August 2006

Construction Connection interviewed the Framing Contractors Association Executive Director Mandi Harding to nail down, as it were, the benefits of belonging to this hammer-holding group.

Construction Connection: What is the Framing Contractors Association, and who are its members?

Mandi Harding: The Framing Contractors Association is a construction trade association, in this case, trade-specific in nature, and is comprised of nearly 80 members. The FCA caters to two membership segments. Associate members are commercial and residential framing contractors who own a C-3 license issued by the Nevada State Contractors Board and are non-union. Affiliate members are service-based companies providing items such as, lumber, connectors and components, trusses, insurance, legal representation and so on to the associate members or framing contractors.

CC: Is there a national organization? If not, to whom does FCA owe its roots?
MH: Currently there is not a national organization representing the needs and interests of framing contractors, however there are a handful of groups similar to the FCA that have materialized in cities around the country. The FCA was founded in 1996 by five framers determined to display a united front in the face of inevitable regulatory sanctions on fall protection guidelines and for this sole issue alone. The framing industry at the time was facing stringent and unrealistic fall protection procedures. To further aggravate the situation the framing trade was being lumped in with roofers and other trades that have different capabilities and concerns with regard to fall protection. These five framers were directly responsible for creating an interim fall protection guideline specifically for framing contractors and was eventually accepted by the Nevada Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This interim guideline is still accepted today. After witnessing the success behind the power of unity, the founding framers decided to stay connected at least informally, to tackle future trade specific concerns. The group legitimized itself, after it created bylaws and filed its nonprofit corporation status with the state of Nevada on July 25, 1996. As new issues surfaced and new framers engaged in the roundtable, a new need emerged – the framers needed someone to organize their events, meetings, gather and disseminate information. They needed an Executive Director and in 1996, the board of directors hired Christine Douglas to fill that need.

CC: The FCA we know today is somehow, interlinked with the Associated General Contractors, can you explain that relationship?
MH: Christine executed her role exceptionally by expanding the membership and implementing new programs to meet the members’ needs. However, as is often the case with trade-specific construction trade organizations, they are eventually limited in growth as there are only so many prospects from their target area to draw upon and consequently their overhead can all too easily become burdensome to its operations. In 1999, the organization had reached a pinnacle and it became unsure of the next right move. It was simultaneously, confronted by the fact that Christine was preparing for a career change. The board collaborated on its strategic plan, and toyed with the idea of approaching a larger association that was stable, already offered numerous benefits and services to avoid duplication and had an established and respected government affair’s voice with which the FCA could establish a symbiotic relationship. Based on the criteria the AGC, Las Vegas Chapter was identified as the best fit. AGC was approached and also saw the value in partnering with a smaller trade organization that wanted to remain autonomous financially and continue its focus on trade specific concerns but enjoy dual membership in both organizations and add numbers to AGC’s already strong political voice.

CC: Is this also the pivotal point that led to your involvement with the FCA?
MH: Yes, the partnering agreement was signed by the two associations in late 1999. In early 2001, I had been employed within AGC’s public relations department for just over a year and was tasked with reestablishing the FCA’s presence, by rewriting their membership information and brochures, establishing a website, creating a monthly news feature, etc. By March 2001, I was appointed to the role of FCA executive director. A position I hold and execute alongside my AGC duties.

CC: So what is the value to a FCA member who utilizes AGC benefits and services?
MH: FCA members are saving money through AGC’s Health Plan of Nevada group healthcare point of service plan. Healthcare savings are between 15 to 30 percent and more than that if companies offer health insurance as an added benefit to retain their skilled workers. Companies who participate in AGC’s self-insured worker’s compensation program and McGraw-Hill’s products, construction industry news services and unlimited use of its plan room for take-offs and estimates also realize great savings. Other FCA members exclusively utilize AGC’s Safety and Training department for services that are too costly or too time consuming to acquire elsewhere. Framing-specific safety manuals are available for 50 percent off market rates. Members enjoy access to 50 or more training and professional development classes a year, most offered at only $25 per person. AGC’s safety consultants conduct regular jobsite inspections, OSHA representation or accident investigation at a fraction of market rates. Some FCA members find value in counsel and advice from AGC’s labor relations staff when incurring boundary issues with the unions. Business development opportunities abound for those participating on AGC committees and attending AGC functions. Jerry Nelson, FCA president, sat at the same table at the 2004 AGC Holiday Dinner Dance with Jim Mason of Taylor International. The two struck up conversation, and during the next year Jerry was framing for several of Jim’s projects.
Perhaps the greatest value reaped by FCA members though the AGC partnership is derived from AGC’s competent industry representation in the government affairs arena. AGC’s voice resonates at the legislature. In fact, construction defect reform legislation had been introduced every session for several sessions before the 2003 session without success. Suddenly, Senate Bill 241 passed during that session. The deciding factor? AGC’s active participation on behalf of FCA and the other construction trade groups. AGC is already drafting a bill draft request for 2007 to provide even greater relief. AGC has also prepared a bill draft request to aide commercial framers and subcontractors as a whole, by demanding release of retention at the completion of a trade’s work. Many commercial framers have experienced retention of hundreds of thousands of dollars held many months to years after their scope of work is completed. AGC represents the construction industry and while there is give and take among union and non-union, general contractors and subcontractors, at the end of the day AGC finds that balance for its members and its affiliate association members of the FCA.

CC: What benefits are available specifically for members from the FCA?
MH: Members can attend FCA’s quarterly luncheons where they will have access to timely topics affecting the construction industry, but targeted to framers specifically. Whether it’s code adoptions, immigration, construction defect there is value in mastering the issues that challenge one’s business and in networking with others who are challenged by the same issues, there is truth to the adage, two heads are better than one. Members may also participate on the Commercial Framers Forum or Residential Framers Forum subcommittees to again network, receive timely information and work out issues common to that respective scope of framing.