. Luke's Church in Bethesda, MD, with reception following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Union Mission (missiondc.org) or Unicef (unicefusa.org).

The Community Services Committee held the annual WBC Rebuilding Together Workday on April 29.  65 hardworking volunteers joined us for this hot day of giving back to those less fortunate in our community.

On behalf of the committee, Co-Chairs Ken Ellis and Rob Wenger and Vice-Chair Vanessa Carrion, thank you for helping our industry help others in need.  This major community service project would not have happen without your commitment and support!  Special thanks also go to Vanessa for serving as House Captain this year.

Our team accomplished a great deal at the property and this was a very rewarding project.

We also would like to thank Aerotek for providing coffee/bagels/fruits and Boston Properties for providing coffee/donuts and plenty of pizzas for the entire group lunch.  We were able to make good use of all extra food!

We hope to see everyone again next year for the WBC Rebuilding Together Workday.

VOLUNTEERS:

Bill Bartling – Brendan Bartling – Stephanie Bauer – Nick Belcher – Matt Bonifant – Vanessa Carrion – Susan Castellan – Jane Cherney – Chuck Claar – Susan Craig – Juan Cueva – Janiqua Davis – Juliana Del Pozo – Robert DeSano – Micheline Diakite – Edward Dudlik – Brenna Duncan – Dan Ejigu – Ken Ellis – Kent Fee – Alexis Gilligan – Brittany Gribeck – Geoff Grooms – Francis Homer – Taylor Huserau – Tyler Julian – Cecilia Kelly – Steve Kenton – Greg Koger – Steve Kosiba – Jon Kurtis – Devin Lubking – Keven Lugo – Ryan McKilley – Mike McLean – Andy Miller – Lauren Mizzell – Logan Phillips – Rita Reis – Tina Rickman – Ray Ritchey – Kendall Sims – David Smith – Kendal Smith – Cherese Stevens – Mason Thomas – Kipp Vilker – Cassidy Wenger – Rob Wenger – Travis Whitfield – John Young – Grace Zammitti.

Aerotek Crew – ATS Studios Crew – CB Flooring Crew – Harry and Sons Roofing Crew – Pillar Construction Crew – Precision Wall Tech Crew – Ruppert Landscape Crew – WCS Construction Crew

Click here to see all the photos

Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost to those served.

www.rebuildingtogether-aff.org

Washington, DC – It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2017 WBC Craftsmanship Awards winners!

On March 31, we will be recognizing the craftmen who have shown their work to be truly outstanding among the 255 nominations received for this honored award.

Please visit the WINNERS page for a complete list.

Shawn Fenstermacher
2017 WBC Craftsmanship Awards Chairman

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The WBC Small Business Committee hosted a Government Contracts 101 seminar at the WBC Office.  This introduction to contract basics and the Federal Acquisition Regulation or “FAR” covered topics such as contract formation, bid protests, small business issues and the False Claims Act.  The interactive program provided attendees an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the largest purchaser of construction in the world – the U.S. Government.

Presenter Larry Prosen, a government contracts attorney with a subspecialty in construction, counsels contractors on all aspects of government contracts, including SBA-related issues, as well as more traditional construction litigation-related issues.

Dowload Presentation

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Washington, DC – Over 100 people attended the November 17 WBC Higher Education Opportunities panel at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, DC.

The program provided anoverview of construction industry opportunities at three leading higher education institutions in the Washington metro region. Universities are continuingly planning for improvements to campus facilities including buildings, dormitories, offices, labs, athletic fields, and other infrastructure.

Speakers included:

Tom Calhoun
Vice President, Facilities
George Mason University

Bill Olen
Executive Director, Design & Construction
University of Maryland

Jeremey Stover
Director, Planning & Project Development
American University

Download Presentation

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Washington, DC – Michael Caplin, President of the Tysons Partnership, addressed the WBC Board of Governors on October 14, 2016, at The Tower Club Tysons Corner. Mr Caplin provided an outstanding overview of the current and future direction of this important regional market sector. The Tysons Partnership is a forum where members work together to set goals, resolve problems, and craft coordinated strategies as the Tysons area continues to undergoes a dynamic transformation. The group was established by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to help implement the Comprehensive Plan for Tysons. By 2050, Tysons will be transformed into a walkable, green urban center and be home to 100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs. Three-quarters of this future growth will be within a half mile of Metro Silver Line stations and many offices and homes will be a 3-6 minute walk from a station.

The Board of Governors role is to serve as a sounding board for the WBC by providing views and feedback on association initiatives and how we can better serve our members and the industry. All WBC Past Chairmen, the Board of Directors, committee chairs and vice-chairs serve on the Board of Governors, along with a cross-section of appointed industry.

Download Presentation

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The WBC Foundation is pleased to announce the Campaign for the Craftsman Hall of Fame.  Open to the public, the Craftsman Hall of Fame exhibit will bring together all the trades.  It celebrates skill, dedication, ambition, leadership and passion.  And because construction trades are often “family affairs,” the Hall of Fame also memorializes the achievements of generations of family members who have dedicated themselves to honing a particular trade.  The Hall of Fame celebrates those craftsmen who made it possible, who created it.  It is the most public of thank yous to the craftsmen who dedicated their lives to their chosen trade.

Please click here for further details regarding the Craftsman Hall of Fame Campaign and to see the current list of supporters.