FEC Fines Centex Construction Units For Campaign Contribution Violation

The Federal Election Commission reached a "conciliation agreement" with two construction subsidiaries of Dallas-based Centex Corp., and several current and former officers, for violations stemming from a corporate reimbursement scheme that funneled $56,125 to federal campaign coffers.

The agreement, announced Dec. 18, settles the allegations and includes a $168,000 civil penalty.

FEC asserts that Robert Moss, the former CEO of Centex-Rooney Construction Co., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., "encouraged employees to make political contributions and to send copies of contribution checks to him or the company's CFO." Employees understood that each of their political contributions for which they submitted a check "would be considered in determining their year-end bonus." FEC further stated that "at bonus time, the contribution amounts were increased to offset tax liability and added to the bonus amounts each employee might have otherwise received from any incentive plan."

The contributions, made between 1998 and 2002, went to seven federal candidates, two political party committees and one political action committee. Some of the contributions were made to President Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.

Centex Construction Group, Centex-Rooney, Moss and five other corporate officers served as conduits for the contributions. They are responsible for $112,000 of the penalty. Those same officers and nine others are responsible for $56,000 of the fine. Moss left the firm earlier this year in a move not related to this settlement, said a company spokeswoman. About half of the other officers involved in the settlement also have left the firm. None of the departures were related to the campaign contribution scheme, the spokeswoman said.

FEC stated "there is no indication that any of the recipient federal candidates and political committees were aware that the contributions were being reimbursed with corporate funds." The commission also found no evidence of knowledge of illegal activity or "willful violations" by the two subsidiaries or the persons involved.

In a prepared statement, Centex Corp. said it has taken "disciplinary action where appropriate, and the employees involved have repaid the reimbursements with interest." Centex Corp. voluntarily reported findings from an internal investigation to the FEC which resulted in this settlement. Source: Engineering News-Record. By Sherie Winston.

ACI Relocates Headquarters From Atlanta to Tampa

Aviation Constructors Inc. and ACI Commercial (ACI), construction services companies headquartered in Atlanta, recently announced their headquarters relocation to Tampa. Recently named President/CEO Frank Cardinal said the move would be completed by the end of February 2004.

Founded in 1987, ACI is privately owned by parent company, The Cleveland Group, also headquartered in Atlanta. With $156.6 million in annual revenues, the company operates from nine project and branch offices located throughout the country.

"We are looking to consolidate services at the same time we develop new markets," said Cardinal. "Florida offers us many opportunities to fulfill that mission."

Equipment Distributors Ringhaver and Ring Power Merge

Effective Jan. 1, Florida-based Caterpillar heavy-equipment dealers Ringhaver Equipment Co. and Ring Power Corp. merged. The new, expanded distributorship will operate as Ring Power Corp. and will be based in Jacksonville.

In addition to its Jacksonville headquarters, Ring Power operates 16 locations throughout northern and central Florida.

Caterpillar Names James Owens as New Chairman/CEO

Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar recently appointed James W. Owens as vice chairman and named him the company's next chairman and chief executive officer. He replaces Glen A. Barton, who retired Jan. 31, 2004, after nearly 43 years of Caterpillar service and five years as chairman and CEO.

Owens, 57, joined Caterpillar in 1972 as a corporate economist and held various management positions in economics, accounting and product source planning. In 1993 he became chief financial officer and in 1995 assumed the position of group president.

ABC Names 2004 National Leadership

Associated Builders and Contractors has announced the members of its 2004 national executive committee. Serving as national chair this year is Carole L. Bionda, vice president and general counsel of Nova Group, Napa, Calif.

Other national leaders include: chair-elect - Gary Roden, AGUIRREcorporation, Dallas; and immediate past chairman - Edward L. Rispone, Industrial Specialty Contractors, Baton Rouge, La.

Robert C. Moore, manager of preconstruction services for Doster Construction Co., Birmingham, Ala., will serve as Region IV vice chairman. Region IV includes Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Bomag Acquires ProPaver

BOMAG Americas, formerly known as Compaction America, recently acquired Gilcrest's ProPaver equipment division. The acquisition broadens BOMAG's product offering for asphalt applications. The ProPaver line includes five self-propelled tracked asphalt pavers and four towable wheeled asphalt pavers with application widths from 4 to 15 feet. The product line also includes an asphalt distributor for heating and spraying emulsified asphalt.

All products are available immediately, marketed under the "ProPaver by BOMAG" brand name.

TLC and Quantum Engineering Group Merge

TLC Engineering for Architecture of Orlando has acquired substantially all of the assets of Quantum Engineering Group of Nashville and merged Quantum with TLC's Nashville office. Quantum Engineering is a multi-disciplined engineering firm with a staff of 18.

TLC's current Nashville group will relocate to Quantum's offices.