Quick Links
ABA Offices:
1825 W. Adams Phoenix, AZ 85007 602.274.8222
Tucson, AZ 85712
520.881.793
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Statewide Calendar of Events
(Phoenix)
20th Annual Cornerstone Building Foundation Awards Banquet & Scholarship Presentation
March 11
(Tucson)
WEBINAR
Medical Marijuana: Safety in the Construction Industry
March 11
(Statewide)
Joint Association Mixer Hosted by Minard-Ames
March 12
(Phoenix)
OSHA 10-Hour Class
March 13 & 14
(Tucson)
Joint Association Member Lunch
March 20
(Phoenix)
Safety Officer Training Program
Mar. 31-Apr. 4
(Phoenix)
LEAN Unit 5: LEAN Supply Chain & Assembly
April 1
(Phoenix)
27th Annual ABA Golf Tournament
April 4
(Phoenix)
For more information on any of these upcoming events or programs, please contact
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Working for you...
Mark Minter
Executive Director
Tom Dunn
Southern Arizona Director
Erica Lange
Assistant Executive Director
Debbie Carlson
So. AZ Office Manager
Gary Townsley
Director of Apprenticeship
Jenn Swanson
Director of Management Education
Dana Jones
Apprenticeship Coordinator
Nita Ornelas
Office Administrator
Mary Navarrette
Chapter Bookkeeper
Carol McMullen
Consultant
[email protected]
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Hello ABA Members!
As many of you have noted in the past few months, the ABA is continually growing and improving. You may
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Erica Lange
Assistant Executive Director
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have noticed several recent changes that have taken place as a result of the ABA's three-year strategic plan, survey results, and focus groups, including:
- The launch of our new website, which occurred February 7. Visit www.azbuilders.org. The new site offers up-to-the minute updates on the industry, as well as a sleek, clean design, easy to use tabs, and online registration for upcoming events for both Phoenix & Tucson branches.
- The introduction of monthly webinars that have been well-attended and have received excellent feedback. If you have an idea for a webinar, please send your thoughts to Erica Lange.
- The procurement of lobbying firm, Triadvocates, to help the ABA and the industry further our legislative efforts.
- More diverse educational programs hosted in member offices and featuring additional speakers.
Lastly, please look for a member achievement newsletter which will be posted later this month. If you have an achievement you'd like to promote, please contact Erica Lange.
If you have ideas or suggestions for classes or improvements, please contact Erica Lange. Please visit the Month in Photos at the bottom of the page.
Have a great month!
Erica Lange
Assistant Executive Director
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Legislative Update
by Mark Minter, Executive Director
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Mark Minter
Executive Director
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The Arizona Legislature passed its first big deadline last week when bills must have been heard in committees in the chamber in which the bill originated. About 2/3rd's of the bills introduced have functionally died due to lack of a hearing. But, don't worry. There are still plenty of interesting, controversial or down-right goofy ideas still floating around.
Federal OSHA is still indicating they plan to take over all construction inspections in Arizona unless changes are made to the residential fall protection standard in Arizona. Due to actions taken by ABA, the various stakeholders including homebuilders, Industrial Commission of Arizona and Federal OSHA have begun talks on changes to the statute. Hopefully, agreement can be reached on changes prior to the end of the Legislative session.
The ABA is supporting the renewal of the Registrar of Contractors which is up for "sunset review" this year. ABA also supports changes to the statute to prevent the Registrar from reviewing the tax filings of new and renewing applicants.
See a list of additional bills the ABA has taken a position on for 2014 here.
For questions about these or any other legislative issues, please contact Mark Minter.
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University of Arizona CAPLA and Lloyd Scholarships
by Tom Dunn, Director of Southern Arizona
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Tom Dunn
Director for Southern Arizona
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As an organization, the Arizona Builders' Alliance places a high priority on industry education and recruitment. In 2006, the Arizona Builders' Alliance began its partnership with the University of Arizona's College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, rewarding excellence and introducing students to possible careers in the commercial construction industry.
The scholarship program has emerged as a tradition of cooperation between industry and academia. It includes a highly anticipated portfolio competition and an annual scholarship award dinner that unites and strengthens the connection between the commercial construction industry and many of the University of Arizona's colleges, educators, staff and students.
