ENR ranks top U.S. contractors 
Three Michigan-based construction firms were ranked in the 2004 list of Engineering News Record’s top 100 contractors (in terms of revenue), and several more made the top 400.

However, revenues for many Michigan contractors took a hit from the declining construction market in 2003, as most fell in the rankings compared to a year ago.

Michigan’s largest contractors continued to be Barton Malow of Southfield (#35, which dropped seven spots on the list from 2003) and Walbridge-Aldinger of Detroit (#37, which gained nine positions). The only other Michigan-based contractor to make the top 100 is Balfour Beatty, Inc. (#66), a British construction firm that has offices in Novi but seems to do most of its work out-of-state.

“What was surprising among the Top 400 was the wide swing in revenue reported by companies between 2002 and 2003,” the ENR said. “Of 372 firms on this year’s top 400 that submitted survey forms last year, 213 increased total revenue, including 132 that enjoyed double-digit increases; 158 saw revenue drop, 84 by double digits.”

Most of the Michigan contractors were in the latter category and saw their rankings drop significantly as a result. Following are Michigan construction contractors that made the ENR list in 2004, as well as their current ranking and the number of positions they improved or dropped on the list from 2003:

John Carlo of Clinton Twp. (#111; +52); The Christman Co., of Lansing (#126; -21); Granger Construction Co. of Lansing (#172; -10); J.M. Olson Corp. of St. Clair Shores (#230; -47); George W. Auch Co. of Pontiac, (#285; -7); Rockford Construction Co. Inc. of Belmont (#316; -75); Roncelli Inc. of Sterling Heights (#331; -31); Pioneer General Contractors Inc. of Grand Rapids (#393; -106); and DeMaria Construction of Detroit (#395, not listed in 2003).

Some of the other non-Michigan-based contractors on the list who do a significant amount of business in our state include the Washington Group (#13), Alberici (#57) and Boldt (#98).

Topping the ENR’s nationwide list are Bechtel of San Francisco, Centex of Dallas and KBR of Houston.

School board candidates endorsed
The Political Action Committee of the Greater Detroit Building and Construction Trades Council has endorsed candidates for board of education trustee postions.

They include:

Chippewa Valley Board of Education: Ken Pearl

Warren Consolidated Board of Education: Chris Arnold

Wayne-Westland Board of Education: Steve Becher, Chad Campbell.

Building trades workers across the state are urged to vote for candidates who support the goals of organized labor.