Annual Report 2017

Message from the Chairman and the President & CEO

From its modest start with 11 charter members in 1921, the New York Building Congress is stronger and more relevant today than at any other point in its 96-year history.

Thanks to our respected publications, reasoned advocacy, and a diverse membership of more than 450 organizations (and counting), we have earned a reputation as a valuable resource among business, government and civic communities.

But like every successful organization, the Building Congress cannot afford to rest on its laurels. We must consistently and aggressively seek new and exciting ways, as well as additional platforms, to serve our industry and the City of New York.

As the Chairman and new President and CEO of the Building Congress, we tip our hats to the talented industry executives who have preceded us in our positions and laid the groundwork for continued success, most recently President Emeritus Richard T. Anderson. We look forward to building on all of their accomplishments and leading this esteemed organization to new heights through a member-driven agenda focused on growth and industry service.

Earlier this year, the Board of Directors adopted a strategic plan that sets ambitious goals designed to further enhance the Building Congress' membership, operations, services, and reach. The Building Congress is already off to a rocket start in meeting those goals, with membership having grown faster in the first three months of 2017 than at any other time in its history and attendance at events reaching record levels. Many new initiatives are underway, highlighted by the recent launch of new bi-weekly e-newsletters; establishment of a Government Affairs Committee and a Young Professionals Committee; and implementation of a five-borough outreach and engagement program.

The five-borough program is especially notable as our most wide-ranging initiative in the coming year and the underlying theme of this Annual Report. Our goal is to emphasize the Building Congress' broad geographic focus, which extends well beyond Manhattan to the rest of New York City and the metropolitan area. We have made it a major priority to expand our organization's constituency and influence in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island and to promote growth-oriented infrastructure projects and economic development initiatives across all five boroughs.

These efforts will help diversify the city's economy and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers, while also strengthening the Building Congress by further solidifying our position as the pre-eminent voice for the entire design, construction and real estate community.

We hope you will agree that this is an exciting time to be a Building Congress member. If you are a member, we encourage your active involvement. If you are not a member, we encourage you to join our growing coalition. Working together, we can shape a better and brighter future for our industry and New York City.