Last Night's Build-out Fest

We spent yesterday evening at the Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced Eaglewood Resort and Spa in Itasca drinking da beers with over 300 of you and learning about concrete drywall and electric systems at the Association of Subcontractors and Affiliates Awards.

Divane Bros. Electric Co's Alan Rohde  and Marty McHugh, flanking Walsh Construction's Ken Johnston,  here auditioning for a Miller Lite ad. Ken used the evening to meet other subs and competitors. He tells us to visit Walsh's renovation of Buckingham Fountain because it's cool, identifiable, and a little historic. It'll finish in mid-2010.

Power Construction's Dan Zydazyk  and Airtite Contractors' Santino Medina, Charles Barlow,  and Dave Chaffee  talk shop (and line up from shortest to tallest as they do it). Santino is working on the specialty ceilings at the Art Institute of Chicago's new Modern Wing, opening this summer. He uses a special French-Canadian product that looks like fabric but is also very durable. Who knew subcontractors could be so artsy?

Cornerstone Solutions' Charles Silverstein, US Upfitters Joe Kauffman,  and ASA's Jennifer Peterson. Jennifer helped organize this year's event, a mix of subcontractors, affiliates, and friends. Subs earned awards for Outstanding Project, Project Manager, Estimator, Public Service and Project Superintendent, among others. Jennifer should be Oscar-ready next year.

F.H. Paschen, SN Nielsen's Clayton Graham  and Mary Berry  with mother-in-law Mary Claire Berry came out to see Mary's husband, Tim, receive the Outstanding Estimator award for his work at F.H. Paschen. Mary says he's a good estimator because he's honest and forthright. We're hoping that translates to good husband and son, too.

JADE Carpentry Contractors' Judith DeAngelo  recognized all the ASA members who helped build-out the areas that International Olympic Committee  members saw last month. The Fairmont Hotel ballroom looked unlike anything the other three candidate cities could have presented, she said, and we'll need much more subcontractor help if we actually get the games. (Anyone know how to build a synchronized swimming pool?)