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.

The Trimmer Construction Education Foundation (TCEF) announced the Build Your Future scholarship June 10 which offers a financial reward to anyone who is currently pursuing craft professional training in the construction industry through a NCCER-accredited program or a state- or federally-approved apprenticeship program in a merit-shop training facility. 

During the Careers in Construction Awards Ceremony March 6, ABC recognized Holley Thomas, a foreman for KBR, Houston, Texas, as its 2015 Craft Professional of the Year and Jonathan Sacks, transmission and distribution training manager for Cianbro, Pittsfield, Maine, as its 2015 Craft Instructor of the Year. The awards were presented during ABC’s Workforce Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 

The Trimmer Construction Education Foundation (TCEF) re-launched its auction and now you can bid on some of the top items from your phone. The funds go to TCEF, a non-profit, charitable organization that funds efforts to train and retain the construction industry workforce through grants, scholarships and financially supporting annual ABC competitions and awards. Auction items include golf packages, beach vacations, Texas-style BBQ, cases of wine and much more. 

Contractors looking to enhance their employees’ project management skills can enroll them to take part in the ABC Project Management Institute held at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. The course includes two non-concurrent five-day sessions providing the students with tools to improve profitability and productivity and increase quality and customer satisfaction. 

As a leader in the construction industry, you have to always stay on top of the newest industry trends, the best practices among project management and business development and how to address issues such as workforce development and safety within your company. Join us in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., March 3-6, during the Workforce Conference as we bring together construction professionals and top executives throughout the country to share and collaborate on ways to become the best in the industry.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law July 22 and has the potential to create great opportunities for ABC members who have been looking for skilled workers to fill the labor shortage. Here’s how it directly affects ABC members:

ABC awarded Lloyd Evans, hiring and training administrator for Watson Electrical Construction Co. LLC, Wilson, N.C., as its 2014 Craft Instructor of the Year. Evans will be honored during ABC’s Workforce Development Conference May 2 in Birmingham, Ala.

Registration is still open for the 2014 Workforce Development Conference being held April 29-May 2 in Birmingham, Ala. which will feature education sessions spanning six topics, keynote speakers, networking receptions and the National Craft Championships. Members interested in learning more can view the agenda and plan their week in Alabama by visiting wdc.abc.org.

ABC has made some changes to its meeting schedule in an effort to provide more value for attendees. The Meetings Transformation Taskforce set goals to provide more affordable accommodations, keep registration costs in check and reduce the number of meetings overall for next year and moving forward.