News

ABC Greater Tennessee Board of Directors Elected for 2023

The ABC- Greater Tennessee Chapter is pleased to announce that Justin Marcus of Joseph Construction has been elected ABC Greater Tennessee's 2023 Chairman. In addition, ABC will be welcoming Roger White (Rackley Roofing) on to the board for 2023.

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. 

A full contact list of 2023 board members can be found here.

ABC Greater Tennessee opens up 11 partial scholarships for Knoxville Trades Academy applicants

Earn while you learn!! Applications are open for our Knoxville and Nashville Construction Trade Academies. Partial scholarships are available for Knoxville Trade Academy. Simply submit a 500 word essay on “Why you want to enter the trades, your goals after graduation, and what trade interests you” Visit abctennessee.com/cta for more information or submit your application or essay to [email protected] for Knoxville. Submit your application for Nashville to [email protected].

Highlighting the Trades through NASCAR

We are proud to announce that ABC Greater Tennessee will be a featured sponsor on the #20 Dewalt Toyota at the nationally televised NASCAR cup series Ally 400 on June 26th, 2022 in Nashville, TN. Set your DVRs and cheer on the #20 as Christopher Bell looks for his second career win in the NASCAR Cup series.

  

ABC Greater TN Names Rep. Pat Marsh as 2022 Legislator of the Year

We had a very successful state legislative year in 2022, marking an almost 100% sucessful pass rate of the legislation important to our industry. This success is largely due to the relationships with our members, advocates and legislators. While we do this work for our members, nonmembers of ABC also are greatly impacted by the work our team does in every General Assembly session.  This year, one members of our General Assembly stood out in protecting and helping our industry thrive in this state through his workforce development work. Because of this individuals work, we wanted to honor Rep. Pat Marsh for his workforce development work, as well as his continued support of the merit shop and free enterprise in Tennessee. The “Legislator of the Year” award is given by ABC of Tennessee to those legislators who go above and beyond on behalf of the Association and the industry at-large.  More than simply getting our bills across the finish line, these individuals have demonstrat ... Read the rest of entry »

$950K Grant signed by Governor Lee for ABC Greater Tennessee Construction Trade Academies

Nashville, June 1st - Today, Governor Lee signed the 2022-2023 Appropriations bill, which covers state funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 and running through July 1, 2023. Included within that bill was a grant of $950K awarded to the Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee's Construction Trades Academies in Nashville and Knoxville.

The use of the appropriated $950K is awarded to be used to establish a pilot project that ensures the continued growth and enhancement of ABC Greater Tennessee's Construction Trades Academy for the training of skilled trades personnel.

We are excited to put this money to good use in Middle and East Tennessee and help spur new engagement of young people in the trades and build a bigger and better trained workforce in the State of Tennessee.

We have moved!

We have moved. Our new office address is 560 Royal Parkway, Nashville, TN 37214

ABC: Tennessee ranks 12th in nation for construction business climate

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21— Tennessee ranks 12th in state rankings for construction business climate, according to the 2021 Associated Builders and Contractors Merit Shop Scorecard. Tennessee returned to the top tier of the rankings this year based on the state’s continued encouragement of fair and open competition. Rounding out the top five, South Carolina ranked third, Georgia ranked fourth and Wisconsin ranked fifth. Other states to receive an A ranking in 2021 include Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Iowa, and West Virginia. “The resiliency of our outstanding industry has been on full display throughout the year,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC’s vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “From economic and regulatory headwinds to talent shortages, supply chain bottlenecks, high inflation rates and a lingering pandemic, ABC member companies continue to invest in their people and deliver work safely, ethically and profitably. The top states in this year&rsq ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Greater Tennessee 2021 Year in Review

We are so excited to share the accomplishments of our chapter this year in our annual Year in Review. You can view the 2021 Year in Review at this link. 

