Starting this month, the Fort McMurray Construction Association (FMCA) is striking out on its own after a partnership of more than 15 years with the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce.
Formed in 1987 to provide a united voice for the construction industry, the FMCA is a member-driven association currently boasting more than 130 members.
Membership consists of general contractors, subcontractors, developers, title companies and other industry professionals.
"We’ve grown. The chamber has grown. It’s part of the evolution in being a healthy organization to move forward," explained Charles Iggulden, who was acclaimed to his 14th term as association president late last month at the FMCA annual general meeting.
"It’s the evolution to the positive."
He added that when the chamber and FMCA first entered into the partnership, it was at a time when neither could really afford to make a go of it on their own.
So, they shared an office, staff and even a CAO, Diane Slater, who retired from the FMCA in December.
While the association is moving into new facilities, many facets of the relationship will remain the same.
"We get along well. We’ve always stood united on different issues. The chamber has always been a good partner," said Iggulden.
"It’s just we’re not in the same office anymore."
In March, the FMCA will host its annual Future Projects Summit.
It’s a day when contractors get together to learn about upcoming construction projects from a variety of presenters including Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, local school boards, the airport, the oilsands industry, the municipality and municipal housing.
Iggulden predicted that the current economic slowdown will likely result in a shift of the type of work usually tendered, judging by lessons learned from the recession of 2008.
"We didn’t see the big projects, but we saw some smaller maintenance projects come out or small day-to-day projects, smaller projects. It just shifted in the different type of work we had," he said.
"Some were so busy with the larger projects, they shelved some of the smaller maintenance projects. That’s where we see that bonus time. There’s definitely work there for us, just a different focus."
He admitted that the economic slowdown may cause some companies to drop their prices when bidding, but Iggulden said the price has never changed at his company.
He is president of the Landing Trail Petroleum Company.
"We’ve always bid what we normally bid. We have our profit margins and our overheads. We’re local so whether it’s busy or slow, our prices are always competitive," he said.
"That’s why we always have work. We don’t gouge, but we also don’t undercut ourselves."
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