New in 2015, a team competition for journey-level craft professionals will be added to the lineup of National Craft Championships (NCC) events with teams of five representing electrical, pipefitting, millwright, carpentry and insulation crafts. The teams will demonstrate how the crafts work together to simulate real-life working conditions and to highlight their skills. If you have a craft professional who you want to participate in the inaugural team competition, complete an Intent to Compete form by Jan. 9.

Join ABC and a growing list of industry professionals in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 23-25, for the annual Public-Private Partnership Conference (P3C), one of the largest gatherings of government and industry development professionals in the country.  The conference will host more than 750 owners, industry executives, key decision-makers, and more than 100 speakers for three days of in-depth learning, business development, and networking opportunities to address the critical principles behind successful public-private partnerships (P3).  

Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) applications for 2014 may still be submitted, but time is running out as ABC will cease processing applications on Dec. 15 in order to close out the year and begin the annual STEP data analysis. This analysis, completed using data submitted by STEP participants, provides ABC members who apply for STEP a benchmarking tool for their companies compared to other STEP participants of similar work type/size and the rest of the construction industry. 

AMEC Foster Wheeler, Woodstock, Ga., member of the ABC Georgia Chapter, has been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC.

Registration for ABC’s 2015 Workforce Conference is now open and ABC is excited to announce that John Ratzenberger, known best for his role as Cliff in the show “Cheers,” will be joining us as the keynote speaker. In addition, the 2015 conference offers five education tracks for construction and association professionals, networking opportunities, the National Craft Championships and the Excellence in Construction Awards. The conference will be held March 3-6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

As a project manager for an ABC member company in Alabama, B.L. Harbert, Michael Carpenter works on project planning and execution, providing proactive leadership in safety, enforcing contractual responsibilities and many more tasks. Joining the ABC National Young Professional program was a decision to help ensure project profitability and grow his business development strategies by learning from his peers and growing his network. The Q&A below gives a brief overview of his participation in the program and how it’s benefiting both him and his company.

A new member benefit program is being offered exclusively to ABC members and their employees through ABC Merit Choicewhich allows them to apply for top auto and home insurance benefits through a group discount with MetLife Auto and Home®.

Join over 750 owners, industry executives and key decision-makers for three days of in-depth public-private partnership (P3) learning, business development, and extraordinary networking opportunities and the annual P3 Conference in Dallas, Texas Feb. 23-25. 

ABC member companies who have an employee who stands out as a team leader and the best in their trade can give them the recognition they deserve by nominating them for title of Craft Professional of the Year Award. Finalists will be flown to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony and the winner will walk away with a brand new 2015 Ram Tradesmen Truck.

At ABC’s second annual Industrial Users Summit, merit shop contractors discussed issues regarding labor, safety, productivity and working with the client with some of the top industrial construction users in the country.