The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Florida Gulf Coast Chapter membership includes 448 companies, and their influence extends beyond the region, across the state and throughout the nation.
Three members of ABC’s 2020 national board of directors are from the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter: Eric Mudge of Wood PLC, Jack Olmstead of Tri-City Electrical Contractors, and David Turcios of Nielson, Wojtowicz, Neu & Associates.
Similarly, five of ABC of Florida’s 2020 directors are ABC Florida Gulf Coast members: Richard Backa of Capform, Mike Foley of RoyalAire Mechanical, David Turcios of Nielson Wojtowicz, Neu & Associates, Brady Harris of Gilbane, and Gary Griffin of B & I Contractors.
“We are well-represented at all levels,” said Steve Cona III, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter president. “Having members on the state and national boards gives our chapter an advantage. It puts us on the cutting edge of knowing what’s happening in our industry and what’s on the horizon legislatively. This gives us a stronger voice, particularly in making sure the regulatory environment makes it easier for our companies to do business.”
In addition, locally, the chapter “has a hand in training a good portion of the workforce,” said Cona, “which provides our members with the ability to upscale their employees and invest in their people.”
In fact, in 2019, the ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter trained 553 apprentices, who were sponsored by 102 companies. The chapter sent 147 workers through an OSHA 10 course, 89 through an OSHA 30 course, and had 207 become certified for CPR/First Aid. Twenty received professional development training.
Thirty-eight of the chapter’s businesses won Eagle Awards for Excellence in Construction.
The chapter hosted 44 events. Forty-five companies exhibited at Build Tampa Bay, which was attended by 900 students. Twenty-eight members participated in ABC’s NEXGEN Leadership Program, 211 attended ABC Young Professionals events, and 110 attended Women of ABC events. Thirty members went to Tallahassee, and $29,000 PAC dollars were raised locally and $18,000 nationally.
The Florida Gulf Coast Chapter recently selected its own officers and directors for 2020. Officers are Eric Mudge of Wood PLC, chairman of the board, Jeff Doan of J. O. DeLotto & Sons, vice chairman, Chris Johnson, Piper Fire Protection, second vice chairman, David Turcios of Nielson Wojtowicz, Neu & Associates, treasurer, Scott Cox, Cox Fire Protection, secretary, Ethan Adams of Adams Group, immediate past chairman.
Directors include Kyle Dallmann, Raynor Company Group, Brian Davis, BCI Integrated Solutions, Nick Krarup, Coastal Construction, Kathy Masucci, Graybar Electric, Denise Muth, DPR Construction, Sean Ouellette, KAST Construction, Jenny Sanchez, Kokolakis Contracting, Steve Shea, Universal Fire Systems, Jason Spears, Peninsular Mechanical Contractors, Terrance Sterett, Walbridge, Brian Weber, Plaza Construction, and Howard Wheeler, Chris-Tel Construction.
“2019 was a great year,” said Cona, “and we expect 2020 will be even better.”