“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit”.‑ Aristotle

 AGC Contractors—The Owner’s Advantage

 It was an honor to serve as the 87th president of the Associated General Contractors of America and the first from the state of South Carolina. 

 My theme for the year was “AGC Contractors - The Owner’s Advantage” and some of the issues I addressed were: how contractors can provide value to owners, and how AGC and its resources prepare contractors to provide that value. I have always believed that a well-educated and well-intended contractor can be a distinct advantage to an owner. I believe that AGC members are better skilled, better informed and better connected and therefore better prepared to deliver quality and value day in and day out.

 In the course of my career our industry has seen unprecedented change particularly in the last 10 years. I have always considered Mashburn Construction a professional organization able to provide immeasurable service to our clients. I firmly believe that progressive, well-intended general contractors are becoming more widely recognized as the professionals that we truly are. We are seeing more and more the status and methods of engagement of contractors moving up from the commodity to the professional level; in other words, contractors are becoming a valued team member along with the designers. We are increasingly being hired earlier in the preconstruction process rather than purchased after design work has been completed for the cheapest price like a load of sand. We are finally earning our way closer and closer to the role of the master builder. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, “I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor” and my overriding career goal is to see Mashburn Construction and my fellow general contractors elevated to the professional level… but surely it will take continued conscientious endeavor”

Successful contractors like Mashburn know that they must listen to the owner’s needs, and in turn provide options and solutions that fit. Contractors must keep up-to-date with the latest innovations and technology in our industry and know where and why the market is moving and most importantly, how this information will impact, not only us, but our clients as well. We must then take the step of applying this knowledge to our client’s advantage.

As change in our industry accelerates, so must Mashburn and other progressive general contractors as well. I am reminded of the urgency of this by an African proverb quoted in Tom Friedman’s new book, The World is Flat:

    “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.

    It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be eaten.

    Every morning a lion wakes up.

    It knows it must out run the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

    It does not matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle.

    When the sun comes up, you better start running.”

Throughout the remainder of my career, I intend to get up each morning and start running to strengthen Mashburn’s leadership position and enhance the skills of our company as we aspire to provide ever increasing professional service to our clients so that we will truly become “the owner’s advantage”.