Shown (from left) are: Scott Burtt, Gilbane Building Company; John Lauring, Lauring Construction Company; Lisa Wexler, Elaine Construction; Peter Menke, Gilbane Building Company.

Setting aside the competitive climate of day-to-day business, 45 area construction and real estate companies worked together as one team September 9th to gut and completely renovate kitchen and dining facilities at Rosie's Place in Boston. The work was completed in a single day to allow Rosie's Place, which serves poor and homeless women, to maintain meal services with a minimum of interruption. Volunteers handed out box lunches to Rosie's Place guests on the construction day. Participating companies include: *Jones Lang LaSalle *Bond *A.J. Martini, Inc. *Gilbane Building Company *Shawmut Design & Construction *Suffolk Construction Company, Inc. *Holland & Knight LLP *JC Cannistraro, LLC *Alleghany Contract Flooring, Inc. *John Moriarty & Associates *Atlantic Plywood Corporation *Barr & Barr, Inc. *Senate Construction *Lauring Construction Company, Inc. *Malone Painting *Boston Showcase Company, Inc. *Marc Truant & Associates, Inc. *Campanelli Companies *Marjam Supply Company, Inc *Campbell-McCabe, Inc. *Masiero Woodworking Corporation *Central Ceilings, Inc. *McAdam Painting Company *Commodore Builders *ML McDonald Sales Company, Inc. *Consigli Construction Company *Murtha Cullina LLP *Dynamic Waste Systems, Inc. *Perrotti Chang Design LLC *Edward G. Sawyer Co., Inc. *Poland Spring *Elaine Construction Co., Inc. *Reilly Communications *Erland Construction, Inc. *Richard White Sons, Inc. *Front Line, Inc. *Damianos Photography *S&F Concrete Contractors, Inc. *F.W. Madigan, Inc. *United HVAC *J&R Glass Service, Inc. *WT Kenney Company, Inc. *J&J Finishes, Inc. *Thomas G. Gallagher, Inc. *J&M Brown Company, Inc "Providing construction services is such a tangible thing for an organization like Rosie's Place," said Lisa Wexler, president of Elaine Construction Company in Newton and board chair of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Massachusetts. "We realized the immediate benefit we could accomplish my mobilizing the collective talent and dedication from so many companies and their volunteer staff." Participating companies included the region's best-known construction managers, subcontractors, suppliers and professional service providers. The construction business is experiencing a hyper-competitive marketplace for services, with construction volume down across most business sectors. "The ability of AGC member firms to set aside the competition and collaborate on a community service initiative is a sign of the underlying respect we have for each other," said Wexler. About Rosie's Place: Since 1974, women have found an oasis of hope and nourishment at Rosie's Place. Rosie's Place provides a safe and nurturing environment that helps poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives. Rosie's Place has evolved from providing meals and shelter to creating permanent solutions through advocacy, education and affordable housing. Rosie's Place relies solely on the generous support of individuals, foundations and corporations and does not accept any city, state or federal funding. For more information about Rosie's Place, visit www.rosiesplace.org. About the AGC: Associated General Contractors (AGC) is the strongest and most widely respected construction association in the country and represents the interests of the entire industry. AGC of Massachusetts is a Building chapter of the National AGC Association. Begun in 1935, the Massachusetts chapter offers management education, advocacy and safety training to its members and the industry at large. Locally, the chapter works closely with all facets of the industry to develop fair business practices for all participants.