Economic recovery: How far down before we rise? he Connecticut Chapter of Professional Woman in Construction hosts panel of construction chiefs April 3rd

The Connecticut Chapter of Professional Woman in Construction (PWC-CT) will host a panel discussion and meeting entitled "Meet the Construction Chiefs!" on April 3rd from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Hartford Marriott. This meeting - which is open to the public - is one in a series of educational and networking programs hosted by PWC-CT. The programs are tailored to professionals in the architectural, engineering and construction fields, as well members of the public interested in those subjects. The moderator will be John Butts, executive director of Associated General Contractors. The panelist are Daniel Bauer, senior vice president at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company; Matthew Consigli, vice president at Consigli Construction Company, Inc.; Michael Kolakowski, president and CEO of KBE Building Corporation; Steven Kononchik, vice president and CT district manager of Gilbane Building Company; Andrew Martin, vice president of general construction services at PC Construction Company; Alan Sparn, senior vice president of Skanska USA; and Gregg D. Scholler, vice president of operations at Turner Construction. Although the recession is officially over, many top analysts believe that the architectural, engineering and construction industries are still bumping along the bottom of this down cycle - and they warn that recovery will be long and slow. What trends can serve as market guides and differentiators in this hyper-competitive marketplace? How can firms prepare for the as-yet uncertain economic future? PWC-CT hosts this panel of New England construction firm executives, who will share their insights and forecasts regarding the current status and future of our industry. The panel will address changes in funding for construction projects; the current trends in sustainability, modular construction and technology advancement; the competition between mega-firms and local firms; and a potential future shortage of talent, due to a decrease in the number of students entering 4-year construction management programs. Founded in 1980, Professional Women in Construction is a national non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization committed to advancing professional, entrepreneurial and managerial opportunities for women and other "non-traditional" populations in construction and related industries. Members of the PWC-CT represent all major disciplines within our industry, and are drawn from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. PWC-CT programs present the latest industry topics, and provide networking and business development opportunities for members and guests. Membership is open to women and men, private companies and public agencies actively engaged in the design / construction / real estate development fields, and businesses supplying goods and services to the industry. PWC-CT supports education for in fields of architecture, construction and engineering, and recognizes ongoing professional excellence with two annual awards: the "Woman on the Rise" award, and the "Woman of Accomplishment" award. This PWC meeting and discussion is open to the public. It will be held on Tuesday, April 3 at the Hartford Marriott, 100 Capital Boulevard, Rocky Hill, Conn. All attendees must pre-register online by March 30th, at www.pwcusa.org/CT. Cost: PWC members $50; nonmembers $75. Registration and networking begin at 5:30 p.m.; cash bar; dinner and program at 6:30.