News

Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Tennessee Chapter Announces New President/CEO

NASHVILLE, TENN., Dec. 17th. – The Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee (ABC-Greater Tennessee) is pleased to announce Clayton Crownover, current East Tennessee Regional Director, as its new President and CEO effective January 7th, 2018. Mr. Crownover has served as East Tennessee Regional Director for the Chapter since July 2016. Mr. Crownover will split time between Middle and East Tennessee offices to strengthen the organization across all regions of the state.  “Clayton (Clay) joined the Greater Tennessee Chapter in July of 2016 as the East Tennessee Regional Director.  Under his leadership, that region has excelled in many areas and we are thrilled that he has accepted this new challenge,” said John Stallworth, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Clay will continue to develop and lead a vibrant staff and looks forward to being a pillar of strength to all of the committees of the chapter.” Mr. Crownover has extensive knowledge in non-profit ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC Calls for Expanding Apprenticeship Opportunities in Congressional Testimony

On behalf of Associated Builders and Contractors, Mike Holland, chief operating officer, MAREK Companies, testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about the need to modernize and expand apprenticeship opportunities in the United States. Read the press release...

Persuader Rule rescinded

In 2014, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) began a campaign to hold McDonald’s USA, LLC liable for alleged unfair labor practices committed at restaurant locations owned by McDonald’s franchisees. The NLRB took the position that corporate McDonald’s controlled employment relations at franchise locations enough to qualify as a joint employer with the franchisee. Read our Press Release...

Rio Grande Fence Co. Invites Requests from ABC Members for Annual Good Friday Service Project

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Jan. 25, 2018--Rio Grande Fence Co. of Nashville is inviting requests and ideas from ABC members to aid a local non-profit in greater Nashville for RGF’s annual Good Friday Service Project.  Each year, Rio Grande Fence Co. selects a local project and provides all materials and installation of a new, commercial grade fence at no cost to a deserving organization.  If old, deteriorated fence needs to be torn out, RGF will include the removal as well.  For 2018, Rio Grande Fence Co. is again inviting requests from fellow ABC members for the selection process.             Preliminary site work can begin as soon as Monday, March 26th and 100% of Rio Grande Fence Co.’s employees will be on site to complete the installation on Friday, March 30th. Ideal projects could include any facility or location needing a perimeter security and peace of mind upgrade installed by The Commercial Fence Professionals™.&n ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC in Knoxville serves on panel to delay Health Insurance Tax

Crownover (ABC- Greater Tennessee, Knoxville) participates in Knoxville Chamber Roundtable Knoxville, TN (August 30, 2017) – Local business leaders met Wednesday at the Knoxville Chamber to discuss how the health insurance tax, or HIT, will impact Tennessee small businesses in 2018 if it is not delayed immediately by Congress. Business leaders called on the state’s senators and representatives in Congress to lower premiums and provide financial relief to the state by ensuring that the HIT does not go into effect in 2018.  “Time is of the essence to delay this tax again,” said Terry Turner, President of the Knoxville Chamber and small business owner of All Occasions Party Rental. “We are all making insurance decisions in the next few weeks for next year and we need certainty from the federal government.” The discussion occurred one week ahead of hearings scheduled by Tennessee’s Senator Lamar Alexander on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education ... Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors Praises President's Commitment to Infrastructure Investment in Address to Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb., 28- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) issued the following statement from Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs Kristen Swearingen in response to President Trump’s pledge to commit needed resources to rebuild American infrastructure and to work with the business community to craft a transparent regulatory system that will encourage business investment during tonight’s address to the joint session of Congress: "Associated Builders and Contractors applauds President Trump’s pledge in tonight’s address to the joint session of Congress to commit needed resources to rebuild America's infrastructure and work with the business community to craft a transparent regulatory system that will encourage business investment. We are hopeful that the president’s call to ‘create a level playing field for American companies and workers’ will translate into policies that guarantee that all qualified contractors are able to compete for taxp ... Read the rest of entry »

Member News: Rio Grande Fence Co. Invites Requests from ABC Members for Annual Good Friday Service Project

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Feb. 20, 2017--Rio Grande Fence Co. of Nashville is inviting requests and ideas from ABC members to aid a local non-profit in greater Nashville for RGF’s annual Good Friday Service Project. Each year, Rio Grande Fence Co. selects a local project and provides all materials and installation of a new, commercial grade fence at no cost to a deserving organization. If old, deteriorated fence needs to be torn out, RGF will include the removal as well. For 2017, Rio Grande Fence Co. is again inviting requests from fellow ABC members for the selection process. Preliminary site work can begin as soon as Monday, April 10th and 100% of Rio Grande Fence Co.’s employees will be on site to complete the installation on Friday, April 14th. Ideal projects could include playgrounds, sports courts and fields, or any area that needs a perimeter security and peace of mind upgrade. Rio Grande Fence Co. will consider all deserving locations and organizations for its final selection. Deadline f ... Read the rest of entry »

Tennessee Names Ann McGauran State Architect

NASHVILLE- Today the Tennessee State Building Commission voted unanimously to appoint Ann McGauran as State Architect. McGauran is the first woman to serve Tennessee in this capacity since the position was created in 1955.  McGauran is a Senior Architect and Facilities Management Professional who has more than 25 years of architectural and project management experience. Since 2014, she has been working in the Tennessee Department of General Services, most recently serving as the Executive Director of Business Operations, in the STREAM Division. McGauran has substantial experience as an architect in the private sector, including with Vanderbilt Medical Center, where she worked as a project manager and in other capacities.  The State Architect and staff serve as support for the functions of the State Building Commission and also provides oversight for all state capital projects and real estate transactions that are under authority of the State Building Commission, to assure compliance with State ... Read the rest of entry »

Member News: Industrial Manager with Turner Construction Company Attains National Design-Build Certification

Huntsville, AL – Brian Knowles with Turner Construction Company’s Huntsville office has successfully completed the requirements for the nationally recognized Designated Design-Build Professional™ (DBIA™) certification. The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) awarded designated status to Knowles upon his successful completion of coursework and formal examination in all aspects of design-build project delivery. By completing these requirements, candidates earn the right to display “DBIA” after their names, identifying them to design-build end-users and the industry at large as professionals experienced in this form of project delivery. “Congratulations to Brian and all our Turner colleagues who have obtained their DBIA certification,” states Tom Manahan, Senior Vice President and Industrial Construction Executive with Turner. He continues, “An increasing number of our clients see the advantages of the design-build delivery model for many of their proje ... Read the rest of entry »

Construction Industry Alliance Announces New Resources Aimed at Preventing Suicides

Contact:Jeff Leieritz (202) 905-2104 [email protected] For Immediate Release Construction Industry Alliance Announces New Resources Aimed at Preventing Suicides   WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 6– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced new resources made available to its members through its membership in the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. ABC joined the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)-led alliance in October 2016 to help provide resources and disseminate information on suicide prevention and mental health awareness in the construction industry, with a goal of building a zero-suicide industry. A 2016 Center for Disease Control (CDC) report showed that construction is one of the most at-risk industries for suicide, with 1,324 of the 12,300 suicides (10.8 percent) studied occurring among individuals who worked in the construction or extraction industries. To fight this epidemic, ABC is encouraging member fi ... Read the rest of entry »