In its survey of Florida construction firms for the third quarter of 2017, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) finds the confidence to fill open positions over the next six months remains low. Continued hurricane rebuilding efforts will likely exacerbate the challenge to find enough skilled labor in Florida to meet the level of project demand. Confidence in other areas of the survey remains high.

ABC President and CEO Mike Bellaman made a live appearance on Fox Business Network's "Varney & Co." show on October 17th. The one-on-one interview focused on the U.S. Department of Labor's Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion that Bellaman was appointed to the day before. Watch a clip of Bellaman's appearance here.

Shon Smith, prefabrication manager with ACI Mechanical from ABC’s Iowa Chapter, won ABC’s first Young Professional of the Year Award, and the University of Cincinnati won both the 2015 Construction Management Competition and the 2015 ABC Student Chapter of the Year Award. The awards were presented at the Future Leaders Awards Luncheon during ABC’s Leadership Week in San Diego Nov. 11.

ABC May 3 recognized the winners of its 13th annual Student Chapter Construction Management Competition during the 21st Century Workforce Development Conference, April 30 - May 3 in Birmingham, Ala. Teams of students from 14 colleges and universities across the nation competed for more than $6,000 in cash and prizes, as well as the coveted “Construction Management Champions” title.