ENR ranks top U.S. contractors
Three Michigan construction contractors made the Engineering News Record's annual ranking of the top 100 contractors (in terms of revenue) and several more made the top 400.

As it has for the past several years, Barton-Malow of Southfield ($965 million in domestic revenue) was the largest contractor in Michigan, coming in at #28 on the list of national contractors. Detroit-based Walbridge-Aldinger was #46 on the national list, and second in Michigan, with $703 million in domestic revenue. Both contracting giants moved up six spots nationally from 2002.

Other Michigan-based companies in the top 400 U.S. contractors were Balfour Beatty Inc. of Novi (#55) and Angelo Iafrate Construction Co. of Warren (#61), The Christman Co., of Lansing (#105), Granger Construction Co. of Lansing (#162) John Carlo Inc. of Clinton Township (#163) , JM Olson Corp., St. Clair Shores (#183), George W. Auch Co. of Pontiac, (#278), Pioneer General Contractors Inc., Grand Rapids (#287), Roncelli Inc., Sterling Heights (#300), and Rockford Construction Co. Inc., of Belmont (#375).

The top three largest construction companies in the U.S. are Bechtel, Fluor Corp. and Centex.

Other ranked contractors who have had a presence in Michigan include The Washington Group International (#9), The Hunt Construction Group (#20), The Walsh Group (#22), Black and Veatch (#31), Alberici (#47), The Boldt Co. (#104), Lunda Construction (#205)

Endorsees, bond issue on June 9 ballot
With school board positions up for election in many communities around the state on Monday, June 9, following are a few endorsements by the Political Action Committee of The Greater Detroit Building and Construction Trades Council. Endorsements are only considered if candidates request them.

Chippewa Valley Board of Education: Frank Bednard, Kenneth Pearl

Plymouth-Canton Board of Education: Mark Slavens

Wayne-Westland Board of Education: Debra Fowlkes (write-in), Martha Pitsenbarger

Building trades union members living in the Waterford School District are asked to go to the polls on Monday, June 9 to support a bond issue to pay for infrastructure, technology and building improvements. The building trades will be seeking agreements with the school district to ensure that union members perform this work.

Egerer reappointed to Elevator board
Richard Egerer, business manager of Elevator Constructors Local 36, has been re-appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to the Michigan Elevator Safety Board for a term that will expire in 2006.

Egerer, who has been Local 36's business manager for 11 years, has served on this board since his original appointment in 1994. The board enforces the state elevator code and handles requests from contractors for variances to the code. The 10-member safety board includes two labor representatives, two contractor reps, an architect, a representative of the general public and the insurance industry, among others.