ASA Chicago aims to knock 2021 Meet the GCs event out of the ballpark

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Image from the 2019 ASA Chicago Meet the GCs event. This year's event returns as an in-person event.

Chicago Construction News special feature

ASA Chicago, a local trade association representing subcontractors of all construction trades for over 50 years, looks to knock this year’s Meet the GCs event out of the park on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at the Wintrust Field, also known as the Schaumburg Boomers stadium.

The Fall of 2020 left no room for the usual event accompaniments: a large body of indoor attendees, ice luge, fantastic assortment of Italian desserts, post-event pizza party, or outdoor cigar bar.

Despite the necessary change in format, ASA Chicago’s Business Opportunities Committee (led by Chairwoman, Kim Robinson of Pella Windows & Doors) revamped the event into a 6-week virtual series where attendees maximized on access to ASA Chicago General Contractor Council seat holders and sponsorships guaranteeing unique benefits such as pre-event private time with the presenting GC team, higher marketing visibility across a lengthened event time span, and solid post-event takeaways.

These included lists of GC contacts by department, bid list instructions, and a more intimate Q&A opportunity – departing from the in-person event’s traditional roar of 600+ attendee voices.

2020 meet the gcs
The 2020 Meet the GCs event was conducted virtually because of COVID-19 restrictions

Though 2020’s virtual series yielded great results and quality time between members and GCs (along with several horrible [horribly funny] puns launched by ASA Chicago’s Executive Director, Marissa Veith who helped to moderate the series), members and industry peers are excited to gather in person once again for an evening of solid business networking, hot dogs, beverages, and non-digital facial recognition. 

Subcontractor members of ASA Chicago rely in great part on general contractors for their work. This event provides them a key opportunity to speak directly with representatives of over 30 major Chicago area general contracting firms. 

Among the exhibiting general contractors are such firms as Walsh Group, W.E. O’Neil Construction Co., Unified Construction Group, UJAMAA, Tyler Lane Construction, The George Sollitt Construction Co., Summit Design + Build, Skender, Power Construction Company, Pepper Construction, Mortenson, McShane, Leopardo, Lamp Incorporated, Krusinski, Kiewit Infrastructure Co., James McHugh Construction Co., IHC Construction Companies, Graycor Construction Company, GMA Construction Group, Gilbane Building Company, F.H. Paschen, Clark Construction Group, Bulley & Andrews, Bear Construction Company, and more.

Ian Lamp, President of Lamp Incorporated and ASA Chicago General Contractor Council member since 2015 is looking forward to this year’s Meet the GCs and shares the following testimonial as Lamp nears its seventh year in participation:

A successful project is the result of teamwork consisting of open and honest communication, integrity, grit, and having fun. Preparation for a successful team begins long before the project is envisioned. Participating in the annual Meet the GC’s night allows us the opportunity to connect with trade contractors who we’ve not done work with and to reconnect with those trade contractors we do work with. This event is a great way to put a face to a name and build long lasting relationships.” 

2019 meet the gcs

Estimators, project managers, and executives of the general contractors provide subcontractors with information about their companies and, most importantly, how to get on their bid lists. The event’s sponsors along with ASA Chicago’s Board of Directors and committee leaders are among those who will have first access to the GCs during the VIP hour preceding the event start time of 6:00 p.m.

Sponsors include RentalMax LLC, the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, and Cathodic Protection Management, Inc.

The General Contractor Council (GC Council) was launched in 1999 with the intention to improve communication and create a thriving partnership to benefit ASA Chicago members and the industry at large. Recognizing the importance of subcontractors, the mission of ASA Chicago’s GC Council is to facilitate communication, cooperation, understanding, and improved relationships between GCs and subs by providing access, education, and exchange of information based on common goals and interests. This annual affair is a key opportunity to facilitate this dynamic for ASA Chicago members and prospects looking to network, fill their pipelines and strengthen relationships.

While focused on featuring General Contractors, the event attracts commercial subcontractors of all trades, vendors, and professional service providers from the Chicagoland construction industry to form an excellent opportunity for quality business networking. If you do business in the Chicagoland construction market, this is a must-attend event where you will enjoy familiar faces and friendly ASA Chicago members who are extraordinary at connecting each other and assisting with introductions.

Interested parties can register at www.asachicago.org, with early bird rates for members expiring Sept. 22. Construction professionals are encouraged to sponsor and attend to ensure they are visible and actively benefiting from this unique opportunity.

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