Constituents and members of the Construction Institute enjoyed a beautiful, brisk autumn day filled with golf,  games, raffles, camaraderie, and food. The original date of the scheduled event was rained out, but the rescheduled date proved to be a winner for all in attendance. We thank our sponsors and volunteers for helping us put on another successful event, and thank all our members for participating in this fun social event.

BRIDGEPORT, CONN., (May 24, 2021) – Graduating high school seniors and college students planning to start or continue studying a construction-related field are invited to apply for Viking Construction’s annual scholarship.  Each year, the company awards $4,000 scholarships (up to $1,000 per year in college) to a qualified student who has completed the online application available at http://www.vikingconstruction.net/viking-scholarship/. Deadline for the 2021 scholarship is June 17.
Ideal candidates will be enrolled in programs such as construction management, architecture, civil engineering, surveying, and urban planning. Semi-finalists will be selected from the qualified applications and will be invited to have a personal interview with Anthony Gaglio, Jr., Vice President of Viking Construction, Inc. A winner will be selected after the interview, and the scholarship check will be mailed directly to the winner’s school before the start of classes.
Viking created this scholarship in 2012 to support the general community and those pursing construction-related careers.  To date, the company has committed $44,000 to students.  Applicants must maintain a 2.7 grade point average minimum to continue to receive the award each year they are in college.
Founded in 1991, Viking Construction, Inc., (www.vikingconstruction.net) is a family-owned company of craftsmen in all areas of construction.  The company strongly believes in personal involvement, quality control, and sound financial management.  Its award-winning portfolio includes historic renovations, wastewater treatment facilities, pharmaceutical plants, churches, schools, assisted living facilities, office buildings, industrial manufacturing plants and large-scale affordable housing projects throughout Connecticut and New York.  

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Modified from an August 19, 2016 - Connecticut (http://nerej.com/section/CT)

“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.” – Arnold Palmer

As golf season approaches, it is time to reflect on the parallels between golf and construction.
Both require mental preparation. Some of the best golfing minds have said, golf is 80-90% mental. In this respect, golf is not unlike design and construction, where mental preparation translates into advanced planning, including detailed drawings and specifications, and the greater the emphasis on completeness before breaking ground, in other words the better the “mental preparation” the more successful the process.

Both involve simplicity and complexity. Hitting a golf ball may seem like a simple act, but it involves complex input, for example, calculating distance, taking wind into account, mastering your physical stance and balance, and transferring energy from your swing to drive the ball in the right direction for the right distance. Similarly, the simple beauty of a completed building, bridge, or other structure, does not reveal the underlying complexity of the design and construction process. As in golf, no one thing makes a system complicated. In a construction project, it’s an accumulation of thousands of small details and actions over time that form a complex system.

Experience matters in both. On the golf channel they claim that an average proficient golfer takes about 300 weekly lessons while playing at least 32 holes per week over a period of many years. When each construction project involves a unique design, tailored to meet the owner’s needs, zoning and environmental requirements, and involves unique field conditions, a depth of experience is invaluable.

Relationships matter on the green and on the job. Good business relationships depend upon experiences shared and connections forged. This happens over time in construction as companies work together successfully on projects. Shared experiences and connections are forged as well on and around the golf course as players support each other’s efforts and enjoy each other’s successes. Our mission at the Construction Institute is to promote cross-industry collaboration - on the job and during our Spring Golf Tour and Annual Golf Classic, on the course!
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Combining golf and construction. Golf is a game that involves a lot of downtime, so it affords plenty of opportunity for quality conversation. Join us for the 2022 Golf Tour and the Golf Classic. The Golf Tour will take you to 5 of Connecticut’s finest courses, for an afternoon nine-hole event followed by a networking reception. This event is limited to 40 players and spots are going fast. Review the schedule and courses here. Registration is already open for the Annual Golf Classic. We will see you on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at Lyman Orchards. Not a golfer? Join us for mini-golf and dinner. This is a great event to increase your company’s visibility! Sponsor and register here.