Conference Overview

AGC of America will return to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida for its 2012 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management. The association will launch the conference with a reception from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, January 30, and the association will conclude the conference with a reception running from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1.

Between these social events, AGC will provide a steady stream of opportunities for the interaction that has become the hallmark of this annual event, including plenary sessions, breakout sessions, instructional seminars and other gatherings. Again in 2012, AGC hopes to challenge the thought leaders in the construction, surety and insurance industries to take a critical look at their policies, practices and procedures, and to identify their opportunities for further improvement.

The agenda remains a work in progress. But much of it is already in place. Among the items already on the agenda for the plenary sessions are the following:

• Out of the Box: How Lean Construction Principles, BIM, and IPD are All Converging on the Design, Planning and Actual Construction of Today’s Projects – Enabling Risk Managers to Contemplate New and Different Ways to Approach their Work
• Changing Minds and Saving Lives: What It Means and What It Takes to Weave Your Employees into a Safety Net that Betrays a Genuine Commitment to Eliminating Unsafe Behaviors
• Shades of Green: How to Manage Owners’ Expectations of Their Environmentally Sensitive Projects
• Changing the Game: More on the Model Green Building Codes, and the Energy Performance Standards They Threaten to Turn into Legal Requirements
• Putting the House in Order: Whether and to What Extent Congress’ Latest Debt Reduction Plan is Likely to Succeed
• Ripple Effects: The Economic Outlook for the Construction Industry – and Both Where and How the Debt Reduction Plan is Likely to Become a Factor
• Can’t Say No: How Contractors are Adjusting to the Reality That Many of Their New Contracts Are Putting Them at Greater Risk

And among the items already on the agenda for the breakout sessions are these:

• Mixed Blessings: Where and How Changes in Project Delivery Are Increasing Contractors’ Exposure for Professional Liability, and How Contractors Can and Should Respond
• It’s Not Over ‘Til It’s Over: Extended Warranties Often Buried in Today’s Contract Documents – and How to Limit, Transfer or Otherwise Manage the Risks They Create
• When the Work Doesn’t Work: The Latest Cases on Insurance Coverage for Construction Defects, the New State Statutes that Seem to Require Such Coverage, and “Best Practices” for Presenting Such Claims to Insurance Carriers
• Holding the Bag: The Latest Limitations on Indemnification and Additional Insured Endorsements, and Practical Strategies for Dealing with the Current Environment, Including the Pros and Cons of GL Wraps
• Murky Waters: How to Respect the Typically Vague Limitations on the Various Ways that That Contractors Can Lawfully Meet Their M/W/DBE Program Goals – or Meet the Equally Vague Standards for a Good Faith Waiver

Again in 2012, the AGC Forum on Surety Bonding and Risk Management will host the conference. The Chair of this AGC forum is David Hanson, Senior Vice President, Walbridge, and the Vice-Chair is David O’Haren, Executive Vice President, Holder Construction Group.

Registration

What's Included

The in-house lawyers, in-house risk managers and other senior executives of the general and specialty contractors in the AGC family, and their counterparts in the surety and insurance industries, are all invited and encouraged to register for AGC’s 2012 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management.

If you are among the in-house lawyers, in-house risk managers or other senior executives of these contractors, you also have the option of registering for one of two pre-meetings exclusively for such in-house professionals. In fact, you have the option of registering for a pre-meeting even if you cannot make the conference itself!

In addition to plenary sessions, breakout sessions and instructional seminars, the $395.00 registration fee for the conference includes three cocktail receptions and a hot breakfast and box lunch on each day of plenary and other business sessions.

The $100.00 registration fee for either pre-meeting includes a cocktail reception on the evening that precedes it and both breakfast and lunch on the day of the business sessions.

There is no registration fee for any of the other pre-meetings, but no social or other events are included.

How to Register

You have three ways to register for the upcoming conference and/or the pre-meetings exclusively for in-house lawyers, risk managers and other senior executives.