ABC Greater Tennessee and Knox County announce Construction Trades Academy

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs is one step closer to finalizing a major initiative – creating the Skilled Trades Academy and Regional Training Center (START), a training school designed to attract, train, and retain a quality workforce in the construction industry. The Knox County Commission will vote next week on a 5-year lease agreement with John H. Daniel to secure the company’s 16,200-square foot warehouse at 1801 N. Central Ave. Associated Builders and Contractors – Greater Tennessee (ABC – Greater Tennessee), which has a similar and successful academy in Nashville, will run the school. The association, founded in 1971, is a part of 69 state chapters across the country representing 21,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms. “Knox County is committed to creating opportunities for everyone to thrive,” Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said. “This academy does that by adva ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Greater Tennessee announces 2022 Board of Directors

The ABC- Greater Tennessee Chapter is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to the Board of Directors for 2022: Brandt Fye (Hensel Phelps), Brian Hay (SKANSKA), and Jamie Holmes (T.W. Frierson Contractors). 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.  Eric Pyle (Bell Construction) will serve as Chairman of the 2022 Board of Directors. A full list of 2022 board members can be found here. 

 

Associated Builders & Contractors Announces Excellence in Construction Award Winners

Nashville, Tennessee -  Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Greater Tennessee Chapter yesterday announced the winners of 37 Excellence in Construction Awards during the annual Excellence in Construction Awards celebration held on November 4 in Nashville, TN. Governor Bill Lee, former 1999 ABC Chairman of the Board, was the keynote speaker for the event, and congratulated the hard work of merit shop contractors in Tennessee while emphasizing his dedication towards workforce development in the state. Hensel Phelps received the grand prize of General Contractor Award, Pavement Restorations recieved Subcontractor of the Year, with ECS Limited recieving the Associate Member of the Year Award. John Stallworth, former Chairman, recieved the coveted Rodgers-Bell award for this lifetime of service to the chapter. Hensel Phelps' Brandt Frye took home the 2021 Volunteer of the Year award for his commitment to the chapter in 2021 of growing the Emerging Leaders group, devotion to our Politi ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Greater Tennessee Announces 2021 Excellence in Construction Awards

Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Tennessee Chapter is pleased to announce our 2021 Excellence in Construction® Awards Winners. 37 projects were awarded, as well as 5 individual awards. 

Annually, the Excellence in Construction® award program honors innovative, top quality construction projects and safety programs. Entries are judged by an independent panel of industry experts who score each project in areas such as complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, workmanship, innovation, and safety. Excellence in Construction® awards recognize project contractors, primary architects and engineers, and owners.

We are proud to continue the ABC legacy of leadership, professionalism, safety, and excellence through this competition and beyond. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients!

Project Winners

Pictures of the Night

Individual Awards

   

 

ABC Greater Tennessee announces its 2021 Safety Leaders

On September 23, 2021 the Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee recognized ABC members for their best safety practices and participation in our world-class safety management system. Participating ABC member companies measured their safety processes and policies on 24 key components through a detailed questionnaire with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incidents. 

See all leaders on our Flickr page at the link below

 

ABC Responds to Senate Passage of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10—Associated Builders and Contractors today released the following statement on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which passed the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 69 to 30. The bill would provide $550 billion in new infrastructure investments. “This infrastructure package contains the most significant investment in our nation’s infrastructure in a generation and could yield crucial wins for the American people and construction industry,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO. “It is promising to see progress made toward modernizing our nation’s roads, bridges, water infrastructure, transit, railways, ports and other critical infrastructure This bipartisan accomplishment is something that has eluded Congress for decades and is proof of the possibilities when lawmakers choose compromise over conflict. “Commonsense provisions in this bill will cut down on unnecessary delays in federal construction projects and help addres ... Read the rest of entry »

Applications for the 21/22 Apprenticeship School Year are open

Applications for the 21/22 School year are now open. If you have interest in applying, please visit http://www.abctennessee.com/Workforce-Development/Apprenticeship-Training-Program for more details. 

ABC Greater Tennessee Names Legislators of the Year

We had a very successful legislative year in 2020’s session. We hired Nathan Ridley to our lobbying team and continued our history of protecting and enhancing the industry. That success is largely due to the relationships with our advocates and legislators.  This year, two members of our legislature stood out in protecting and helping our industry thrive in this state. As a result, we wanted to honor their work and dedication for defending the free enterprise principles of hard work and open competition that we believe in at ABC. The “Legislator of the Year” award is given by ABC of Tennessee to those legislators who go above and beyond on behalf of the Association and the industry at-large.  More than simply getting our bills across the finish line, these individuals have demonstrated their shared belief in our policy initiatives, our core values, and in the important role that the Commercial Construction Industry plays in Tennessee.  They have done an outstanding job ... Read the rest of entry »

Tickets now on sale for 2021 Contractors Showcase

DESCRIPTION

Each Summer, the commercial construction industry gathers together for ABC's Contractor's Showcase. This tradeshow offers ABC contractors and members across the industry a chance to showcase their business and network with a variety of industry representatives. 

