The BTEA: New York's voice for construction.

This past spring, the Building Trades Employers' Association (BTEA) hosted its most successful event in the association's 102-year history at the 2005 Leadership Dinner, honoring Mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as management and labor leaders in the construction industry.

The record crowd of 750 reflected the tremendous support from our membership but also for our ambitious agenda. It also reaffirms the fact that the BTEA and the unionized construction industry are stronger than ever and critical to the future of New York.

Over the past several years, the BTEA has been successful in restoring its position as the voice of construction in New York City. Today, the BTEA is the largest contractor association in New York City. It's comprised of 25 trade contractor associations, representing 1,500 construction management, general contractors and specialty contractor construction companies doing business in New York. These companies employ over 25,000 people in their corporate and field offices.

Further, the Construction Industry Partnership (CIP)--a joint initiative between BTEA and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC)--has been a key force in increasing jobs and market share for its members. The CIP works on issues of mutual concern to labor and management, such as apprenticeship programs, and legislative and regulatory reform.

Together, with our friends in labor, the BTEA provides education, training and high-paying careers for the next generation of New York City's workforce. Through Construction Skills 2000, a CIP apprenticeship project, the BTEA has been instrumental in creating opportunities for a diverse group of young workers who will be a part of our city's future middle class.

Over the years, the BTEA has worked to establish itself as a one-stop shopping resource for our associations, real estate owners, public policy makers and elected officials for issues related to construction. We've built a reputation with public policy makers at City Hall and the State House in Albany as a critical organization whose voice is important on issues affecting not only our industry but also general economic development issues.

The BTEA has been a leader on matters such as the role of M/WBE firms in the construction industry, the rezoning of the West Side and the Brooklyn Waterfront and the redevelopment of Ground Zero. These are all issues of great and historic importance to our city.

As we embark upon the city's most ambitious period of construction and economic development seen in generations, we look forward to continue being in the middle of history and New York's voice for construction.

BY Louis J. COLETTI, PRESIDENT, CEO 

BUILDING TRADES EMPLOYERS'

ASSOCIATION