The Lloyd Scholarship was established in 2007 to honor the memory of Bill Lloyd Sr., founder of one of Arizona's preeminent construction firms, and to create an endowment scholarship for outstanding University of Arizona engineering students. Mr. Lloyd's firm built many of the buildings and facilities on the university's campus, including CAPLA's
east building. Bill Lloyd Sr. was a 1963 graduate of the University of Arizona's College of Engineering
Over the initial years of the program, the Arizona Builders' Alliance membership has provided more than $165,000 to benefit more than 130 CAPLA and College of Engineering students. The CAPLA/Lloyd Scholarship dinner occurred February 25th on campus. The atmosphere was electric as we recognized the Lloyd Scholars and CAPLA Portfolio winners. READ MORE
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ABA Board Changes
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Rob Caylor
2014 ABA President
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Please help the ABA welcome Rob Caylor as the 2014 ABA President. He has been an active member on the ABA's Board of Directors since 2008 and a member of the ABA since 2003. President of Robert Caylor Construction Company since 1999, Rob has been in the commercial building industry since 1981. As a native Tucsonan he has always been an active member of the community. He has served as Director of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association, been a member of BOMA and has served on the Board of Directors for Tucson Country Club.
See Rob's comments regarding the ABA and his appointment as President here.
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Lorraine Bergman
2014 ABA Board Member & Past President
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A special thank you to Lorraine Bergman, who served as ABA President in 2013. Lorraine, an Arizona native, is the President of Caliente Construction Inc. She has a degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Phoenix. She is a two-time Athena Award nominee, was named ACE Most Admired CEO in 2010 and was recently named as a 2014 Industry Leader of Arizona for Commercial Real Estate. Lorraine has 2 children and 5 grandchildren.
During her tenure as President, she was integral in working with the entire Board of Directors to create a three-year strategic plan to help reinvigorate, refresh, renew, and grow the association. This plan will serve as the map for the course of the ABA over the next several years.
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Mark Fleming
2014 ABA Life Director
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The ABA would like to welcome Mark Fleming as an ABA Life Director. The criteria to become a Life Director for the ABA involves being an elected director for 12+ years or being an elected director for 9+ years and having served as an officer. Mark has served as an ABA Board of Director for 16 years and was President of the association in 2006. President & CEO of Corbins Electric, Mark is a native of South Dakota. He has worked in the electrical contracting industry his entire adult life beginning with his family owned electrical business, then as a licensed journeyman and foreman level electrician in both South Dakota and Wyoming.
Upon relocating to Arizona in 1986, Mark joined the Corbins team working in the capacities of Service Manager, Facilities Manager, and Vice President before an ownership transition occurred in 2001 in which he was named President and CEO and became the majority owner of Corbins Electric. In this capacity, Mark leads the company's strategic planning efforts and goals, directs the daily operations, oversees the implementation of plans and policies to meet company objectives and insure profitable growth. In 2012, Mark purchased the remainder of the company from his partner and became 100% owner of Corbins Electric. He is the recipient of key industry awards, including ASSE Executive of the Year and CFMA Construction Executive of the Year.
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Terry Keenen
NEWLY ELECTED
2014 ABA Board Member
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The ABA welcomes Terry Keenen as a newly elected Board of Director. Terry has been an active ABA member for over ten years. He is President of Climatec BTG and has over 25 years of experience in the building automation and life safety industry. Starting as an electrician, he became a sales engineer with Honeywell, Los Angeles Branch in 1986 and was promoted through the organization to Branch Manager. His management experience dates back to 1991 then in 1995 Terry became General Manger of Climatec's Automation Department and expanded it to the current Building Technologies Group that employs 600 professionals across the Southwest and exceeds $160 million in revenue annually.
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Rob Lafferty
2014 ABA 1st Vice President
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Rob Lafferty was elected 2nd Vice President in 2013. He is currently the 1st Vice President and will serve as the ABA President in 2015. He has been an ABA Member for 15-years, served on the ABC Board and Education Trust from 1987 -1994, has been on the ABA Board of Directors for five-years, and served on the ABA's Education Trust for six-years. His commitment to the ABA is strong. "I serve to make a positive difference in ABA and whatever I do." Rob's philosophy is that "Education and training are essential to business and personal growth."
Rob is principal and owner of RML Electric, started the company in 1996 based on his personal commitment to "do what you say, do it well and work with people" which reflects the strong work ethic instilled in him when he first entered the trade at a young age in Ohio working alongside his father who was also an electrical contractor and frequently reminded Rob that you must always "finish the job because it's your name that's on the work, it's your reputation at stake."
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Joe Duvall
2014 ABA 2nd Vice President
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Joe Duvall was elected 2nd Vice President recently and will serve as ABA President in 2016. He has been an ABA Member for 13 years and has served as a Board of Director for 3-years. A thirty-year Kitchell veteran, Joe joined the company shortly after graduating from Texas A&M in his home state. He is currently Division Manager of Kitchell. He has played a key role in dozens of Kitchell's signature projects in Arizona and Nevada for Banner Desert Medical Center, MountainView Hospital, Sunrise Hospital, Motorola, University of Las Vegas, and Scottsdale Bible Church, among many others.
