ABC Delaware President Ed Capodanno was recognized by the Delaware state legislature at the chapter’s Hobnobbing Legislative Day in Dover on May 18. Delaware State Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker presented Capodanno with a tribute thanking him for his “long and illustrious leadership at both Associated Builders and Contractors, Delaware Chapter, and a wide range of community service work in the First State,” signed by every state lawmaker, Republican and Democrat.

Capodanno was honored before dozens of ABC members who attended the event and ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman.

Capodanno is a native Delawarean who joined ABC Delaware in 1993 and has served in the construction community for 30 years. Since taking the reins, he has secured the financial footing of the chapter and overseen its growth from 200 members to nearly 500 today. ABC Delaware is consistently one of the top chapters in the country, with membership retention of about 90% annually. He has also served on several councils under various governors to help the Delaware construction industry maintain a strong and vibrant workforce.

In addition to his contributions and support of the construction industry in Delaware, Capodanno is an active member of his community. He’s had an illustrious basketball coaching career, and in 1987 became the youngest coach in Delaware history to win a state championship, his first of three consecutive titles with the Ursuline Academy girls’ team. That accomplishment has never been repeated.

Capodanno is also a northern Delaware regional director for Special Olympics Delaware. He was inducted into the Delaware Special Olympics Hall of Fame in 2011 for his service as Program Director and Head Coach at Brandywine Social Club from 1990-2012. At Brandywine, Capodanno was Coach of the Year in 1996 and led multiple teams at the World Games.

In addition, he’s served on the Brandywine School District Renovation Oversight Committee, chaired the Brandywine School District Scope and Assessment Committee and was a member of the Brandywine School District Capital Referendum Task Force in 1999 and 2004. He also served on the board of the Delaware Military Academy and was chair of the board in 2018 and 2019.

Ed Capodanno truly embodies what it means to be an integral part of your community, supporting businesses and individuals from all walks of life to make Delaware a wonderful state in which to live. Congratulations, Ed!