Admission:

ABC Member: $50

Guests: $60

$10 More at the Door

Nashville Fairgrounds - Shed 1 
401 Wingrove St 
Nashville, TN 37203 United States

Purchase tickets

Nashville ranks tenth best city for construction workers, more skilled laborers needed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Despite an improving economy, a new analysis shows construction employment declined in more than 200 metropolitan areas across the country.

But not in Nashville-Davidson County, where the number of jobs is growing. In fact, a new report from IPP Magazine places Nashville in the top ten cities with the highest demand for construction workers.

Recently, the National Association of Realtors said they believe Nashville will become a top 10 market for commercial construction in 2021.

But, this demand for development comes with consequences. Experts say we need to train more people if we want to keep this construction going.

Nashville building permits continue piling in, proof building here is robust.

Read more...

Tennessee construction industry celebrates passage of construction industry worker protections

NASHVILLE, TENN., April 8th. – The state’s construction industry today celebrated the passage of HB 1112/SB 1150 (Rep. Kevin Vaughan/Sen. Jack Johnson), which would protect local workers from overreaches by local governments in drastically changing construction industry standards.  “Too often, local governments get it wrong when it comes to modernizing construction industry standards,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Tennessee President/CEO, Clay Crownover. “This legislation will ultimately protect local workers and businesses by preventing local governments from overreaching beyond state and federal law when it comes to construction industry standards.” This legislation would protect worker’s privacy by making it illegal for local governments to ask for the personnel information of employees, bars the requirement of contractors to abide by safety laws in excess of what is required under federal occup ... Read the rest of entry »

Tennessee construction industry expresses opposition to changes in Metro Construction Industry Standards

NASHVILLE, TENN., March 17th. – The state’s construction industry today expressed opposition to Metro legislation, 2021-676, that would radically change Metro Nashville’s procurement code and construction industry standards, saying the measure is based on non-objective and unsubstantiated data that do not accurately reflect the state of the industry or its record in Nashville and could tilt the balance of the Procurement Board, which plays a major role in awarding Metro contracts, against merit shop contractors and workers.  “This legislation hurts the very people it is intended to help, the workers of Nashville. The legislation invades the privacy of local workers and requires compliance with extreme safety standards that are undefined, do not currently exist, and for which Metro is without authority to promulgate. It will increase construction costs for the city and kill local construction jobs. Safety and fairness in contracts are our members’ numbe ... Read the rest of entry »

Legislative Update: Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee Adds to Legislative Advocacy Team

March 4, 2021 - The Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee is proud to announce the hiring of Nathan Ridley to assist and eventually lead our Tennessee General Assembly and local government advocacy team. "We are excited to announce the addition of Nathan to our already exceptional state and local lobbying team," said Clay Crownover, ABC Greater Tennessee President/CEO. "Nathan has the necessary experience and contacts to continue to assist us in protecting the rights and interests of merit shop contractors from Middle to East Tennessee for years to come." Nathan serves as Counsel for several trade associations and utility service and financial service providers before the Tennessee General Assembly and Executive Branch and various regulatory boards.  He practices law in the Nashville office of the firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP.  He also serves as Secretary for the law firm’s Tennessee political fund.  Before joining the la ... Read the rest of entry »

TN Legislature Approves Resolution Congratulating ABC Greater Tennessee on its 50 Years

Majority Leader William Lamberth (R) of the Tennessee General Assembly provided a legislative resolution congratulating the ABC Greater Tennessee chapter upon its fiftieth anniversary.

The resolution stated that the legislature recognizes that the ABC Greater Tennessee chapter has made a significant contribution to the success of the construction and merit shop industries. 

In addition, the resolution added that, “For half a century, the ABC Greater Tennessee chapter has made significant contributions to train the next generation of the State of Tennessee's workforce, and its members are worthy of our approbation.”

