Machinery Exports Improve, Trade Deficit Worsens

U.S. construction-equipment exports continued to increase in 2003, according to the Milwaukee-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

The industry shipped more than $1.86 billion in machinery to global markets during the second quarter of 2003, a 13.2 percent increase compared with the first quarter and a 12.6 percent gain over the comparable period in 2002.

Exports to South and Central America, Canada, Europe and Africa saw rebounds, but shipments to Asian and Australian/Oceania markets were still in decline.

While exports improved, the trade deficit for construction equipment worsened. The trade imbalance of imports over exports was $214 million, compared with a deficit of $64 million in the first quarter.

In other news, the AEM announced Megan Carpentier was named manager of government affairs and will be based in the group's Washington office. She was previously a lobbyist for the Bethesda, Md.-based Automotive Aftermarket Industry.

Sklar To Lead Attorneys Group

Stanley Sklar, partner with Bell, Boyd & Lloyd in Chicago, was recently elected president of the Chicago-based Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys.

Other newly elected officers are Vice President Mark Friedlander, partner with Chicago-based Schiff, Hardin & Waite; Secretary Paul Peterson, assistant general counsel of underwriting with Chicago Title Insurance Co.; and Treasurer Lorence Slutsky, partner with Chicago-based Robbins, Schwartz, Lifton & Taylor Ltd.

Steering committees members for the next term comprise William Lyman, partner with Oak Brook, Ill.-based Bedrava & Lyman; Eric Singer, partner with Chicago-based Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon; Bob Lessman of Chicago-based Pepper Construction Co.; and Bruce Schoumacher, partner with Chicago-based Querrey & Harrow.

ConstructMyFuture.com Expands Scholarships

The annual ConstructMyFuture.com scholarship program is expanding to provide three scholarships for post-secondary vocational education with a construction focus.

The program will provide scholarships of $1,500, $1,000 and $500.

The scholarship is available to students enrolled or accepted to a post-secondary vocational education program with a construction focus.

In addition, individuals may apply who are already employed in construction and wish to purchase tools so they can improve their ability to learn and perform new skills.
Applications are already being accepted and must be postmarked by Feb. 1, 2004.

Entry details and applications are available on the Internet at www.constructmyfuture.com/stu-scholar.html. Information may also be obtained by calling Nicole Hallada at (414) 298-4129 or e-mailing her at nhallada@aem.org.

ConstructMyFuture.com showcases careers in the construction industry. The site is a joint effort of the Milwaukee-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the Oak Brook, Ill.-based Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation and the Alexandria, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America.

Stocking to Lead NAWIC Chapter

Marian Stocking, distributor representative of Schiller Park-based USG Building Systems, was elected president of the O'Hare Suburban Illinois Chapter 193 of the National Association of Women in Construction.

Other board members include President-Elect Julie Tiu, project estimator for Palos Hills-based Skender Construction Co.; Vice President Barb Knuth, owner of Barrington-based Knuth Builders; and Recording Secretary Jennie Oratowski, office manager of Franklin Park-based Enger-Vavra.

Other newly elected officers include Corresponding Secretary Valerie Wagner, superintendent of Northbrook-based Red Seal Homes; Treasurer Claire Richter, office manager of West Chicago-based A.A. Conte & Sons; Director Wendy Lepic, inspector for Itasca-based Ahern Fire Protection; and Director Patricia Grabowicz, administrative assistant with Deerfield-based JMD Builders Inc.

NRF Announces Call for Entries

The Rosemont, Ill.-based National Roofing Foundation has announced a call for entries for the William C. Cullen Fellowship Award.

The annual fellowship awards $8,000 to an individual or research organization to support research on roofing technology.

Nominations must be received by March 1, 2004.

For information, call Chris Seidel at (847) 299-9070, ext. 7564, e-mail him at cseidel@nrca.net or obtain information on the Internet at www.nrca.net.

The NRF is the separate but related education and research organization of the National Roofing Contractors Association.