[Back to List View] As seen in the St. Louis Labor Tribune, May 22, 2006 Guest Opinion By Jim LaMantia, PRIDE Executive Director The other day I was in the office of Jerry Feldhaus, executive secretary of the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, when the mail arrived. Jerry opened a letter from the St. Louis Cardinals and with a big grin said, “Well, I’ll be darned!” The letter was from Mark Lamping, president of the St. Louis Cardinals. It was gracious and glowing, praising the union construction industry for its work on the new Busch Stadium. Imagine that: an owner compelled to write a letter thanking our industry for a job well done. It deserves a hearty round of applause for every man and woman on that project who made it their personal mission to exceed expectations. Three years ago, the PRIDE organization challenged our industry to make the new ballpark a model of productivity, quality construction and safety. It was the most significant construction project in the region in years. For the duration of its construction, it would be at the center of a local, regional and national spotlight unlike any other, and for these reasons: Its tie to the city’s storied baseball tradition and reputation as the best baseball town in America; The product would be “on display” for decades to an estimated six million visitors annually; It was an extremely complex project with a fast-track schedule; It employed a significant and diverse workforce; and It was an essential component to the revitalization of downtown St. Louis. Hence, PRIDE committed its full membership to the spirit of productivity and responsibility that is at the heart of its mission. In the end, it was a dedicated workforce and an incredible demonstration of teamwork that brought the project home. Owner, contractor and labor worked tirelessly to show the nation how the best- trained construction trades in America build for the best baseball town in America. It struck me, though, that we shouldn’t need a “high profile” project to give it our best. As a service industry, we should approach and each and every project with the goal of exceeding expectations. If it’s just a paycheck to you, we can’t afford to have you on the team because our next job absolutely depends on how we deliver as a team today. That applies to everyone on the team – labor and management alike. For years, St. Louis has had a reputation for being a tough town to build in. The stadium project, complex as it was, proved otherwise. But that’s only because all team members recognized what was at stake, understanding that the efficient and safe delivery of the ballpark had the potential to lure additional development to our region. That kind of dedication not only deserves accolades, but must be applied to every job. So, here’s what I suggest. If you have an agenda, jettison it. Leave the chip on your shoulder at home. Build so well that the owner feels obligated to take the time to write you a personal thank you letter for producing excellence. Your next job depends on it.