ABC Greater Tennessee president Clay Crownover stated, “To be recognized for our fiftieth anniversary and the recognition of the importance of membership in our organization and the training that our association provides is a great honor." 

ABC Greater Tennessee releases its Year in Review for 2020

To our members and construction community, 

In the midst of a difficult year, we are extremely proud to celebrate a number of successes at ABC Greater Tennessee. We have reached and exceeded goals, served our community, industry, and state in new ways, and provided resources to help our members safely and effectively operate their businesses during a pandemic. The following year-in-review highlights those successes and features some numbers our membership can be proud of! 

Please accept our gratitude to each of you for your commitment to ABC and furthering the Merit Shop in Tennessee. We look forward to another great year with you as we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2021!

With deep appreciation, 

ABC Greater Tennessee Staff

Check out our Year in Review for 2020! 

ABC Announces Annual Member Awards

ABC Greater Tennessee announces our annual member Excellence in Construction Award winners for 2020. From contractors to volunteers, we’re thankful to have members who help our chapter thrive – even in difficult years like 2020. Please join us in congratulating this year's chapter award recipients! ROGERS BELL AWARD Ray Bell and Joe Rodgers, whose names appear on our original articles of incorporation, were two of the founding members of the ABC Greater Tennessee Chapter. Their passion for merit construction laid the groundwork for our chapter's successes today. If it weren’t for Ray Bell and Joe Rodgers and a core of other courageous contractors, ABC Greater Tennessee wouldn’t be here today.  We are proud to present this year's Rodgers-Bell Award to Dan Brodbeck of Compass Partners, long-time member in constant service to ABC on both the chapter and national level. This award is presented annually to the ABC ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Greater Tennessee Announces Excellence in Construction Awards

Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Tennessee Chapter is pleased to announce our 2020 Excellence in Construction® Awards Winners. Out of 56 entries, 47 projects have been awarded this high honor. Annually, the Excellence in Construction® award program honors innovative, top quality construction projects and safety programs. Entries are judged by an independent panel of industry experts who score each project in areas such as complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, workmanship, innovation, and safety. Excellence in Construction® awards recognize project contractors, primary architects and engineers, and owners. As we look toward our 50th anniversary, we are proud to continue the ABC legacy of leadership, professionalism, safety, and excellence through this competition and beyond. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients! Photos of award winning projects can be viewed online here.  See all winners here! /Portals ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Hosts Virtual Membership Meeting

Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Tennessee hosted a virtual membership meeting on August 12th. Guest speaker J. Wallace Irvin, attoreny at law with Lewis Thomason, gave a detailed update on the Construction Industry Payment Protection Act, CIPPA, to the ABC membership. CIPPA was filed on behalf of the major trade associations that sought to make several changes to Tennessee’s construction statutes, including prohibiting contingent payment provisions while creating a stop-work procedure. 

Click Here to watch a recording of our membership meeting.

Governor Lee signs Construction Industry Payment Protection Act

On Monday, June 22nd. Governor Lee signed SB2681/HB2706 the Construction Industry Payment Protection Act. A summary of the bill is below.  Identification of the Problem The construction industry needed adequate payment protections. Statutes affecting the construction industry are intertwined and provided some protection but were inconsistent and insufficient. The risk of nonpayment was not borne by party best able to manage risk or fairly allocated. How Did We Resolve the Payment Dilemma? Made applicable statutes Internally consistent. Reduced applicability loopholes. Ensured acts have adequate timing, notice, and penalty provisions to protect industry. Summary of Changes Modified statutory language to reflect consistent definitions and terminology throughout lien laws, Truth in Construction Act, Prompt Pay Act, and construction defect statutes to maintain internal consistency. Tennessee Lien Laws – T.C.A ... Read the rest of entry »

Construction Industry Payment Protection Act Passes House, Moves to Governor Lee's Desk

At ABC Greater Tennessee, one of our main areas of focus is advocating for responsible legislation to protect our industry when payments are not made. Our industry has made positive changes to the laws of Tennessee as they relate to construction; however, many of these laws left some unintended contradictions, ambiguities, and loopholes that needed to be rectified.

