ABC of Mass.: Celebrating 40 years of working for Merit Shop Contractors

As we enter the final months of a productive and challenging 2008, Associated Builders and Contractors of Mass. would like to take a moment to provide you with some of the highlights of this, ABC Mass.'s 40th anniversary year. Our goal is to continue to be an excellent resource to help members firms build better businesses and showcase them as among the finest, most professional builders in the Commonwealth. Government Affairs The recently concluded legislative session saw passage of higher education, environmental, transportation, housing and life sciences bond bills. ABC worked to prevent the inclusion of exclusionary labor language and unfair apprenticeship mandates in these bills, which will govern how $10+ billion of state capital are spent over the next several years. As an industry leader, ABC worked closely with the office of attorney general Martha Coakley and our allied construction groups to craft a fair, proactive policy on enforcement of the Commonwealth's Independent Contractor Law. * ABC Mass. used opinion pieces and ads as part of a public awareness campaign to highlight the importance of compliance and promote the efforts of ABC members to act responsibly and professionally. * ABC Mass. again played a leading role in working with the attorney general's office and industry groups on the development of an OSHA 10 Advisory issued earlier this year. We are also working diligently to address inequities in new state apprenticeship policies. An effort is underway to educate state policy makers and opinion leaders on the importance of policies that are fair to both the union and open shop sectors of the construction industry. Political Activism * Strong relationships with legislative leaders boosts ABC Mass.'s clout * Hosted a variety of key legislators at board meetings and events * ABC PAC support for legislators who favor fair, open and responsible competition Member Resources * ABC Mass. hired former DAT director John Rich as new director of Workforce Development, Compliance and Standards. Rich is working to provide members with an important resource on critical compliance issues level and to the playing field for professional merit shop contractors. Membership * 79 new members joined ABC over the past year. On the Cutting Edge of a Changing Industry * Green committee launched * Sustainable/green dinner meeting sold out * Strategic Alliance Committee launched * Alliances forged with National Association of Women in Construction, Green Roundtable * Diversity committee launched - major dinner and meet the generals in fall Events * Independent contractor breakfast with the AG Coakley sells out * Golf tournament sells out for third consecutive year * New England ski day in New Hampshire unites Mass., Maine, and N.H. members * New member reception sells out * Two meet the generals nights bring together GCs and subs Wall of Merit * ABC members and friends will be permanently enshrined in this wall to be constructed at our new headquarters. Thus far, we have sold 154 bricks. New Chapter and Gould Institute Headquarters Last November, ABC Mass. and the Gould Construction Institute moved to new and larger space at 200 Wheeler Rd. in Burlington. * Provides more training, seminar and event space Gould Construction Institute * First offering of GCI/Wentworth Institute construction management program filled to capacity * Two LEED AP prep courses sell out * George W. Gould Memorial Trust awards 10 scholarships and passes $300,000 mark in total scholarships granted * 49 award winners, more than 300 attendees at safety and training night If you are a professional merit shop contractor and want to join forces with a proactive association designed to advance your business, please contact Jim Abbott for information about ABC at 781-273-0123 or jim@abcma.org. Greg Beeman is the president and CDO of Associated Builders and Contractors of Mass., Burlington, Mass.