Announcing new 2020 board members

The ABC- Greater Tennessee Chapter is pleased to announce the addition of four new members to the Board of Directors: Stephon Bishop (Brasfield & Gorrie), Blake French (The Wakefield Corporation), Ryan Frost (Glenn E. Mitchell & Company), and Ty Jennings (The Comfort Group). In the truest sense of the word, ABC - Greater Tennessee Chapter is a member-run association. Members identify issues critical to merit shop construction and work together to find solutions using the resources of one of the largest construction-related groups in the world.  Clay Parkes will serve as chair of the 2020 Board of Directors. A full list of 2020 board members can be found here. 

ABC Greater TN Celebrates Prestigious Construction Projects of the Past Year

Laughter and warmth filled the ballroom of the OMNI Nashville Hotel on September 26, 2019 as ABC Greater TN hosted the Excellence in Construction awards. This annual program honors outstanding merit shop construction projects throughout Middle and East Tennessee and recognizes contractors, project architects, engineers and owners.

Over 300 ABC members and guests enjoyed the program that recognized forty-three projects among thirty-one categories. In addition, ABC Greater TN recognized both the Sub-Contractor and Contractor of the Year. Congratulations toRio Grande Fence Co. and Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC!

This event would not be possible without the support of our many generous sponsors. A special thank you to our Ballroom Sponsors Batten | Shaw Construction and Frank E. Neal & Co. 

Event photos can be found here, courtesy of Bell & Associates Construction and Aerial Innovations.

ENR: Gearing up for continued growth

“Construction is still booming in Tennessee,” says Clay Crownover, president and CEO of ABC- Greater Tennessee chapter. But as with most other regions of the country, finding qualified construction professionals to fill the boots can be daunting.

Read more at ENR...

ABC Greater Tennessee endorses Janet Testerman for Knoxville City Council

The Greater Tennessee chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors has approved the recommendations for endorsement of Janet Testerman for Knoxville City Council. 

In the City Council, At Large Seat B, Ms. Testerman is set to face an opponent that will not recognize the open shop philosophy that keeps Tennessee growth moving forward. 

We look forward to the election and seeing Ms. Testerman prevail in this race. 

ABC Greater Tennessee Meet with Congressional Leaders in D.C.

ABC Greater Tennessee staff and Board of Directors had the pleasure of speaking with our Tennessee representatives in Washington, D.C. last week to push forward policies to re-enforce the Merit Shop Philosophy. 

Board members and staff met with Rep. Scott Desjarlais, Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator Lamar Alexander, Rep. Tim Burchett, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann and Rep. Phil Roe. They also heard from Mercedes Schlapp, the White House Strategic Communications Director and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX).

For pics, visit our flickr page. 

Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt highlights May Membership Meeting in East Tennessee

ABC Greater TN's Knoxville office hosted Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt at the Cherokee Country Club. ABC members and guests enjoyed lunch sponsored by Mobile Mini Storage Solutions. 

2020 ABC National Convention coming to Nashville

Next.Stop.Nashville

Message from the President on HB271

Dear ABC Members, As you may know, today we fully expect the House Commerce Committee to take up HB271, legislation that will significantly change procedure on construction contracts and allow for more work stoppages on Tennessee construction projects. ABC's position, at this time, remains that this bill needs to be moved to legislative summer study and rolled until next year so that ABC can foster input from West, East, and Middle Tennessee industry members. It is imperative that the entire state have input on this legislation. ABC has been working with other industry associations to foster a conversation on this legislation and allow for additional consideration from all interested parties across the state. This remains a top priority for our organization to bring the differing points of view on this legislation together and ensure that any legislation that is passed works for both general contractors and subcontractors. We have worked over the course of the last six weeks on this legislatio ... Read the rest of entry »

Tennessee construction unemployment hits record mark for January 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Estimated January not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates dropped in 48 states -- including Tennessee -- on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. As the January 2019 national NSA construction unemployment rate fell 0.9 percent from a year ago to 6.4 percent, the construction industry employed 343,000 more workers nationally compared to January 2018, according to BLS numbers. In Tennessee, the NSA construction unemployment rate for January was 4.8 percent, a decrease of 1.6 percent from January 2018’s rate of 6.4 percent. Tennessee's 4.8 percent 3.7 percent lower than the 8.7 percent mark in January 2017 and the lowest state rate on record for January. Tennessee also compares favorably to neighboring states, such as Alabama (5.8), Georgia (6.0), Kentucky (10.1), Mississippi (9.6), South Carolina (4.7) and North Carolina (5.4).  The lowest state rate i ... Read the rest of entry »

Position Statement: ASA's HB271/SB324 needs to move to Summer Study

The House Commerce Committee is slated to take up the American Subcontractor Association's (ASA) HB 271(SB 324) in the Tennessee General Assembly House Commerce Committee as early as this week. As you may know, this legislation will significantly change procedure on construction contracts and lien rights on Tennessee construction projects.  While fairness in contracts is important to the industry as a whole, this bill has far reaching consequences if not drafted correctly. ABC- Greater Tennessee’s Legislative Committee, which represents General Contractors as well as Subcontractors, does not believe that ill-drafted, unworkable legislation that affects one of the state's biggest industries should be ramrodded through the state legislature without proper involvement and feedback from the industry itself. This legislation, if not redrafted, could be detrimental to the industry due to its ambiguous wording and method of employing the principals in the bill. ABC has been working w ... Read the rest of entry »