Ingram's | March 2003 - Industry Outlook

On a late March morning, more than 25 of Kansas City's top contractors, insurers, architects, labor leaders, and attorneys convened as part of Ingram's Industry Outlook to discuss the state of the commerical construction industry in the Kansas City region.

And a provocative meeting it was.

Rare is it when so many diverse members of an interdependent community can share the knowledge that will enable the community to work better and work better together.

Is there a skilled labor shortage in Kansas City? Why are insurance costs so high and how can they be controlled? Is the design-build phenomenon really good for the industry? How is that the fear of "mold" is a greater threat than the fear of terrorism? Is there enough money available to capitalize projects? And how can we jump-start the local building industry after an obvious down cycle? These are just some of the questions the group tackled.

The Lockton Insurance Companies were kind enough to host this unique assembly, co-sponsored by Lockton and The Weitz Company. Lockton President Grover Simpson and his colleague Jim Patiedl were daring enough to co-chair it.

entirely new dimension.