The GTA Construction Report – March 2009 – PAGE A5
The first Annual NCA Awards Gala helps
start 2009 on a positive note
ALICIA FLOYD – The GTA Construction Report
of colleges that has taken place over the
The first annual Niagara Construction
past few years. According to Coote, the
Association Awards Gala was a night to re-
NCA was tired of seeing colleges as the
member. Held on February 20 at Club
poor cousins to universities and put great
Roma in St. Catharines, the evening was
emphasis on the work done by members of
rich with interesting guests, entertainment
the NCA which has enhanced the quality of
and, of course, the first presentation of three
local colleges. In closing Coote thanked all
very prestigious awards. Among those in
for their support and wished the incoming
attendance were outgoing president
president Tara Christensen luck for the up-
Stephen Coote of Group 92, incoming pres-
coming year.
ident Tara Christensen as well as all new
Following Coote’s uplifting speech,
members of the board and many devoted
Chistensen was introduced by Sheldrick as
members of the NCA.
a welcome addition to the team, especially
General manager Karin Sheldrick com-
considering the male dominant field in
menced the evening with a heartfelt open-
which they have grown their professions.
ing speech, not only driving home the
Christensen, a third generation president,
message that the NCA is always working
follows her grandfather and father who
for its members, but that it recognizes their
have also served as presidents in the NCA.
current needs and are working hard to con-
Christensen notes that it was her grandfa-
tinue to provide support as well as diverse
ther, Ed Christensen who helped form the speech written by Gottli, which mentioned
ranges of training and education in various
NCA in the 1950’s and for whom one that his start in construction litigation was
capacities. Sheldrick acknowledged the
award for the evening was named after. in 1982. He was first elected to the board of
fact that economy has a large impact on
With confidence and great pride, Chris- directors of the NCA in December of 1994,
many companies who are associated with
tensen announced in her speech, that the and served in 1995. At that time, the NCA
the NCA and that she, along with the board
NCA is the association to be a member of. was led by Peter Christensen. He helped
and its new president will work towards
She is confident that the NCA will continue gain exposure for the NCA and mentioned
contributing to the further successes of all
to provide support for members over the one project that he worked hard on, that of
members, even during such an uncertain
next year, which she foresees as being a dif- tenant leasings. Gottli served as president
time.
ficult one. in 1999-2000 but decided to move on to
Past president and local architect Amilio
Following the new president’s message allow other members to inject new ideas
Romando was also in attendance. Noted
was the presentation of the awards. Tyler into the NCA, and is confident that the
for his contributions on various projects
Green of Cotton Construction, and this NCA is a vibrant and financially sound en-
such as the Niagara College Wine Institute,
year’s Public Relations Chair for the NCA tity. In his letter, Gottli urges all members
Forestview School, Club Roma and The
presented the first award. The Ed Chris- to become involved and take part in all
Hannah America Building, which received
tensen, Outstanding Contribution to the NCA events and initiatives. Gottli plans to
four awards, Romando asked for strength
NCA continue his participation in the NCA and Award was presented to a member
for the Niagara Construction Association
who had put forth ample time and effort to values the corporate responsibility and
and for the betterment of the community
the NCA, Joseph Gottli. Gottli has served community service that can be offered
Coote was called upon to deliver his
and the country as he said Grace before din-
on the board for 15 years and is also a past through this Association. He wrote that he
farewell speech, however, there is no real
president. He is widely recognized for his was honoured to be the first to accept this
ner. farewell for him, as he plans to continue to
Following dinner, Sheldrick introduced
contribution to putting various by-laws in award.
serve the NCA’s board for years to come.
the new NCA board of directors for 2009.
place to protect those in construction. The second award of the evening was
According to Coote, there is no fancy gift
With the new board introduced, there was
The award was accepted by Amilio Ro- presented by Rob Hill of FENA Insurance,
at the end of a presidency, no fancy car nor
a need to say thank you to the outgoing
mando on Gottli’s behalf. Romando read a who opened by questioning the true mean-
a big bonus. His message was “you do it
president as well. Referring to Coote as a
ing of leadership. After some reflection,
because you like it”. With that, Coote rein-
constant driving force in the NCA, Sheldrik
Hill presented John Warren with the Indus-
forced the strategic plan established
thanked him for all of his support, positive
try Leadership Award. Humbled by the
through the board of directors over the past
influences and advice while he served as
presentation, Warren was without words,
year. From a new mission statement that he
president, and presented him a plaque in ho-
but was truly thankful for being recognized
assures will not be forgotten, to the kick off
nour of his service over 2007-2008.
for his role in the NCA at such a prestigious
of the young leaders group, the plan to build
event.
support and service for its members is well
The third award was presented by David
underway.
Dick of Dave Dick Masonry. The NCA
Coote said being an NCA member ful-
Project of the Year Award was described by
fills a need for remaining on top of all
Dick as one that goes to a project that
safety procedures as well as being a strong
makes a statement not only to the construc-
part of the construction culture; “The NCA
tion industry but to its surroundings as well.
is our community centre.” Putting things
The award was presented to Charter Build-
into perspective for the audience, it became
ing Group for the Table Rock Renovation
clear that all those in attendance were there
and Expansion Project.
for the common goal of working towards a
After an evening of great recognitions
stronger future in construction and to gain
and inspirational words, Sheldrick closed
alliances in business.
the event with her own motivational
Although, in difficult times, even Coote
thoughts; “Success is not a destination, but
admits that he had questioned the relevance
a journey.” Hoping for more superior
of the NCA, but soon took notice to the fact
achievements, whatever the future may
that the more familiar he became with the
bring, Sheldrick, Christensen and all mem-
NCA and what it stands for, he too was con-
bers of the NCA are looking forward to an-
fident enough to stand behind all that the
other year of hard work and new initiatives
NCA stands for. Point in fact, the transition
for the NCA and the construction industry.
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