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Gary Townsley
ABA Apprenticeship Director
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New Apprenticeship Semester to Begin in January
by Gary Townsley, Apprenticeship Director
The Annual ABA-AGC Education Fund Golf Tournament will be at the Legacy on April 4. Please plan on sponsoring and participating in this fun filled day of golf and socializing with your fellow ABA members. All proceeds benefit the apprenticeship programs. You can register on our ABA website www.azbuilders.org or by contacting Dana Jones.
The SkillsUSA Championships/ABA Electrical Craft Championships will be on April 15 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The following ABA member contractor apprentices are the contestants in the event:
- Nathan Akins-Gaylor Electric
- Jason Hansen-Jenco
- Brian Hart-Corbins Electric
- Simeon Higbee-Wilson Electric
- Kris Hill-Wilson Electric
- Geoffary Mullins-Jenco
- Matt Rice-DP Electric
- Michael Visvydas-Corbins Electric
- Justin Weber-Corbins Electric
Please mark your calendars and plan on attending this event and observing our talented apprentices competing to see who will represent the ABA at the National SkillsUSA Championships and ABC Craft Championships.
Enrollment in the ABA's electrical program through GWCC is at 245 with about 20 looking for employment. If you have any openings please contact Dana Jones. Our electrical hybrid NCCER connect online program in Tucson started at the end of January with about 20 apprentices in the program at Catalina Magnet High School. There are also about 80 apprentices spread out between 4 other programs.
We now have the approximately $20,000 worth of electrical equipment and supplies from the request that our program submitted to GWCC in the fall to improve our lab. Our students and instructors will be putting those items to good use this spring.
I would like to announce we hired three new instructors who start this spring semester in our electrical program. They are all graduates of our program. They are Aaron Wood-Urban Energy Solutions, Bryce D'Angelico-DP Electric and Paul Bolgiano. Please wish them the best as they begin their new endeavors to give back to our program and the trade.
Our latest high schools to come onboard as NCCER ATEF's are the Construction program at Catalina Magnet HS in Tucson and the Welding program at North Canyon HS in Phoenix. If you are interested in working with either of these schools programs please contact Gary Townsley.
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Applications being accepted for the 2014 Senior Executive Program (SEP)!
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Jennifer Swanson
ABA Management Education Director
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Applications now being accepted for the 2014 Senior Executive Program (SEP). SEP is an exclusive course offered to 12 executives and senior leaders, where they share experiences and discuss:
- Transition in leadership
- Time management for leaders
- Conflict resolution
- Challenges unique to executives
- And much more.
Dates: August 13; Sept 10; Oct 1; Nov 12
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Need Resources for your Business?
When your company joined the Arizona Builders' Alliance, you had the opportunity to join the National AGC. If you chose this, you can take advantage of the many member benefits the AGC offers.
One of these benefits is the AGC online store. Here you can find construction-related resources, including:
- ePubs
- DVD's
- Webinars
- Distance Learning Opportunities
In addition, you can access resources regarding safety, construction delivery, management & operations, contracts & construction law, and much more. Visit this link to visit the online store.
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 Free Upcoming ABC Webinars
When your company joined the Arizona Builders' Alliance, you had the opportunity to join the National ABC. If you chose this, you can take advantage of the many member benefits the ABC offers.
The ABC offers free webinars to ABC Members. Here is a list of upcoming webinars:
To see register for one of these webinars or see additional offerings, please visit this link. To find out if you're an ABC member, please contact Nita Ornelas.
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The ABA's Community Service Board will once again be collecting cell phones for soldiers. How can you help?
- Drop off your old cell phones at the ABA offices in Phoenix OR Tucson by May 23.
 Place a collection box in your office. Print an 8 1/2" x 11" box poster here. Print an 18" x 18" box poster here. If you are in need of a collection box, please contact Erica Lange. - Print these flyers and distribute in to your customers, vendors, and post in your lobbies.
- Place this website banner on your company's website with a link back to the ABA's Cellphones for Soldiers webpage.
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The Month in Photos!
To see photos from this past month's events, click on the Photo below to see others in that album!
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2014 President's Installation Dinner & Auction
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2014 CAPLA & Lloyd Scholarship Dinner
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First Aid/CPR Class
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Networking for the Nervous Seminar
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LEAN Unit 1: Variations on Production Systems Course
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Explorer Post 811 Climatec Tour
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Indemnity Roundtable
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