Comments from the Chair

After leading the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory in February 2007, Head Coach Tony Dungy retired from the NFL the year before my New Orleans Saints, led by future Hall of Fame Quarterback Drew Brees, defeated Quarterback Peyton Manning and the Colts. Even though Coach Dungy did not walk the sideline in Miami during Super Bowl XLIV, he built the roster. That Colts team played tenaciously and were heavily favored by the sports books given their superstar quarterback, New Orleans’s own Peyton Manning.

My family and friends held a Super Bowl watch party at our home. We had a television in every room, including a small device that projected the game onto our largest wall in the living room. The Saints radio broadcast played outside for those who needed to escape the visual tension. During the game, the momentum swung back and forth. No one spoke. There was silence, like we were at Sunday Mass, until someone scored and the reactions were priceless.

Maybe you don’t understand Saints history. The Saints were created on All Saints Day, November 1, 1966. The team became the 16th NFL franchise, granted from pure Louisiana politics. New Orleans had sought an NFL franchise for over five years and hosted numerous exhibition games, but the city was always denied. Then, the National Football League and the American Football League negotiated a merger agreement. But the merger required the approval of Congress because the merger would violate federal antitrust laws, resulting in serious fines. At the time, the US House Majority Whip was Louisiana’s own Hale Boggs. Boggs, known for his negotiating skills, convinced NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle to grant the next franchise to New Orleans and, in exchange, Boggs would push a bill through Congress in favor of the merger and provide the NFL an exemption under the federal antitrust act.

Some in Louisiana may say that such a deal doomed the franchise from the start. The Saints went 20 consecutive seasons without a winning record. They earned their first winning record and playoff berth in 1987. However, they didn’t earn their first playoff win until 2000, their 34th season. But the truly wise said that Hurricane Katrina washed it all away. And, in fact, in 2006, everything changed with Head Coach Sean Payton and Drew Brees.

We watched Sean and Drew motivate the team that season on television and other media. Drew’s chants before kickoff became legendary and were broadcast on national television. Sunday football motivated this city. We finally knew that we were winners. We had swagger. But we didn’t have a Vince Lombardi Trophy.

That changed on February 7, 2010, in the fourth quarter with the Colts driving in Saints territory. On third down, Saints cornerback Tracy Porter (a Port Allen, Louisiana, native) jumped in front of Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne (a New Orleans native) and intercepted the ball from Peyton Manning (a New Orleans native), returning it 74 yards for a touchdown that sealed our first NFL Super Bowl victory. That moment is etched in my brain. I can close my eyes to this day and hear the announcers call the play. That feeling was like no other. Tears of joy ran down my face. Everyone erupted with cheers. People hugged and kissed. And I turned around from the celebration and watched my dad cry for the first time in my life.

Why this story? Because football and all sports provide us with the encouragement and the empowerment to maximize our potential. And if you haven’t followed Coach Dungy’s story, I strongly urge those seeking guidance on how to develop their leadership skills to purchase one of his excellent books or listen to his speeches, many of which can be found on YouTube. Coach Dungy critiques leadership focused just on short-term results while advocating for prioritizing meaningful relationships. True success involves nurturing one-on-one bonds. Mentorships build lasting legacies. Like a coach calling plays and putting in personnel packages, I see my role as a Forum leader as identifying individuals who are searching for opportunities in leadership and mentoring them so that our Forum organization is always poised for ultimate success and pride in belonging to the greatest collection of construction lawyers ever assembled. Each of my program team members is truly a gift in my life and deserving of every opportunity. Each of them, when presented the opportunity to serve, said yes.

Some recognition and thanks are in order. Episode I of our construction trilogy focused on design professionals at the Fall meeting brought record numbers of registrants to Pittsburgh. Our panelists shared timely lessons learned for both transactional and litigation counsel about the designer’s perspective. Carla Swickerath of Studio Libeskind moved the crowd as our diversity speaker and provided her unique insight into how thoughtful design can provide hope and heal communities amid tragedy. The reception at the Heinz History Center was incredible, and provided some nostalgia in the “Land of Make Believe.” Kendall Woods, Michael Clark, and their GC Liaison, Jamie Peterson, did a tremendous job bringing my vision for the ultimate trilogy to life. Moreover, our local Pittsburgh marketing team of Ed Gentilcore and David Scotti pulled out all the stops to fill the seats in the ballrooms. Thanks to the efforts of the people mentioned above, and great social and networking events, Episode I earned its place as a blockbuster.

Next, the Regional team continued the run of success with four fantastic programs across the country. Nicole Lentini, Shay Kulkarni, and their GC liaison, Sam Laurin, oversaw numerous talented volunteers in the city teams to collect well over 50 speakers, both construction attorneys and professional engineers and contractors, to inform our attendees on infrastructure projects in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New Orleans.

And finally, Episode II has just recently finished its run in Tampa, Florida, where we focused on owners, developers, lenders, and financiers. Again, the panelists of our opening plenary provided their unique insight, addressing how they find value and opportunities in their next venture, sharing their stories behind over $5 billion in capital expenditures in the greater Tampa area. Each of the remaining plenaries provided insight into what really matters to owners and developers. Our Latin-themed Welcome Reception with live music, dancers, and cigar-rolling demonstrations provided the perfect opportunity for networking. Jessica Courtway, Joel Heard, and their GC liaison, Tom Dunn, orchestrated the right mix of fun and hard work to deliver another great program. Our terrific marketing team of Andrew Atkins and Sanjay Kurian wasted no opportunity to coax, cajole, and entice attendees to join us in sunny Florida. I hope that you have collected each of the mash-up stickers created exclusively for the Fall and Midwinter meetings.

If you missed the program in Pittsburgh, the Regional meeting, or the Tampa Midwinter meeting, don’t make the same mistake for the upcoming Annual program in Austin, Texas, taking place from April 23-26, 2025.

As a preview, the Annual Meeting in Austin will complete the construction trilogy as Episode III focuses on the constructors, sureties, and materialmen. If you negotiate with, litigate against, or advise contractors, this meeting offers something for you. You will hear from accomplished in-house construction counsel, experienced attorneys, and claims consultants. The activities at the meeting will take full advantage of the culture, food, and music of Austin with line dancing, a mechanical bull, barbecue, bat watching, and visits to Texas wine country. The Annual team is assembling a dining, speakeasy, live music venue, and activity guide so you can fill your free time while in the “Live Music Capital of the World.”

Make plans and join us for the epic conclusion of the construction trilogy.

Help me continue the hard work and high standards set by our predecessors in the Forum. I challenge each of you to find someone to mentor. Don’t limit yourself to an attorney in your office or one of your kids. It may be someone you have met within the Forum. Give them your time. Listen. Discuss. Suggest. Coach. Guide. Empower. I promise that you will get more out of those interactions than you have ever dreamed. Again, help me build the best construction lawyers.