Gene Colin Inducted into Construction Industry Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame Inductee Gene Colin of Ferguson Construction UW Department of Construction Management Chair John Schaufelberger and Bob Vincent Hoffman Construction and Chair of the UW Construction Advisory Council.
AGC’s Government Affairs Council Chair Gene Colin joined Jon Runstad and Ed Kommers as inductees into the Construction Industry Hall of Fame sponsored by the UW’s Department of Construction Management on June 4.
The Construction Industry Hall of Fame was established in 1995 to honor individuals who have made significant contributions throughout their professional careers to the construction industry construction education and community service.
Colin CEO and Chairman of Ferguson Construction was nominated for the honor by a pair of other industry legends Terry Deeny and Frank Young.
“Gene Colin is a giver” said Deeny. “He has quietly done more for education and the construction industry than nearly everyone I know.” Young cited Colin’s service on the state’s Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board and his support for expansion of UW’s construction management program. “It wouldn’t have happened without Gene” Young said.
In addition to serving as a member of the HEC Board Colin completed a term as its Chair. Other board positions have included the AGC of Washington Education Foundation South Seattle Community College Foundation and Eastside Catholic High School. Those are items on his bio but much of his community service is done with little fanfare such as the time he rescued the Garfield High School gospel choir from disbandment and the scholarships he provides through the Access to a College Education (ACE) program.
At AGC of Washington Colin has been involved for decades serving in a variety of volunteer roles. Currently he chairs AGC’s Government Affairs Council. “Gene’s passion for causes he believes in has energized AGC’s efforts for many years” said AGC Government Affairs Director Rick Slunaker. “You never have much doubt where he is on an issue but he is also passionate in his desire to understand and implement the views of our members. You can’t ask for anything more in a volunteer leader” he added.
In his remarks at the event held at Bell Harbor Conference Center Colin advocated for education particularly higher education. “We always take cuts out of higher education but it’s the thing that’s going to help the most in getting us out of these economic challenges” he said. “When policymakers say higher education is one of their top priorities I say don’t tell me show me. Show me your budget; that will tell me more about your priorities.”
Colin also praised his fellow inductees Runstad (cofounder chairman and CEO of Wright Runstad & Co.) and Kommers (executive director of the Mechanical Contractors Association and former president of University Mechanical) and his mentor Hugh Ferguson who entered the Hall of Fame in 2001.
“When I see my fellow inductees and those who have already been inducted I see luminaries of the construction industry” he said. “I am humbled and inspired and as time goes by and I do less Ferguson Construction work and pursue other interests I will be motivated by their example. I believe that as management our core values should be to share with our employees be available for the industry and give back to the community. That’s a legacy I got from Hugh and one that I hope to leave behind to others at my company.”