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TESTIMONIALS

A New Network To Serve Your Construction Business

 

 

Construction Network Finds $102.5 Million In Opportunities

 

               In the first nine months of its operation, the Construction Network identified, for its members, opportunities to work on 28 public construction projects valued at over $14.6 million and 8 private construction projects valued at more than $87.9 million.

 

               In addition, the network has successfully lobbied the Village of Huntley and Duke Realty for a contractual commitment that Duke Realty will make available “opportunities for Huntley area businesses to provide goods, services, and materials for the construction of the Weber Global Distribution Center.” Weber will build its Global Distribution Center on property just east of the Huntley Outlet Mall. The land was approved to be annexed to the Village of Huntley at the May 8, 2014, Village Board meeting.

 

               Founded in September, 2013, the Construction Network is dedicated to promoting a prosperous local construction industry environment. The network works to enhance opportunities for business to business connections among network members, and improve the quality of life in our business community.

 

A brief nine months after its founding, the network has grown to eighteen members. There is no charge for network membership. Network membership is open to any business in the construction industry which belongs to a Chamber of Commerce, and chooses to participate in our network.

 

This is a wonderful opportunity for construction businesses to increase the benefits from outreach into the construction industry. The northern Illinois area is one of the few parts of our state where construction businesses are seeing growth in revenues. The network works to improve prospects for continued vitality of our industry, which is so severely troubled all across the country. Every Network member in the construction industry, including the bankers, Realtors, and other professional service firms that work with our contractors, building trades and suppliers, can benefit from the network’s sharpened focus on what is going well right in our neighborhood. We constantly try to identify what else can be done to sustain and improve the performance of each of our businesses, and our industry as a whole.

        I am honored and humbled to be invited to lead the new construction network for business to business marketing and information exchange. This is an exciting project and a wonderful opportunity for construction businesses to increase the benefits from their Chamber memberships, and to expand their outreach into the construction industry in Huntley and surrounding areas.
 

        The Huntley area is one of the few parts of our state where construction businesses are seeing growth in revenues, and prospects for continued vitality of our industry, which is so severely troubled all across the country. Every business in the construction industry, including the bankers, Realtors, and other professional service firms that work with our contractors, building trades and suppliers, needs to sharpen focus on what is going right in our neighborhood, and what else can be done to sustain and improve the performance of each of our businesses and our industry as a whole.

 

                                                                         Jim McConnell

                                                                         Construction Law Services

From:                                                         spierce@phoenixwoodworking.com 

Sent:                                                           Wednesday, June 04, 2014 4:39 PM

To:                                                             James McConnell

Subject:                                                     Weber Stephen

 

James,

 

Just a note that I was contacted by Marc Ciaglia regarding the opportunity to bid on this local project. He responded to my call and will send me prints when they are ready.

 

Thank you for the lead on this project.

 

Sandra M. Pierce

Phoenix Woodworking Corporation

2000 Duncan Place Woodstock, IL 60098

815-338-9338

815-338-9338 Fax

www.phoenixwoodworking.com

From:                                     Kathleen Carr <tgsinc12@msn.com>

Sent:                                      Wednesday, May 07, 2014 8:19 AM

To:                                         James McConnell

Subject:                                RE: Weber Stephen Global Distribution Center

 

Thanks for being such a strong advocate for your members.

 

Kathi

 

Kathleen Carr

The Growing Scene, Inc.

Garden Center and Landscaping www.thegrowingscene.com

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            During his career as a trial lawyer, Mr. McConnell has represented clients in hundreds of cases involving complex construction claims, and other international commercial, financial and insurance issues, including the British Overseas Trade Board, J. C. Decaux, the Consul General of Mexico, the Public Building Commission of Chicago, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Exelon Corporation, Bethlehem Steel, American Bridge Company, United States Steel, Youngstown Sheet & Tube, and Zenith Radio. He has handled litigation concerning such familiar construction projects as Chicago's Millennium Park, the John Hancock building, and the Sears Tower. He has served as an attorney and arbitrator in international construction and insurance claims. He has represented public and private owners and developers, lenders, contractors, suppliers and title insurers in land acquisition, zoning, contract drafting, financing, negotiations, arbitrations and lawsuits on major construction projects valued at more than $20.4 billion.

 

               As owner of Construction Law Services LLC, Mr. McConnell represents businesses in the construction industry, including litigation for foreclosure of mortgages and mechanics liens to collect payments due on construction projects, breach of contract litigation, eviction of non-paying tenants of completed projects, construction defect claims, and other litigation. Mr. McConnell is a national and international author and lecturer on public, private and international construction contracting.  Most recently, he has been involved in construction negotiations and disputes concerning Millennium Park’s mixed public and private funded construction, Kennedy King Community College, Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s Vertical Completion, homeland security improvements at the Port of Chicago, the Mexican Consulate in Chicago, the Illinois International Port District, Chicago's Central Police Headquarters, Harborside International Golf Center, Soldier Field, the Midwest Center for Green Technology, the Chicago Center for Children’s Advocacy, Bronzeville Military Academy, and Chicago's Deep Tunnel storm runoff and flood control project. He has also handled litigation involving redevelopment of the former Glenview Naval Air Station property, the South Campus development of the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, and the historic landmark Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company flagship store at State and Madison streets in Chicago.

 

Mr. McConnell received his law degree from Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law in Chicago in 1973. He was admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Illinois in 1973, and he has been a member of the Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar since it was created in 1982. He was admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals in Chicago in 1973, and the United States Supreme Court in 1977. He has tried many civil jury cases in state and federal courts in Illinois, and he has been specially admitted as trial counsel in courts in seven other jurisdictions. He has handled numerous appeals, in the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

 

Mr. McConnell is a Charter Fellow of the Congress of Fellows of the Center for International Legal Studies in Salzburg, Austria, and recently completed his second term as Chairman of the McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission.

The Who’s Who Directories, a New York based biographical publication company, distinguishes and profiles leading professionals who demonstrate recognizable success and leadership in their field. The directory is valued for promoting awareness of individual accomplishments and achievement within the North American community.

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