January 10, 2012

Grand Valley Construction Association of Cambridge, Ontario launches group to attract young industry leaders

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

With the aim of providing a forum for networking and other activities, the Grand Valley Construction Association (GVCA) is launching a young leaders’ group. Membership is open to individuals who are under 40 years of age and are employed by GVCA member companies.

Association president Martha George said the initiative is in line with a strategy to engage younger personnel in the GVCA and the industry and to develop the leaders of the future. Social events are on the agenda along with relevant educational courses, seminars and lunch and learn sessions.

“We have a lot of family-owned firms that are seeing the next generation taking over or at least coming into the business,” George said.

“This is an opportunity to connect the next generation and help them develop a network within the industry.”

The mission of the Leaders in Construction (LinC) group is to provide opportunities for networking, socializing and relationship-building as well as professional development and honing of leadership skills. The group also will provide a venue for mentoring of people coming into the industry.

“I see this as a great opportunity for the association to help younger people connect and gain a greater sense of belonging to an industry, of not feeling isolated within their own companies,” George said, noting that feedback has been “quite positive” to the group’s launch.

George said “a fair number” of the association’s younger members turn out for events such as the building excellence awards, which are held every two years, and for presentations on such select topics as social media.

“Probably close to 50 per cent of those who attended a social media session at an educational forum last year were younger members,” George said.

“That was really encouraging. We felt that (subject) kind of hit a nerve with young people.”

Set to join the group is Craig Seibel, a 30-year-old project manager and estimator at Kitchener-based ACL Steel, a family-owned firm.

He sees having an opportunity to network and socialize with colleagues of his generation who are employed in other companies as a key benefit.

“You tend to communicate with people over the phone and via e-mail,” he said.

“There is not a lot of opportunity to put faces to the names. Joining this group will allow me to interact with other young people, shoot around ideas and talk about where we all sit.”

A prospective member is Wes Quickfall, the 35-year-old vice-president of operations at Conestogo Mechanical Inc., also a family-owned firm. Quickfall currently sits on the GVCA’s board of directors.

He agrees that the group will provide a venue for networking “that might otherwise not be available.” It could also help younger individuals develop a set of leadership skills “at perhaps an earlier juncture” in their careers.

The inaugural LinC group event is a Jan. 13 hockey game at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph between the Guelph Storm and the Windsor Spitfires. The event, which will include dinner, drinks and door prizes, will be held in a private box donated for the evening by Ball Construction.

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