April 1987 to 12/31/2022: (Founded and Operated) (36-years)
Independent Roofing Contractors of California, Inc. (IRCC) (www.ircc.org) (Non-Union Commercial Professional Association for Roofing Contractors & Vendors: Material Supply; Manufacturers, and related industry service providers.)
Position: Founder (Chief Operating Officer) Executive Director. Initially I served as the management provider for the newly incorporated 501 (c)(3) as an independent Consultant (Owner) of Employer Services Group (ESG), then, operating out of my office, at that time, in Pleasant Hill, California. *See resignation letter on www.ircc.org at url: JRU Resignation Announcement 12/31/2022.
Through-out my stint as an independent consultant for construction employers, I had received many calls from frustrated clients who were interested in developing an alternative recruitment and training program for fledgling roofing mechanics as opposed to ‘only game in town’: organized labor apprenticeship programs. These contractors petitioned me to do the leg work and research of establishing a privately sponsored California approved training program for roofers. It was also necessary to oversee the establishment of an ERISA apprenticeship Trust as a DOL approved funding mechanism for the operation through the IRCC Trustees.
This was an inclusive job, which involved representation of the Association at the State and Federal level. I produced a quarterly news Quarterly Update; developed hiring outreach for the State’s 1st operating ‘approved registered apprenticeship program for a non-union (a.k.a. merit shop) trade apprenticeship program” , which involved developing and producing the initial standards, commencing in 1991, after an intensive legal battle which included several other trades, notably the Associated Builders and Contractors (California Chapters) who led the battle for the “merit shop” (their term) by pushing a legal battle all the way to the Supreme Court. That decision, which the IRCC filed an amicus brief in conjunction with, resulted in prohibiting the exclusion of employer sponsored training trusts, from being approved as legitimate training entities in the State of California. This was three-years after initial incorporation in April of 1987.
March 1984 to 7/86: Employer Services Group.
Provided project-based services as an management consultant for construction industry employers, as well as a represented roofing product manufacturer (from New Zealand, no less). I also, provided consulting research paper for a large San Francisco insurance broker, which addressed the impact of a new GL product liability exclusion innovation referred to as “claims-made” tail coverage. Primarily did labor-relations consulting, and insurance product shopping and analysis for contractors because of my previous employment experience as Personnel Director and Industrial Relations representative for the Pacific Coast Building Products, Inc. in Sacramento.
It was during this time as an independent consultant that I was contacted by a handful of Northern California commercial roofing contractor’s who wanted to work with me to start a State approved apprenticeship training program, and manpower recruitment organization.
March 1979 – 1985 Pacific Coast Building Products, Inc. – Headquarters – Sacramento
Position: Personnel Manager/Benefits & Industrial Relations: My functions for P.C.B.C. included of bargaining relationships with over 24 local union halls, including ongoing resolutions of disputes related thereto; publishing and editing organizational newsletter (Pacific Update); purchasing and administering employee benefits, and communicating same to various profit centers of the organization, which included 28 respective product manufacturing sites, and 1,800 employees at the time. I also directed the safety program across the various plants and contractor locations – which at the time were located throughout California, Nevada, Utah, and California.
Short Intervening – Segway
I left in 1985, on good terms, because I was offered an interim position as Assistant Executive Director of the Associated Roofers and Contractors of the Bay Area (West Oakland) (my home turf) after a negotiation stint on behalf of the Association with the Local Roofers and Waterproofers union local. The ‘interim position’ which was initially held out as an understudy to the existing director was elongated beyond the initially predicted takeover of the lead status, and I therefore moved on to set up an independent consulting firm (Employer Services Group) at my home in Pleasant Hill, which was less of a commute. There were also some reservations on my part with the relationship of that Association with the union Local. Purely philosophical.
Prior Education and Job Summary:
College Education:
I went to college in the and graduated in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and ‘soft’ minor in business administration from San Francisco State University. Prior to graduation I had an internship in 1972, I was hired as a college intern for the Bank of America’s Marketing Publications Department at the San Francisco World Headquarters.
My internship immediately transitioned into the role of “business analyst” and research writer for the bank’s well received business start-up booklets on “Professional Management”; one on “Establishing a CPA Firm” and “Establishing a Dental Practice.” For Its “Small Business Reporter” I produced two more research studies and start-up publications on setting up and financing dry-cleaning operations, and retail camera stores.
A direct on-the job training – BofA Business Analyst ’73 –‘76
This was fast-paced and hands on work for a young journalist with an interest in entrepreneurial start-ups. The job involved utilization of a company car, and something called a “BankAmericard” along with a reporter’s notebook, and setting up in-person meetings with business owners in each of the industries and professions I was assigned to extract advice from. Assignment: research, write and pump-out four to five publications a year, for the information display at every B0fA small business loan bank in California. “How-to” checklists of developing a business plan, how to assess where to lease or buy your facility or shop, or professional office; with a budgeting and cash-flow plan on how to secure and paydown the operational capitalization on a BofA bank loan; And, of course, there were those association conventions.
News-Editor Del Norte-Triplicate (Crescent City) (Spring ’76)
I decided to get out of the SF Montgomery Street white collar job in marketing publications in spring of -76, lured by the romance of a News Editor position about 475 miles north in Crescent City, California. My rented home was two blocks from the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Coastline and drift-wood dense beaches of Del Norte County. A bit rainy up there, but lovely. So followed amazing stories of local fishing industry, and Salmon Fishing wars between the Fish and Game authorities and the Hoopa Indians who over fished with purse-sein nets that riled the sports fishermen. The Del Norte Triplicate publisher demanded that the news was all local, so it was fast paced, deadline driven. Government: County Supervisors; City Council, Crime beat; Fishing industry, Logging, Crab Industry; All within my scope of reporting.
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Military Service: ’68-’71
Army Sgt. E-5 Honorable Discharge: Bronze Star Vietnam with 101st Artillery Division.