• Register online now!
• Fax the completed registration form with credit card information to the attention of AGC’s “Convention and Meeting Services” at (703) 842-8029.
• Mail the completed registration form with check or credit card information to AGC’s “Convention and Meeting Services” at AGC of America, 2300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 400,Arlington, VA 22201.

Credit Card or Check

If you register online, or by fax, you will have to use a credit card to pay your registration fee(s). If you register by mail, you will also have the option of paying by check. Simply enclose your check with your registration form before you put your form into the mail.

Cancellation Policy

AGC will fully refund your registration fee(s) if the you provide an email or other written notice of cancellation to Crystal Yates at AGC of America (yatesc@agc.org) by Friday, January 13, 2012. After January 13, 2012, registration fees are non-refundable, either in whole or in part, for any reason.

Schedule

Conference Schedule

Pre-Meeting Schedule

Hotel Accommodations

AGC of America will hold its 2012 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management in the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida. This Mediterranean-style sanctuary features the Tiburon Golf Club with two Greg Norman courses, five exceptional dining establishments and a picturesque pool area with poolside service.

As an AGC guest of the golf resort, you will also be welcome to enjoy the facilities and amenities of the neighboring Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort, located just three miles west of the golf resort and on the Gulf of Mexico. A complimentary shuttle runs between the two properties, and as an AGC guest of the golf resort, you will also have complimentary day parking at the beach resort.

The AGC room rate is $299.00 per night, plus tax (currently 10%). This rate includes complimentary guest room access to the Internet. The resort fee has been waived.

To reserve a room at the AGC rate, simply call the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, at (236) 593-3300 or (888) 856-4380 and then request a reservation in the “AGC 2012 Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management” room block. You can also reserve a room online via www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/NaplesGolf For the AGC rate, simply click on the button for those with a “Group Code” and then enter “HTLHTLA” in the “Group Code” box.

The deadline for reserving a room at the AGC rate is Wednesday, December 28, 2011. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE FIRST OF THE NEW YEAR TO MAKE YOUR ARRANGMENTS!

Should you make and then need to cancel a reservation, please also note that you will need to do so at least 48 hours prior to your date of arrival in order to avoid a cancellation penalty equal to one night’s room rate, plus tax.

Contact Information

Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples
2600 Tiburon Drive
Naples, FL 34109
Phone: (239) 593-2000
Fax: (239) 254-3300
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/NaplesGolf

Travel Information

AGC has partnered with the following airlines and car rental agencies to provide transportation to AGC's 2012 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management. All airfares are based on availability. For the best discounts, use the AGC group code and book early!

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, is located approximately:

• 25 miles and 35 minutes from the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
• 125 miles and 2 hours from the Miami International Airport (MIA); and
• 110 miles and 2 hours from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Airline Discounts

AGC travelers are eligible for the following discounts on their airfare:

• American Airlines: AGC travelers are eligible for a discount of up to 5% off published fares from any city to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) or Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) if they book online at www.aa.com and provide the promotional code (7111AG) for the event. (Valid for travel between January 26 and February 6, 2012.)
• Delta Airlines: AGC travelers are eligible for a 2-7% discount off published fares from any city to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), Miami International Airport (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) if they call 800-328-1111 and provide the group code (NM4AU) for the event. (Valid for travel between January 27 and February 7, 2012).
• Frontier Airlines – AGC travelers are eligible for a 6-10% discount off published fares from any city to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) if they book their flights directly with the Frontier Airlines Groups Department by calling 888-601-4296 between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, and provide the promotional code (CMZ7265) for the event. (Valid for travel between January 27 and February 7, 2012).

Car Rental Discounts

AGC travelers are also eligible for the following discounts on their car rental rates:

• Hertz: AGC travelers are eligible for a variable discount on car rental rates if they book online at www.hertz.com and provide CDP Number 55977 and CV Number 04FJ0002.
• Avis: AGC travelers are eligible for a variable discount on car rental rates if they book online at www.avis.com and provide AWD Number A587100.

Generous Sponsors

The following are the generous sponsors of the social and other events included in AGC’s 2012 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management. In whatever way you can, please let them know how much you appreciate their support!