Photo courtesy of CISCO
From left, CISCO’s Keynote Speaker Mark “Rusty” Sherwood; CISCO Founder John E. Kenny Jr.; CISCO Executive Director John Brining; Illinois Department of Labor Director Joe Costigan and Board Member Steve Cisco, representing Operating Engineers Local 150.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, April 25, 2013
     SCHAUMBURG — Becoming a powerhouse labor management organization in the construction industry doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of planning, dedication and partnerships. With any profession, you take the highs with the lows and have the expectation of coming out the other side successful, relevant and worthy.
     The Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) has made it through the other side. This year marks 25 years of service to the union construction industry. It celebrated this landmark and thanked those who have been by its side during its annual luncheon April 19 in Schaumburg.
     “Over the years, we’ve re-invented ourselves, we’re innovative, relative and in demand. And we’re going to continue that way,” CISCO Executive Director John Brining said.
     He explained that a collection of decisions over the past 25 years led CISCO to evolve and meet the changing needs of its members. One early example was implementing substance abuse programs, which led to increased worker safety.
     “When you go to work in the morning, you go in one piece. We want you to come home the same way. And that program has been successful,” Brining explained.
     The collective power of CISCO’s members has allotted the organization the ability to negotiate better health care rates with providers and has given its legislative division more leverage to support legislation that’s in the best interest of the construction industry.
     In recent years, with CISCO’s help, public-private partnerships paved the path for developers and end-users to get projects approved. “This shows we’re making a difference,” Brining said. He looked to the recent announcement of renovations at Wrigley Field and the Illinois Jobs Now! capital bill as proof.
     “When it came to these various projects, we can go on and on with the number of times CISCO was asked by the developer to help them get it done. We’re proud of that,” Brining said. “CISCO made sure we mobilized and worked hard to fill up public hearing rooms and to get our voice heard.”
     To look at CISCO as it stands now, and to look beyond 2013, Brining said CISCO will make sure projects make it through and get built. “All of our collective efforts have paid off and we’re going to continue to stay engaged.”