Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
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Contact: Bud Perrone (212) 843-8068

For Immediate Release

NEW YORK BUILDING CONGRESS SALUTES MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG DURING 84TH ANNIVERSARY LEADERSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON

George A. Fox Public Service Award Given to Susan L. Hayes

NEW YORK, May 18, 2005 – More than 1,200 members of the design, construction and real estate community joined to honor New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, during the New York Building Congress 84 th Anniversary Leadership Awards Luncheon, held at the Hilton New York on May 18.

Mayor Bloomberg was presented with the New York Building Congress Leadership Award in recognition of his and his administration's tremendous vision and enormous contributions to New York City

In presenting the Leadership Award to Mayor Bloomberg, Building Congress Chairman Frank J. Sciame, said, “My confidence in the future of New York and this industry is based on the landmark programs being set in place by our distinguished honoree, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.” Sciame, who is President and CEO of F.J. Sciame Construction Company, added, “Mayor Bloomberg's administration is planning and rezoning large portions of New York City, reclaiming derelict lands and opening up large waterfront areas. All of this is positioning New York City for a wonderfully vibrant future.”

Added Luncheon Chairman Daniel R. Tishman, who is Chairman and CEO of Tishman Construction Corporation, “Mayor Bloomberg believes in economic development and jobs for all New Yorkers but not at the expense of community and livability. He is dedicated to opening up vast areas of the City to new housing and parks but not without good planning and design. He is truly a Mayor for all seasons, someone who inspires our confidence and enthusiasm for the future.”

During his acceptance Mayor Bloomberg said, “When I spoke to you as a candidate, I said that as New Yorkers we have to dream big. It's what has always made us great,” noting that at the time, he was calling for expansion of the Javits Center, a westward extension of the #7 line, redevelopment of the Far West Side and a strong bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. “That agenda hasn't changed. New York's growth has always been spurred by imaginative projects like these.”

Also at the luncheon, the Building Congress bestowed the 2005 George A. Fox Public Service Award upon Susan L. Hayes, President of Cauldwell Wingate Company for her extraordinary efforts to advance and expand the participation of women in New York City's design, construction and real estate workforce.

“As president of the Board of Non-Traditional Employment for Women, Susan has furthered her deep commitment to providing opportunities for women in the building trades,” said George A. Fox Award Selection Committee co-Chairman Mary Jean Eastman, who is a Principal at Perkins Eastman Architects. “She never misses an opportunity to advance the cause of women in our industry and has achieved striking success on numerous fronts.”

Ms. Hayes used her acceptance to encourage the assembled building community leaders to assist in the effort to expand opportunities for women in the industry. “Recruitment remains our biggest challenge,” said Hayes. “In the next five years, we need to reach 6,000 women.” She said that goal could be accomplished if each person in attendance recruits just one woman a year. “I'm proud to be part of a room full of people who can get this job done.”

In addition to honoring Ms. Hayes, the George A. Fox Public Service Award Selection Committee also gave Special Recognition to the almost 100 New York Building Congress members who have contributed to New York City's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

“The Fox Award Selection Committee was enormously impressed by the contributions of Building Congress members,” said Tishman Construction Corp. President John Livingston, who served as Co-Chairman of the selection committee. “More than fundraising alone, many Building Congress members have contributed significant time and effort in numerous ways. Taken together, this industry has done as much as any sector of the City to help fashion a terrific Olympics bid.”

The Executive Co-Chairmen for the luncheon were Cerami & Associates President Victoria J. Cerami, Swanke Hayden Connell Architects Managing Principal Richard Seth Hayden, Forest Electric Corp. President Howard Hirsch, Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York President Edward J. Malloy and Skanska USA Civil President and CEO Salvatore Mancini.

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The New York Building Congress is a non-partisan public policy coalition of business, labor, association and governmental organizations representing the design, construction and real estate interests of more than 250,000 individuals. More information on policies, programs and events is available at www.buildingcongress.com.