New Ethics Organization for the Construction Industry Schedules Its First Best Practices Forum

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 /EMWNews/ -- The Construction

Industry Ethics and Compliance Initiative ("CIECI"), founded in late April

2008 by the CEOs of thirteen of the leading U.S. construction industry

contractors, will hold its first Forum on October 16/17 at the Marriott

Metro Center Hotel, in Washington, D.C.



    The theme of the Forum is "Building public trust in the U.S.

construction industry through transparency and accountability -- leading

the way." This theme reflects the core value of the Initiative, which is

business based on integrity. The vision of the Initiative is an ethical

construction industry, with transparent business practices, accountability,

and absence of conflicts of interest. The Initiative is open to all

companies in the construction industry, regardless of size, including

architect/engineers, general and sub contractors, and suppliers.



    Highlights of the program include:



    -- A CEO panel discussion on how ethical business conduct enriches the

bottom line.



    -- A panel showing examples of the essential elements of an effective

ethics and compliance program.



    -- A presentation on how smaller companies may build an effective

ethics and compliance program on a budget.



    -- A Government panel consisting of federal agency debarring officials

and the DOJ Criminal Division addressing effective programs to avoid

prosecution and debarment.



    -- A luncheon address by the Deputy Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers.



    Registration for the Forum (see http://www.ciecinitiative.org) is open to

members of the Initiative and those companies who may be interested in

becoming members. More information is available from the Coordinator, Dick

Bednar, and 202-624-2619.



    FOUNDING MEMBERS



    Austin Industries Inc.



    Balfour Beatty, Atlanta and Dallas



    Clark Construction Group, LLC



    Granite Construction Inc.



    Kenny Construction Company



    Kiewit Corporation



    Lane Construction Corporation



    Lusardi Construction Company



    Suffolk Construction Company



    Sundt Construction, Inc.



    Traylor Bros., Inc.



    The Walsh Group, Ltd.



    Zachry Construction Corporation



    COORDINATOR



    Richard J. Bednar



    Contact: Dick Bednar, 202-624-2619