Cover Story — March/April 2005

SOUTHERN MAN

2005 President Sam Hunter brings more than 20 years of association experience
and industry leadership to AGC's top office

By Mark Shaw

T.A. Loving Co. CEO Sam Hunter was inducted as AGC's 86th president at the association's national convention in March.

Let's be clear about this: Sam Hunter is not Rhett Butler. But like Butler, the rogue hero of Gone with the Wind, Hunter is Southern born and raised. He's a gentleman's gentleman, well mannered, soft spoken and patriotic, even to a fault. And he's one heck of a shrewd businessman.

But Hunter is no scoundrel, and he does give a damn. In fact, he is passionate about so many issues and causes that he can't count them all. Friends, family, even his competitors, credit him with being a tireless industry and community advocate.

"Sam can see in people the value they bring to the industry, whether they're colleagues or competitors, and I'm both of those," says Pat Rodgers, president and CEO of Rodgers Builders, Charlotte, N.C. "It's his belief in inclusiveness that makes him a strong CEO and a consistent industry leader."

Hunter brings that philosophy of inclusiveness to the 2005 AGC presidency, which he assumed in March at the national convention in Las Vegas. Hunter also is president and CEO of T.A. Loving Co., Goldsboro, N.C., one of the region's best-known bridge builders, among its many other specialties.

He begins his AGC tenure with a lengthy association pedigree and an ambitious agenda. He has worked on or chaired more than two dozen national committees and led the Carolinas AGC as chapter president.
"AGC has been a big part of my professional and personal life," Hunter says. "My wife and I have made lifelong friends here, and through AGC and those friendships, I think I've been able to have an impact on the construction industry as a whole."

Unity & Growth

As AGC president, Hunter's guiding theme is: "Building a Stronger Economy." He will use a lifetime of experience in establishing solid relationships to unite all sectors of the industry. "We need to continue developing our relationships with subs and suppliers. We can't let turf wars between segments of the industry or between associations keep us from speaking with one voice. But we realize that AGC can't be all things to all people. We're not out to recruit people away from other associations. We want to be inclusive and cooperative because 95% of the time, we should be [working] together as a coalition."

T. A. Loving's White Oak River Bridge Project in Swansboro, N.C., was completed in September 2002, 14 months ahead of schedule.

For Hunter, the biggest AGC issues include enhancing the relationships between local chapters and the national office, revising the governance structure to include more chapter representation and providing chapters with the support they need to promote their own programs for member recruitment.

"The key to making all of this work is the chapter executives," Hunter says. "And there are only around 100 of them. If they don't have strong relationships with each other and with national, where will we be?

Hunter's understanding of life at the chapter level stems from years of work with the Carolinas AGC. Steve Gennett, president and CEO of the chapter, says: "One of Sam's most redeeming qualities is his ability to focus on the reality of situations. He keeps his focus clear and simple. That's how he gets to the crux of things so quickly."

Hunter also wants to push the development of new product lines that will support dues revenue and formalize the process for sharing product revenues with the chapters. "About 40% of total AGC revenue is non-dues income now," he says. "And that needs to increase."

Hunter also wants to simplify charter fees paid by the chapters. "Perhaps we can look at a lump-sum fee from the chapters based in some way on membership growth or retention," he says. "Above all, we need to be sure we're devoting our resources where the members want them to go."

Politically, while Hunter has been an overall supporter of the Bush administration, he's concerned that the growing federal deficit will seriously impact domestic and public works spending. "But the Bush people have helped us out tremendously on the regulatory end of things, and we will expand on our already strong relationships with OSHA and the EPA," he says.

He credits AGC staff with making the association an important player on Capitol Hill. "We're in a strong proactive stance, working with Congress and the agencies before decisions are put into place," he says. "We're a key part of the process, which is exactly where we want to be."

The Safety Sow, created by a local artist, squats outside T.A. Loving's headquarters.

Hunter and his executive board will work with AGC staff on issues such as immigration reform, federal highway funding, standardization of contract documents, better education and training programs and creating a more positive image for the construction industry. "Again, these are not just AGC issues," he says. "We want to be part of that larger industry voice talking about these things, leading the way as consensus builders, not opponents."

Regional Diversity

Hunter's instincts toward creating consensus have been honed by almost 20 years at the helm of a diverse general contracting firm. T.A. Loving Co. not only builds bridges and roads across North Carolina and Virginia but has expanded its utilities, equipment and building divisions as well.

