News

Member News: VIDEO OF WORK IN PROGRESS AT SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL, KNOXVILLE, TN

Click here to view a video of the new Sacred Heart Cathedral where ABC - Greater TN member, The Wakefield Corporation, is installing the metal stud framing.

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 »

East Tennessee Membership Meeting "Safety and Silica"

Please join us as we welcome Steve Hawkins, Administrator, Tennessee State Occupational Safety and Health to discuss the safety issues that will affect the construction industry in Tennessee in 2017, including the new Silica rules. 

Lunch will be provided at the Historic Southern Railway Station (Downstairs Ballroom) from 11:30am - 1:00pm on Tuesday, February 28th.
Admission for the event is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. 

Registration is required for the event at this link.

Associated Builders and Contractors Congratulates President-elect Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 9– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released the following statement on the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States.“Associated Builders and Contractors congratulates President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence and looks forward to working with this administration to craft policies rooted in free enterprise that will encourage open competition and result in greater business investment and more construction jobs,” said ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman. “With his background in real estate and development, Trump is very familiar with the obstacles to economic growth ABC members face, including our broken regulatory system, the increasingly difficult challenge of finding affordable health care coverage for employees, a growing shortage of appropriately skilled labor and the highest effective tax rate of any industry. We are hopeful that Trump will select judicial nominees that respect the traditional princi ... Read the rest of entry »

Governor Haslam, State Rep. Eddie Smith and ABC of Greater TN join ABC to highlight Careers in Construction Month

Knoxville, Tenn., October 14- ABC of Greater Tennessee, Governor Haslam, and State Representative Eddie Smith joined together today to highlight Careers in Construction Month. "The Construction trade industry nationwide is facing about a 1.1 million shortage of the workforce," said State Representative Eddie Smith, "so today we are here to highlight some of the things happening in Knoxville. The construction trades industry needs your help." Construction has provided fulfilling, family-supporting careers for American workers for generations. However, industry growth, an aging workforce and a lack of emphasis on the lucrative construction career track in our schools has contributed to a shortage of skilled workers in the industry. This shortage is projected to reach 1.1 million skilled workers over the next decade, according to the Construction Labor Market Analyzer. That's why ABC of Greater Tennessee has committed over the next year to work with our area schools on promoting the trades within our lo ... Read the rest of entry »

Knoxville News Sentinel: Construction track option for students

Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee would like to thank Gov. Bill Haslam for recognizing October as Careers in Construction Month in Tennessee. Construction has provided fulfilling, family-supporting careers for American workers for generations. However, industry growth, an aging workforce and a lack of emphasis on the lucrative construction career track in our schools has contributed to a shortage of skilled workers in the industry. This shortage is projected to reach 1.1 million skilled workers over the next decade, according to the Construction Labor Market Analyzer.

That's why ABC of Greater Tennessee has committed over the next year to work with our area schools on promoting the trades within our local high schools and promoting careers in construction.

Read the entire letter at the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Governor Haslam proclaims October Careers in Construction Month

Thank you to Governor Haslam for proclaiming October as Careers in Construction Month in the State of Tennessee #ABCMeritShopProud

You can view the proclomation at this link. 

ABC Releases the 2016 ABC Employee Benefits Survey

The 2016 ABC Employee Benefits Survey is now open and will remain open until October 15th. This survey looks at benefit practices of ABC member contractors and helps you benchmark your current benefits offerings against your peers. The results are tabulated in the aggregate, as well as by region and company size. If you are not already familiar with this survey and how it can help your company, you can see the 2014 survey results here. Some members use the survey to make or reinforce benefits decisions. It can also be a useful tool for companies offering strong benefits to demonstrate to their employeesthat their benefits are above market. If there are at least 25 members that participate in our state, we will also be able to share state specific results.  The survey is multiple choice and should take 5 minutes or less to complete if you have familiarity with your company’s benefits. Please consider participating, or forwarding this along to the person in your company that handles ... Read the rest of entry »

Knox Couny Mayor Tim Burchett speaks to Members in Knoxville

On Thursday, September 15th, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett laid out the political landscape to the ABC Greater TN membership in Knoxville. The event was held at Cherokee Country Club. She the photo gallery on our Facebook page. 

 

Associated Builders and Contractors: 'Blacklisting' Final Rule Hurts Contractors, Employees and Taxpayers

Contact: Donna Reichle (202) 595-1782              [email protected]                                                                For Immediate Release  Associated Builders and Contractors: 'Blacklisting' Final Rule Hurts Contractors, Employees and Taxpayers  WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 24 — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) slammed the flawed Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces final rule, commonly referred to as “blacklisting,” released today by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council. The rule, which was accompanied by a guidance document from the U.S. Department of Labor and a White House amendment to Executive Order 13673, will increase costs for taxpayers, threaten the livelihood of millions of Americans who work for responsi ... Read the rest of entry »