COAA-WI Fall 2023 Workshop | TRUST
The Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) has 10 active chapters across the U.S. The newest of those is the Wisconsin chapter (COAA-WI), which held only its third in-person workshop on September 8 at The Spark in downtown Madison.
Approximately 35 Owners, designers, and builders were welcomed by chapter President Jason Hanson (State of WI) before diving into a daylong exploration of trust. Kyle Majchrowski with Banner Health (Denver), a longtime COAA member and co-founder of Ripple Intent, facilitated the discussion with an engaging blend of information, humor, and project or AEC industry examples. Attendees were seated in groups of 4-5 and spent much of the morning and afternoon sessions discussing questions and trust-related topics with their tablemates.
Morning session topics included the brain science of trust, why we extend and withhold trust, and how that impacts our judgement of others. The afternoon session was devoted to application ... including how to improve relationships, meetings, communication, and project performance. Kyle shared ideas for related books throughout the day, including “Trust Me” (Joseph R Myers), and “The Thin Book of Trust” (Charles Feltman), which breaks down the four distinctions of trust:
- Sincerity
- Reliability
- Competence
- Care
Between the morning and afternoon sessions, attendees enjoyed a fabulous lunch and heard from several speakers:
- Jason Hanson and Sally Shumaker thanked event sponsors HGA and FGM Architects and explained the value of engaging with COAA
- COAA Executive Director Howie Ferguson provided a brief overview of the organization’s history, mission, and unique elements ... like The COAA Way and COAA Cares
- Alan Branch, Sr., with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County, explained and showed a video of the new McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, which seeks to train and connect a new generation of young people to the skilled trades
After the workshop, attendees walked a block up the street to tour the in-progress Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Center for Music, designed by Strang and constructed by Findorff. Special thanks to Curt Norton (Strang) and Chad Eschler (Findorff) for leading the tour. An optional happy hour followed at Vintage Brewing Co., where attendees networked and continued debriefing the valuable discussion of trust.
For a multimedia overview of the great day, check out this short video, produced by Sally Shumaker/Spielberg!
As COAA enters its 30th anniversary year, the arrow continues to point up for the Wisconsin chapter. The leadership team hopes to continue to grow event attendance, sponsorship, and COAA membership. Visit the COAA-WI chapter web page or contact COAA staff to learn more or get involved!