BUILD CALIFORNIA


and direct access to key people within the sponsoring public agencies. “It was really always about bringing


the industry together,” Soulages said. “I think the biggest accomplishment was us being able to really push through the show and reach all levels of the industry, from your mom and pop contractors, all the way up to our large contractors like McCarthy, Hensel Phelps and Balfour Beatty, who always continuously supported the show.”


Original Organizer John Arena,


business outreach program manager with the Metro- politan Water District (MWD), has been involved with CalCon Expo since its very the beginning. MWD was one of the original and continued organizers of the event that was initially held at the Las Angeles Convention Center in August of 2006. Inspired by an outreach event the


John Arena


City of San Diego put on for local subcontractors, Arena said MWD partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Los Angeles Community College District (LAACD) to host CalCon Expo the first year. Collectively, they were able to showcase over $23 billion in public projects in the agencies’ pipeline at that time and to engage small, medium and large contractors in their programs. Close to 300 contractors


and subcontractors showed up that first year, Arena recalled. Tat number quickly swelled in future years, especially when CalCon Expo moved to Pasadena and opened the door to job seekers along with the usual exhibitors, contractors, agency representatives and others.


www.AGC-CA.org


Agency Support Since those earliest days other


agencies and organizations joined the program. Primary sponsors in later years included MWD, Los Angeles World Airports, the Port of Long Beach, Department of General Services as well as AGC of California. LA Metro and the Orange County Transportation Authority also partici- pated for a few years. CalCon Expo changed venues over


the years, moving from Los Angeles to Pasadena and then to Long Beach before finally landing at the Anaheim Convention Center for the last few years. Its organizers tried out an array of different formats and programming, ranging from expanded educational workshop offerings to a business “matchmaking” event when it was in Long Beach – pairing approximately 20 general contractors with over 200 small businesses for rapid-paced business networking. “Tat was very effective,” Arena said. While the programming changed


over the years, one constant was CalCon’s continued focus on providing exposure and networking opportunities to every level of construction business as well as a large representation of public agency staff. “Being in the public sector for


23 years of my career, to me it was really refreshing to see the agency staff have the opportunity to come to an outreach event and really connect with the business community,” Arena


commented. “At one conference, we had over 100 public sector buyers there connecting with our small business community. Tat dialogue, the ability for people to communicate not via email or good faith efforts but face-to- face, during a day or day-and-a-half event, was the greatest accomplishment that I feel came out of CalCon.” CalCon eventually ran its course,


however. Arena said MWD plans to focus on more “targeted outreach” events now, strategically targeting water infrastructure contractors and specialty subcontractors interested in water market sector.


Carrying on a Legacy Like Soulages, Arena said the


decision to support Build California with a financial gift to carry on CalCon’s legacy was an easy one to make. “I love the fresh new approach, the


use of video to really engage this new generation on the job opportunities in the construction industry,” he said of Build California. “I’m glad that someone is reaching out to the kids so they don’t all fell like they have to go work in Silicon Valley. Te attention to detail in the videos, the look and feel of the program – it’s a great start to get folks to look at that industry as really a viable one that could provide for their families.” Erin Volk, Vice President of


Workforce & Community Devel- opment with AGC of California, said the donation will go a long way towards supporting Build California’s mission. “We are honored the CalCon Committee selected Build California as a program worthy to carry out the amazing legacy of CalCon!” she commented. “We plan to take that legacy and move it forward.” 


Associated General Contractors of California 15


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