David Cone-Gorham of NYCM Search as a contributor to a segment on construction employment on the CBS Sunday Evening News. November 7th, 2011
David Cone-Gorham quoted in the New York Times
"Construction Abounds but Managers are Few" by Barbara Whitaker
September 2007
"David Cone-Gorham, New York regional director for Construction Recruiters, based in Boston, says the demand is fueling higher salaries and generous compensation packages. He said that at the executive level up to vice president, he was seeing salaries of at least $175,000, along with signing bonuses, car allowances up to $1,500 a month, paid expenses and deals that include a percentage of profits on projects.
SHAWMUT, which opened a New York office four years ago with two employees and now has 80, offers a variety of training both for entry-level college graduates who want to specialize in management and for employees who want to rise in the organization. It emphasizes a comfortable work environment with activities like the Fall Ball and Beer Fridays, when employees come in at 4 p.m. for a beer.
Mr. Hiscoe said Shawmut had greatly expanded its in-house recruiting, offering bonuses of several thousand dollars to employees who refer candidates who are later hired. “We’ve changed our recruiting,” he said. “Now we’re about 50-50 outside to inside referrals.”
The company also has group meetings once a month where employees discuss people who they think may be good additions to the company.
Companies like Turner say they also emphasize industry reputation and the scope of their projects when wooing employees. They stress their ability to maintain career paths in what is inevitably a cyclical marketplace.
Though some executives predict that the building boom in New York will last at least five more years, what happens after that is anyone’s guess.
“There are a lot of guys trying to move because they want that bump in salary,” Mr. Cone-Gorham said. “In reality, everyone knows this market ebbs and flows. There are companies who will overpay, but they may be newer on the block or less reputable.”
In a situation like that, he said, “you’ll be the last in and the first out at that salary when the market ebbs.”""
In 1998 David joined Commonwealth Resources, Inc., a quickly growing agency focused on construction recruiting. David grew quickly with this firm, and eventually led a team of recruiters dedicated to the NY region.
In 2003 David joined Construction Recruiters, Inc. as he was drawn to their ethical stance on business practices and core values. Here at CR, David brought in his knowledge of the NY construction industry and grew another division which focused on tristate area construction recruitment with an emphasis on full service.
In December 2008, after months of sweeping negative news about US job losses, unstable credit markets, and of course heavy slowing of construction projects nationwide, David started NYCM Search, a boutique NY based construction recruitment firm. For the last 2 years, NYCM Search has been serving David's old clients and some new, particularly in the private sector / general building construction arena.