The company celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2001, emerging from the national recession as a regional leader in building health care, educational, religious and retirement facilities in addition to its already strong heavy/highway division.

T.A. Loving Co. also built much of the area's military infrastructure, establishing itself as one of the leading builders of military bases before and during World War II. "They were completing a building about every 32 minutes in one contract at Fort Bragg during the early days of the war," Hunter says. The company did nearly $40 million worth of work in 1941 alone.

Hunter came to the company after his own military service. Born on a farm in Staunton, Va., he married his high school sweetheart, Ann, in 1966 and earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the mid-1960s.

He became a lieutenant in the Navy Civil Engineering Corp. in 1968. At a time when many young people were rebelling against the war, Hunter served in Vietnam for a year. "No question, it was the right thing to do at the time," he says.

Upon his return from Vietnam, he wanted to start his construction career. Ann's father John was the brother of T.A. Loving, and Hunter started with the company in 1971 as a bridge superintendent. Almost immediately, he was put on a $700,000 project building three bridges over the Tar River in eastern North Carolina.

"And I still know more about building bridges than anything else, but we also build plenty of utilities and commercial buildings," Hunter says. Working his way up the ranks, he spent two years as a supervisor and then was promoted to project manager doing municipal and utility work.

In 1978 Hunter took over the utilities division and led that unit through the early 1980s when it became one of the larger pipeline contractors in North Carolina.

Hunter later managed both the utilities and bridge divisions, then was tapped to become the company president in 1987, the same year he served as Carolinas AGC chapter president.

Sam Hunter plays balloon guitar with attorney and fellow AGC member Jim Allison at the 2005 Carolinas AGC convention in Palm Beach, Fla.
SAM HUNTER — UNPLUGGED
PRESIDENT/CEO T.A. Loving co. Goldsboro, N.C. Third-generation family business, founded in 1925 by Taylor Abbitt Loving Client geography Mostly North Carolina & Virginia General contractor with four divisions Bridge-heavy, building, utility, equipment Age: 60 Born in Staunton, Va., 1944 Married to Ann Loving, high school sweetheart, since 1966 Children: Paul, 28; Betsy, 26 Education B.S. (1965), M.S. Civil Engineering (1967), Virginia Tech Registered Professional Engineer Military Service Navy Civil Engineer Corp. Served in Vietnam 1970-71	Church Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Goldsboro, N.C. Activities Runner since 1977, completed more than nine marathons, including New York three times (best time: 3.06); fishing, duck hunting, golf (13 -14 handicap) Best Vacations Asia; Florence, Italy; AGC events across the U.S. Heroes Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower, Norman Schwarzkopf Favorite Authors John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Tommy Franks (American Soldier)

"But he didn't just sail through the ranks," says Don Robinson, senior vice president of the utility division at T.A. Loving and a colleague who has known Hunter since 1970. "There was some tension and distance between the various divisions of the company back then, and Sam was a steadying force. He worked tirelessly to bring everyone together. That was his goal, and when Sam gets a goal in his head, it's eventually going to happen."

The company grew steadily through the 1990s, boosting revenue up to $150 million by the end of the decade. "But we remained financially sound," Hunter says. "The owners at T.A. Loving have never been purely bottom-line driven."

Community Service

As the company diversified its capabilities, Hunter also expanded his own levels of community service. In the late 1980s, he became one of the original members of the advisory committee for the construction management department at East Carolina University and helped expand the program into one of the largest CM departments in the country. Hunter chaired the advisory committee for seven years, until 2004.

"Sam was a catalyst in connecting the program with AGC and the area's construction firms," says Doug Kruger, chair of the university's CM department. "He's been our chief recruiter, spokesman and fundraiser. We wouldn't be where we are today without his leadership."

"Sam is one of the most public-spirited men I've ever met," says Martin Lancaster, president of the North Carolina Community College System. "He's always been committed to doing what's good for his community, and he's been a tremendous help to us."

Hunter and wife Ann have also spent an enormous amount of time working on issues through their local church. Both have traveled as part of a church mission to Kenya to help rebuild a hospital near Nairobi.

"I was there once, and Ann has been three times," Hunter says. "It's a great cause and I'd do it again, although I think I'm going to be pretty busy this year."