2010 FTBA Annual Convention – An Epic Success!

Still energized from the excitement of this year’s Convention, I look on to our future endeavors with a true sense of how vital the transportation industry is to our state. An ongoing theme this year – and it comes as no surprise to us in the field – is how major a role our industry plays on Florida’s job market, its citizen’s daily operations, and its overall economic success. A closer look into its significance and you begin to see just how much our work touches the lives of Floridians everyday. Speakers at our convention echoed this sentiment.

FTBA is grateful to Governor Charlie Crist - candidate for U.S. Senate, Attorney General Bill McCollum, CFO, Alex Sink and Rick Scott – three gubernatorial candidates, for sharing their proposed plans to strengthen Florida’s transportation industry with attendees at the Convention this past week. At their campaign’s request we have shared the specifics of AG McCollum’s plan (http://bit.ly/bb4wDk) with you in the last blog post, and you will find CFO Sink’s plan and FTBA’s commendation of it by visiting http://bit.ly/a05q4j. Both vow to protect transportation jobs and funding, correct the Florida “donor state” status to bring more federal dollars to our state, as well as halt any raids on the transportation trust fund.

We would also like to thank Executive Director Sally Patrenos for the Florida Transportation Commission update, Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos, Assistant Secretary Ananth Prasad, Chief Engineer Brian Blanchard, and Director of Construction David Sadler from FDOT for a FDOT Work Program update and for leading the discussion of industry issues.

FTBA would also like to congratulate all of the award winners, along with the following scholarship winners: Jimena Calleja – recipient of the Philip Buenaventura Scholarship; Ernest Duffoo – recipient of a FTBA Scholarship; Shelby Frantz – recipient of the Bob’s Barricades Scholarship; Alex Hart – recipient of the G. Paul Turner Scholarship; Rebehak Havanec – recipient of the Bonn-J Contracting Scholarship; Josh Herrera – recipient of the Robert Nolen Memorial Scholarship; Latanya Linton – recipient of a FTBA Scholarship and Rana Riad- recipient of the Bob Burleson Presidential Scholarship.

In addition, FTBA members had great time learning about social media from Cordell Parvin, of Cordell Parvin, LLC and participating in a wine tasting with Jay Burleson. Appreciation also goes out to country music stars, Billy Dean and Travis Tritt, for livening up the party – and our wonderful sponsors below for making it all happen!

Don’t forget to save the date for the 2011 Annual Convention August 4 – 7, 2011 at the Marriot Marco Island Beach Resort.

2010 FTBA Annual Convention Sponsors: 3M Company, ADS / Hancor, Advanced Contracting Specialties, LLC, Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC, APAC-Southeast, Inc., Bonn-J Contracting, Inc. of Florida, C.W. Roberts Contracting, Inc., Cemex, Cemex, Rinker Materials Concrete Pipe Division, CMC Rebar Florida, Community Asphalt Corp., Cone & Graham, Inc., Construction Career Days, D.A.B. Constructors, Inc., Flagler Construction Equipment, LLC, General Asphalt Co., Inc., Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc., Hanson Pipe & Precast, HeistProof LLC., Hertz Equipment Rental, Highway Safety Devices, Inc., Highway Technologies, Hubbard Construction Company, InSource, Inc., InsulFoam, J. Mori Painting, Inc., J.B. Coxwell Contracting, Inc., Johnson Bros., Kelly Tractor Company, Leware Construction Company, Linder Industrial Machinery Co., M.E. Wilson Co., Inc., Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., Nortrax Equipment Co., S.E., PAW Materials Demolition, Inc., PB Americas, Inc., PCL Civil Constructors, Inc., Ranger Construction Industries, Inc., Reliance Supply, Ring Power Corporation, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc., RoadSafe Traffic Systems, Inc., RoadTEC,Inc., Russell Engineering, Inc., Siboney Contracting Company, Tampa Steel Erecting Company, The Middlesex Corporation, The Reinforced Earth Co., Thompson Tractor Company, Inc., Tractor & Equipment Company, Trinity Highway Products, LLC, Vezina, Lawrence & Piscitelli, P.A., Vulcan Materials Co. Florida Rock Division, Weekley Asphalt Paving, Co., White Rock Quarries, WRSCompass