Read the rest of entry »

ABC launches safe and healthy construction pledge

From ABC National WASHINGTON, D.C. May 28, 2020—Associated Builders and Contractors recently launched the Safe and Healthy Construction Pledge, an industry-wide call to action to redouble construction jobsite safety commitments under new protocols due to the coronavirus outbreak. Open to all U.S. contractors and industry associations, the pledge calls for prevention, preparedness and response plans to prevent injuries and disease and safeguard total human health. “The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the critical need for leadership commitment to construction worker safety and health by every contractor in America,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC’s vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. “While ABC members are already evaluating and mitigating the risks associated with COVID-19 on jobsites every day, this pledge signals a significant and permanent paradigm shift to raise the bar on safety, total human health and hygiene protocols on const ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Greater Tennessee Instructor Named ABC National 2020 Craft Instructor of the Year

Nashville, Tennessee, May 19 - Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Tennessee today announced Bryan Gamble, a certified electrical contractor and education instructor for the chapter, was named the ABC National 2020 Craft Instructor of the Year. Gamble will be honored during the Careers in Construction Awards at ABC Convention 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee, on Aug. 19. ABC presents the annual Craft Instructor of the Year Award to an instructor who possesses outstanding creativity, a positive attitude and the ability to transfer knowledge through communications skills and innovative teaching to promote lifelong learning to the future construction workforce.  "Bryan is a very special instructor that keeps his students interested," says ABC Greater Tennessee Director of Education Michele Correnti. "He plans new and innovative ways to reach all the different levels of learning. Not only does he have a passion for t ... Read the rest of entry »

Governor Lee appoints ABC Greater Tennessee President/CEO to Economic Recovery Group to Reboot Tennessee Economy

Nashville, Tenn. -- Today, Governor Bill Lee established the Economic Recovery Group, a joint effort between state departments, members of the legislature and leaders from the private sector to build guidance to safely reboot Tennessee’s economy.

“COVID-19 has not only created a public health crisis, it has hurt thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of hardworking Tennesseans,” said Gov. Lee. “As we work to safely open Tennessee’s economy, this group will provide guidance to industries across the state on the best ways to get Tennesseans back to work.”

The group is led by Tennessee Department of Tourism Development Commissioner Mark Ezell.

“This public-private partnership will prioritize connection, collaboration, and communication across industries, the medical community and state government” said Ezell. “We’re grateful to these leaders for serving at a critical time in our state’s history.”

Read more...

February’s Construction Spending Decline Indicates What’s to Come, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, April 1—National nonresidential construction spending fell 1.8% in February, but is up 2.5% compared to the same time last year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, spending totaled $795.1 billion for the month. Private nonresidential spending declined 2% on a monthly basis and is down 0.7% compared to February 2019.  Public nonresidential construction spending was down 1.5% for the month, but is up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. “Data characterizing the economy prior to the coronavirus outbreak continues to trickle in,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “While nonresidential construction spending declined in February, according to today’s data release, the decline was modest and overall performance was not substantially different from prior months. “However, with communities in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, California an ... Read the rest of entry »

Knox and Davidson County SAFER AT HOME ORDERS

To further combat the spread of COVID-19, the Metro County and Knox County Health Departments have issued a Safer at Home Order — directing all residents of Nashville and Davidson and Knox Counties to stay inside their homes, and immediately limit all movement outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary to take care of essential needs.

Construction and facilities design businesses have been deemed essential at this time.For full details, follow the links below. 

Read More: Davidson County

Read More: Knox County

Nashville Business Journal: Delays loom at construction sites. For now, contractors are taking their temperatures

Mike Meagher, whose construction company is building two Midtown high-rises, has ordered a dozen laser thermometers to check the temperatures of work crews. And he's limiting how many people ride in a buckhoist, an elevator that can fit as many as 30 workers.

At the Fifth + Broadway project downtown, where 550 people work each day, Dennis Georgatos has nixed the routine "stretch and flex" group gatherings that mark the start of a shift and help orchestrate the day's activity.

Read more...

