As an industry, the construction community has the opportunity to bring the recognition of mental illness and suicide risk out in the open. Recognizing the signs, having resources for assistance available, and removing the stigma associated with mental illness are important steps we can take to prevent the risk of suicide. 

Throughout Safety Week 2017, May 1-5, ABC, its members and other industry organizations came together to highlight the importance of safety on construction jobsites.

ABC’s peer groups offer like-minded business owners an environment conducive to sharing ideas and discussing business opportunities and challenges–all with the goal of improving their businesses. Peer groups consist of six to 10 ABC member companies within a trade or interest area and with similar annual revenues. Members of the same peer group do not operate in the same competitive market, which fosters trust and an open exchange of information.

ABC recently hosted a golf tournament to benefit Folds of Honor, a charitable organization that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service-members. The event, held the week of May 8, just outside Washington, D.C., brought in more than $200,000 from ABC and nearly 20 member companies.

Thornton Construction Co. Inc. of Miami, a member of ABC’s Florida East Coast Chapter, has been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC.The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in five key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, safety, employee benefits, training and community relations.  A company that meets these criteria and has earned Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Gold, Platinum or Diamond status can apply to be an Accredited Quality Contractor. 

Construction Executive is seeking input from ABC member construction firms that have built a company app geared toward internal staff or external customers. If your company has been through (or is in the midst of) the app development process, email Senior Editor Joanna Masterson, or drop CE a comment on Facebook or Twitter. CE will follow up with interview questions on why the company wanted/needed an app, how the development process worked, challenges encountered, how employees/customers have responded, etc. The article will appear in CE's September issue.

First Lady Melania Trump dedicated the Bunny Mellon Healing Garden at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., marking its official grand opening on April 28. ABC member Davis Construction served as the general contractor and donated preconstruction, project management and executive leadership services, In addition, Davis did not charge a construction fee to build the space. This gift was valued in excess of $200,000.

CII’s Annual Conference is the nation’s premiere capital projects conference, bringing together the brightest minds in academia, industry experts and innovative researchers. Discover how CII can help develop your capital projects and build shareholder value for your company. You will hear from a great line-up of some the industry's most dynamic leaders, industry panelists, and keynote speakers. This is an event you can’t afford to miss.

Construction Executive (CE) is proud to announce its latest editorial award, a Silver Azbee from the Association of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) for Individual Profile – Mid-Atlantic Region. The article, authored by Managing Editor Lauren Pinch, details the career trajectory and management philosophy of ABC 2016 Chair, David Chapin. The full article can be viewed here. 

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention recently announced April summits in Southern California and Western Michigan to help provide resources and disseminate information on suicide prevention and mental health awareness in the construction industry. In addition, the CFMA-led alliance held a webinar Feb. 28 titled “Uniting the Construction Industry behind Suicide Prevention,” which is available on-demand for free for ABC members.