Builders Exchange - BX weekly online newsletter

“Our diversity can be our strength, if we focus on making Central Ohio a better place to build.”

Rick Lombardi
Turner Construction Company
BX Board of Directors

Advocacy is an integral part of the Builders Exchange Strategic Plan, but “not in the political sense that many organizations view as advocacy,” said BX Board Member Rick Lombardi (Turner Construction Co.)

When the BX board of directors revised the Exchange Strategic Plan this year, they focused on being the advocate to bring all professions of the local industry together, he said.

“Because BX members are so diverse, it’s difficult – if not impossible – for the association to lobby for political or legal viewpoints on their behalf,” Lombardi said. “The board agreed that there are many special interest associations in Ohio who represent those varying viewpoints as part of their mission.”

Member firms in the Builders Exchange range from owners and developers, to general and specialty contractors, to architects and engineers, to material suppliers and manufacturers. An equal number of BX members are from the professions who provide business services to the industry: legal, banking, insurance and more.

“Our diversity can be our strength, if we focus on making Central Ohio a better place to build,” Lombardi said.

“That’s what the board believes the Builders Exchange advocacy role is about: bringing all the segments together for better communication, better processes and better results for all of us.”

The BX advocacy role is addressed in one of four key goals of the new Strategic Plan. The goals reflect a three- to five-year direction of the Builders Exchange, and the board works on action strategies over that timeframe.

For more information, members are encouraged to read the new Builders Exchange Strategic Plan on the association’s Web site: www.bx.org.

The Builders Exchange Strategic Plan

Goal B: BX will be the leading advocate in creating forums which bring together varying commercial construction industry segments to jointly improve the construction processes, foster respect for quality work and encourage fair dealings among all disciplines.

Strategies:

Identify stakeholders in the construction process (owners, consultants, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, building officials, associations, etc.) and initiate a forum to discuss concepts, fundamental needs, and issues and develop a plan to move forward to the action phase.
Establish a meeting and an electronic forum for discussing and communicating issues that allow for the accumulation of ideas, input and potential needs arrived at through subgroups and individuals.
Create a set of communication mechanisms (platforms) for ongoing process updates on best practices (i.e., blogs, newsletter, annual meeting, super conference).
Develop a set of industry-accepted best practices for all stakeholders.