ABC Modified Office Schedule

Dear ABC Greater Tennessee Members, ABC Greater Tennessee’s top priority has always been to deliver superior service to our members and students. To do that in the current environment, we are taking every precaution possible to protect the health and safety of our team and their families. Therefore, in step with much of the rest of the country, ABC Greater Tennessee’s offices will be closed with staff working remotely from March 16th to March 27th. During this period, our team will be available to you during regular business hours by email and phone as usual – though maybe not as quickly.  We are monitoring COVID-19 pandemic updates closely and will extend these working arrangements on a week-by-week basis as the situation warrants. Our staff is committed to continually serving the industry and our members through this process. DATES TO NOTE: Craft Training classes are suspended begi ... Read the rest of entry »

The PRO Act is an assault on worker freedom, choice and privacy | Opinion

Hardworking people from coast to coast have hit the new decade with the economic wind at their backs. In the construction industry, for example, there are more job opportunities than people to fill them, and construction unemployment in Tennessee stood at 3.1% last December. 

Wages are growing, and it’s never been easier to access low-cost education programs to launch a career in the field. Indeed, there are many reasons to be optimistic in 2020.

However, Last week, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives dealt a harsh blow to U.S. workers and Tennessee’s booming economy by passing a bill that would bypass America’s labor laws and give union bosses greater power to coerce employees to join unions in the face of a decades-long membership decline. 

Read more at The Tennessean...

Construction Dive's 'mini megacities' to watch: Nashville, Tennessee

Commercial contractors know that government roadblocks and regulations can slow even the most booming construction market while business-friendly policies can stoke development.

The latter is definitely the case for Nashville, Tennessee, which boasts one of the strongest economies of any U.S. metropolitan area. These days, builders and businesses there not only enjoy unprecedented economic growth but also the support of elected officials from city council members to the governor's mansion, with Tennessee’s Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who ran a mechanical contracting business for 20 years before entering politics. A longtime member of Associated Builders and Contractors, Lee understands how the principals of a free enterprise approach supports local businesses and industry.​

Read more...

Nashville Morning News: Nashville's booming growth continues & that means career opportunities!

Hear ABC Greater Tennessee President, Clay Crownover on Nashville Morning News discuss the booming growth for Nashville and what that means for the construction trades. Link

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 Celebrates Safety in the Industry

On October 16, 2019 the Associated Builders and Contractors recognized and awarded ABC members for their best safety practices. Participating ABC member companies measured their safety processes and policies on 24 key components through a detailed questionnaire with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incidents.  Guest speaker Steve Hawkins, Deputy Commissioner of Employment Safety and Security for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, plays a key role in several safety organizations throughout the state. After addressing the audience, Hawkins presented all award winners with their awards.  CLICK HERE to view event photos 2019 STEP Award Winners Diamond - Carter Group, LLC - Gaylor Electric, Inc.  Platinum - Batten & Shaw, Inc.- Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC - Concrete Pump Partners - FAST Electrical Contractors, Inc. - HOAR Construction, LLC - JE Dunn Construction - Robins & ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC President Tennessean op-ed: Cones and cranes mean new jobs, healthy economy and opportunity

If you’ve spent any amount of time in downtown Nashville, chances are good that your path has crossed a busy construction site. While the noise, traffic and delays from these major jobs can be understandably frustrating, it’s important to remember what the cones and cranes that we see everyday symbolize—jobs, economic growth and a stronger Nashville.  This year, the greater Nashville area was ranked as the strongest metropolitan area economy in the U.S. in POLICOM’s annual community "economic strength" rankings. In a recent Engineering News-Record article, Tennessee State Data Center Director Tim Kuhn highlighted the recent population boom in Tennessee. “Nearly two-thirds of the state’s population increase is driven by residents moving from other states, including almost 40,000 people who moved to Tennessee from surrounding states in the past year,” said Kuhn. “Tennessee has a strong economy and a favorable climate. We ... Read the rest of entry »

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.

