Before we know it, our ASM General Contractor Showcase will be held on October 24^th at Polar Park’s DCU Club in Worcester. This year’s showcase will be entirely indoors and offer great ballpark views. This is a member-only event, so if you want to attend, please consider joining the association. Our last GC Showcase, held in 2022, featured 25 of our region’s premier general contractors and was an excellent opportunity for member attendees to network with GC exhibitors to learn more about their companies and upcoming projects.

In November, we will offer an exciting in-person seminar entitled “Scheduling Pitfalls – How to Cover Your A$$” on November 19^th in Waltham. The event will feature two of our most experienced member/business owners, Leslie Carrio of DePaoli Mosaic and Jim Miller of Salem Glass, fielding questions and offering tips on how to ensure subcontractors address the challenges of scheduling before signing a contract, when the contract is in-house, as the work approaches, and once the work is complete.

On another note, it is the height of campaign season for state legislators, which means there is little activity at the State House. Legislators ended formal sessions for this legislative cycle early on August 1. Election day this year falls on November 5^th, the same day as the Presidential election.

Although the legislature is not in formal session, legislators can still pass legislation during “informal sessions.” However, only non-controversial matters that pass unanimously without objection from any one legislator will be considered.

It is still possible that the speaker of the House and Senate president will bring their members back for a rare “Formal Session” sometime before the end of the year to take up unfinished business. While this move is uncommon, it is not completely unprecedented.

Governor Healey has strongly urged speaker Mariano and president Spilka to bring members back to work on a stalled economic development package that would invest in life sciences, climate technology, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing, to name a few. Because the economic development legislation includes bonding authorizations, it can only be passed by a recorded roll-call vote, which would require enough members of each branch to be present to reach a quorum to complete.

These factors will surely make for an interesting fall season for the legislature, and ASM will continue to work to ensure that we are monitoring all issues that may affect our members and all subcontractors.

As we approach winter, this is the best time to consider joining ASM, either as a subcontractor or as an associate member who provides services to subcontractors in the construction industry. Winter and spring tend to feature robust programming after the busy holiday season, and we hope to provide you with great educational and networking opportunities.

For more information about the association or to join, visit our website at www.associatedsubs.com.

Jim Welch is the CEO/executive director of the Associated Subcontractors of Mass., Boston.