The focus of Iron Worker and Contractor leadership attending last week’s Iron Workers/Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT) Regional Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting in Atlantic City, N.J., was on growth—both personal and professional. From structuring successful project teams to improving corporate communication, attendees were immersed in strategies for developing the leader in us all.
Iron Worker General Treasurer Ed McHugh emphasized the need to strengthen the role of the RAB, which manages the programs IMPACT has designed to create jobs for Ironworkers and Contractors. Each of the 13 RAB’s are comprised of Labor and Management representatives from within the region, and each RAB independently decides how to best use the available funds and resources to promote the growth of market share in their own backyard.
“We are pleased to provide these regional meetings to do business and build valuable relationships,” said Ed Walsh, IMPACT Labor Co-Chair. “We expect to see participation grow.”
This collaboration extends beyond Iron Worker leadership and Contractors. Jacinda Collins, a Mid-Atlantic Regional Engineer with the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), discussed the existing alliance between the Iron Workers, Ironworker Contractors, IMPACT and AISC, and the benefit of that tie in promoting the steel industry. Next week’s annual Steel Day celebration and a long standing partnership aiding Ironworker Contractors in attaining AISC Steel Erector or Fabricator Certification are just two examples of the benefits of this association.
Highlighting the focus on the importance of developing good leadership was a seminar by Mark Breslin, President of Breslin Strategies, Inc., entitled Courageous Leadership: Meet the Challenge. IMPACT CEO Kevin Hilton followed, outlining a few of IMPACT's programs and services that seek to further this end. Marketing the Ironworkers focuses on teaching Iron Worker leadership more effective relationship-building and marketing techniques, while Effective Project Management aids Contractors in building and creating powerful project teams and developing profitable long-term customer relationships.
“It’s obvious that IMPACT has made a difference,” said Joe Merlino, IMPACT Management Co-Chair for the region. “The union ironworking industry will grow by continuing to feed the value-added business lessons learned at our RAB meetings.” Merlino is the owner of Bayshore Rebar, Inc., reinforcing steel erection and post tension specialist based in Pleasantville, N.J.
Rounding out the meeting was an OSHA panel moderated by IMPACT Eastern Regional Director Kevin Byrnes. This open question and answer session allowed Robert Kulick, Regional Administrator, Richard Mendelson, Deputy Regional Administrator and Laura Kenny, Labor Liaison, all with OSHA, to interact with the audience regarding issues affecting the ironworking industry.
About IMPACT (www.impact-net.org):The Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT) is an independent labor-management partnership designed to create work opportunities in the North American ironworking industry. Our primary mission is to provide a forum for Ironworkers and signatory contractors to discuss effective strategies to expand job opportunities through innovative labor-management cooperative programs. IMPACT provides expertise in training, construction certifications, marketing, construction project tracking and bidding, insurance and Davis-Bacon compliance efforts. IMPACT also administers a world-class substance abuse program to ensure that Ironworkers are safe, drug-free and ready to work.
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Contact: Brennan Gamwell, Communications Manager, (800) 545-4921