ABC Celebrates Political Wins of 2019

Off the heels of the most exciting legislative session for the construction industry in years, ABC- Greater Tennessee was able to pass a majority of our legislative priorities for the year. Thank you to all of the ABC members for their help in marking this achievement. ABC Greater Tennessee is looking forward to many more successes in the years to come.  Below is an update on each piece of legislation that ABC - Greater Tennessee pushed in the Tennessee General Assembly in 2019.  SB324/HB 271  Payment Rights of contractors and subcontractors (Sen. Johnson/Rep. Gant) Prohibits a written contract to have a condition precedent for payment clause where the prime contractor is not required to pay the remote contractor due to contract or until they are paid by the construction owner. Declares that if payment is not received, work by contractor can be suspended until received. Makes other revisions relative to the payment rights of contractors and subcontractors. ABC Position: ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Hosts TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater TN hosted a Membership Luncheon on Thursday, August 15th featuring guest speakers Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner, Clay Bright and Assistant Chief Engineer over Operations, Will Reid. The event peaked interest of approximately 120 ABC members and guests who enjoyed networking followed by lunch and the presentation. Commissioner Bright touched on the values of TDOT, including the safety of their own people, safety of contractors and most importantly the public safety of all of Tennessee. TDOT’s currently planning 2-3 years ahead, allowing them to tell contractors and consultants what’s out there and what’s to come. The commissioner touched on the recently passed Hands Free Legislation. Bright gave insight to the fact that distracted driving reached an epidemic level in the State of TN, killing 36-37,000 people a year on the roadways. Furthermore, the commissioner discussed the Improve Act that was passed in 2 ... Read the rest of entry »

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...

THE IMPACT OF CREDENTIALS AT THE TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY

As the Education and Safety Director of the Greater Tennessee ABC Chapter, Michele Correnti has helped 32 schools utilize NCCER curricula. Working with schools and teachers in the Greater Tennessee area, Correnti wants the next generation of craft professionals to have industry credentials backed by training and education.  “Any time a student can get a certification in the crafts, it’s a further step into the world of construction – where there is already a huge shortage,” Correnti said. “It is with great passion that we want to see these young men and women succeed in the crafts and NCCER is a perfect stepping stone for this.”  Last summer, Correnti helped the building construction technology instructor at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), Kelvin Davis, receive his instructor certification with NCCER. After Davis passed the Instructor Certification Teaching Program in July 2018, his students were eligible to receive credentials for t ... Read the rest of entry »

6th Annual Contractor's Showcase Success

     Associated Builders & Contractors Greater TN hosted our 6th annual Contractor’s Showcase on July 18th at the Nashville Fairgrounds. ABC members and guests were welcomed by a massive American flag, which hung from a Sunbelt Rentals lift. Over 300 industry professionals gathered to  network among the 44 exhibitor booths. These booths represented the industry well, having been made up of general contractors, sub-contractors and industry partners. Representatives from each company were available to answer questions and showcase their products and services. In addition to meeting suppliers and seeing product demos throughout the evening, attendees networked with peers and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. The showcase wouldn’t of been possible without our amazing sponsors and volunteers. A big thanks goes out to Amfed, Rio Grande Fence Co., Sunbelt Rentals and Trades Unlimited, our presenting sponsors as well as a special thanks to Rio Grande for setting u ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Celebrates 5 Year Member Anniversaries

It's no secret that ABC wouldn't exist without the dedication of our members. Your involvement allows us to flourish, grow, and provide continuing benefits and resources for the industry across Tennessee. To our 5 year members, we thank you for your continued support!  31-W Insulation- With their corporate office located in Goodlettsville, TN - 31-W Insulation can provide you with bath accessories, garage doors, gutters, home remodeling materials, and related services. Better Business Equipment Co. Inc. - BBE has been providing the middle TN area with office machinery and document solutions for over 35 years.  CIP (Charlie Irwin Painting, LLC) -  Coating the construction industry with quality, excellence and integrity. Color Burst Landscapes - Well-known throughout the Nashville area for quality design, installations, and maintenance with extensive knowledge of the green industry. HireQuest Direct - Formally known as Trojan Labor, HireQuest Di ... Read the rest of entry »

Construction Job Growth Steady in June, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, July 5 – The construction industry added 21,000 net new jobs in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the industry has expanded by 224,000 jobs, representing an increase of 3.1%. Nonresidential construction employment gained 14,900 net jobs in June and is up 146,700 jobs during the last 12 months.   All major segments of nonresidential construction added jobs in June, with the bulk of job growth in the nonresidential specialty trade contractor segment, which added 11,900 net new positions. The construction unemployment rate stood at 4% in June, down 0.7% from the same time last year, and unemployment across all industries was 3.7%, slightly higher than 3.6% in May. “Today’s employment numbers indicate the economy is not slowing nearly as quickly as data suggested earlier this year, which is promising news for contractors,&r ... Read the rest of entry »

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.