Merit Connection—March 28, 2024

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March 28, 2024

Thank you to all who provided feedback on Merit Connection!

Based on your responses, there will be two versions of Merit Connection every month. Starting in April, the two monthly issues will include:

Featured Chapters and Staff
Special Edition (event recaps, membership and marketing info, etc.)

All chapters are scheduled to be included in 2024!

Watch for staff interviews, chapter news, best practices and even a few contests.

Submit Your Chapter Content!

Contact Naomi Kocer for Merit Connection chapter content submission.

Contact Kristi Pronovost for marketing campaigns and customization needs.

These features—shared by your peers—show a small part of the efforts by all chapters to represent and support the merit shop philosophy.

#ABCMeritShopProud

ABC National wants to make you aware that the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26 involved employees of an ABC member company doing work on the bridge. At this difficult time for the ABC community, please send your thoughts and prayers to the colleagues and families of the employees who were working on that bridge earlier this week. Many thanks for your prayers.

ABC Greater Baltimore has teamed up with the 501c3 nonprofit Construction Angels to encourage tax-deductible donations to help families of the victims. Learn more.

On Feb. 22, the ABC LOGIC of Greater Baltimore (Ladies Operating for Growth in Construction) Peer Group hosted its annual Galentine's Networking Event at Tegeler Construction & Supply, a woman-owned business. The event is dedicated to celebrating women from various sectors of the industry. Participants gained valuable insights under the theme of "Confidence and Influence." All proceeds from the event supported the LOGIC scholarship fund, empowering young women pursuing construction-related fields of study in their post-high school education.

ABC New Orleans/Bayou helped host students from across southeast Louisiana at the first Journey to Industry event, along with the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance Inc. and NORIA. Tenth grade students were welcomed to explore industry career paths with hands-on learning activities and discussions with professionals. They also are busy with their six-week class series, Uncommon Leadership, which is a great opportunity to grow future leaders! If you’re looking for social media ideas, check out their LinkedIn page for some great implementation of video testimonials, frequent photo postings and reposting member content.

ABC Texas Mid-Coast hosted its 38th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, March 1.

At the tournament, delicious food was cooked and enjoyed by members, along with lovely weather, competition and friendship. With over 200 golfers, 11 cooking teams and nearly 300 attendees, the event was the largest golf tournament the chapter has ever seen!

The Mid-Coast chapter staff is greatly appreciative of the wonderful members who make up the chapter and support ABC as strongly as they do.

ABC Southern California is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year! Even in its early days, the chapter proved to be a beacon of support for construction professionals committed to excellence. They have special events planned throughout 2024 to celebrate their continued success and promise to grow. Please enjoy this video from their Board Installation and EIC Awards Dinner: President and CEO Mike Mitchell called it “14 minutes of pure inspiration!"

World Down Syndrome Day was observed on March 21. It is a global awareness day selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome. To help raise awareness, ABCares (along with ABC Delaware) participated with Rock Your Socks at two networking events. In February, they sold 150 pairs of socks and raised $750 for the Down Syndrome Association at a member event in Rehoboth Beach. At their March networking event, they sold all 160 pairs of socks, raising over $800. The event in March included a new member reception where over 150 people attended.

Left to Right: Dottie Perillo, GFP Cement Contractors; Lisa Zoller, Delaware Valley Concrete Co.; Todd Kinkus, DMD Business Forms & Printing Co.; and Jennifer Harrison, Wheeler Wolfenden & Dwares, CPAs and co-chair of the ABCares Community Service Committee

ABC Delaware was also active on social media, promoting Women in Construction Week earlier this month!

ABC New Hampshire/Vermont is incredibly proud of their results-driven workforce development initiatives. They’ve created a separate website, "I Build NH/VT," to connect the construction industry with educators and community partners to help develop the current and future workforce pipeline. Their staff collaborates closely with local schools and their member companies to help them create and maintain relationships. Check out the site for ideas to implement at your chapter!

Featured here is one of ABC NH/VT’s workforce development events, Building the Future Together, an industry and education forum held on Feb. 16.

Interview With David Sload - - - - - - - -

President and CEO, ABC Keystone

What motivates you about ABC?

Being able to have an impact on companies and employees and helping young people discover the excitement about construction motivates me.

What advice can you give to chapter staff?

It's all about the member experience. We are nothing more than stewards of the chapter.

What would you tell new chapter staff?

Get to know ABC inside out and get to know the members.

How long have you been with the Keystone chapter?

I have been on staff at ABC Keystone for 13 years: 6.5 as president and CEO and 6.5 as vice president of education, safety and workforce development. Prior to being on staff at the Keystone chapter, I was a contractor member for 32 years. I was the chapter chair in 2000 and attended my first ABC Keystone event in 1979.

What’s something unique about your chapter and/or members?

In a lot of chapters, the No. 1 reason to join is because of government affairs or networking. At ABC Keystone, the No. 1 reason for joining is education, training and career development.