Business View Caribbean - April 2016 19
sorts of construction-related developments. So, after
54 years, we realized it was time for us to remove the
word ‘Home’ and just keep it as the Construction As-
sociation of Puerto Rico, representing the reality of our
membership.”
Today, the Construction Association of Puerto Rico
serves it members is a variety of ways, including lobby-
ing, advocacy, networking, and education “When you
talk about lobbying, we either promote, create, or in
some cases, acknowledge and back different legisla-
tion that affects our industry,” says Diaz. “At the same
time, it’s a networking association and an education
group. We spend a lot of time on seminars and dif-
ferent activities to educate our membership on topics
that affect them. We’re very successful when it comes
to the education part, especially now. And we have very
strong ties with different associations, like the MBA,
the Mortgage Bankers Association, the engineers, the
architects, the contractors. We have a very good rela-
tionship with many of them.”
Diaz reports that the Association’s membership is very
diverse. “We have developers not only from Puerto
Rico, we have developers from the U.S. who come to
Puerto Rico to develop and they become members,
too. And that creates a network for local developers
to learn and see what’s happening in the U.S. And
some of our local people are also developing outside
of Puerto Rico. One of them is developing hotels in
AT A GLANCE
WHO:
The Construction Association of Puerto
Rico
WHAT:
A trade association representing the
island’s construction sector
WHERE:
San Juan, Puerto Rico
WEBSITE
:
