General contractors outline hopes, dreams and visions Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) president’s panel Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer Four construction industry leaders, reflecting compa- nies of different size and focus, offered some advice and shared lessons learned Ontario General Contractors As- sociation (OGCA) biennial symposium’s presidents’ panel. John Aquino, president of Bondfield Construction Ltd., said a key element of success is “servant leader- ship.” “If you are in it for yourself, you are going to end up alone,” he said. “(By) serving your clients, contractors, employees, associations, and giving back to the industry, those are the things for you to grow as an person and a company.” John Cutruzzola, president of much-smaller Inzola Construction Inc., answered a question about what ad- vice he could give to someone just entering the con- struction industry. “Be patient and recognize talent and try to develop passion,” he said. “What is important to recognize is the passion. If young, many can express passion and can 6 – Spring 2013 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report overcome shortcomings. (We need) compassion, under- standing, patience and the ability to recognize the tal- ent.” Mike Reinders from Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. said in the era of public-private partnerships (PPP) and BIM, massive $500 million to $2 billion-plus projects are out of reach for smaller contractors. However “as a smaller company we’re delving into P3s, for example, a $30 million project in Alberta.” “You need more financial resources, and you need let- ters of credit, which ties up more of your working capital and inhibits your bonding capacity,” he said. “Unless you have deep pockets it is difficult to get into it.” However, Reinders said his company and other medium-sized and smaller firms can get involved in the larger projects through joint ventures. “This speaks to re- lationships. You can’t go into into joint ventures for your- self, you have to go in with (the idea) that you are going to serve this project and client, and work for the benefit of everyone in the room – just like a marriage. You have to work together and can’t be in it for yourself, or it isn’t going to work.”