ABC leaders are in discussion with Hogan Administration officials and legislative leaders over an announcement that a union-only labor pact could be part of an $11 billion expansion of the Capital Beltway. “We’re glad they are moving forward with the project; it’s long overdue. But we can’t help but be …

The 2020 Women of ABC Scholarship is now available. Women of ABC, a committee of members of Associated Builders and Contractors Baltimore has a $2,000 scholarship available for a female high school, trade school or college student planning to pursue construction related fields of study in post-high school education. The …

Wohlsen Construction Company recently welcomed Travis Heath as a new superintendent to its Maryland/Northern Virginia team. Heath has more than 26 years of experience in the construction industry, having worked on many multi-million-dollar projects throughout the Washington DC and northern Virginia areas. His experience spans a variety of markets including …

If you’ve bid on a state project lately, you’ve either received, or should be receiving, an affidavit to sign regarding employee health insurance. What’s all this about an affidavit? In July 1, 2019 Senate Bill 433 “Payment of Employee Healthcare Expenses,” took effect. It requires any contractor, and any and …

On January 1, Mark McDaniel will take the chair’s seat on the board of ABC Baltimore. McDaniel comes to the board leadership role with more than three decades in the construction industry. He began working for NLP, the family’s commercial painting business, as a project engineer in 1988. The company …

(Kate McShane is seen here last night at a ‘Farewell’ party given in her honor. Her successor, Jimmy Stewart, was introduced as well. He is seen here (left).) Jimmy Stewart is the Project JumpStart has a new director. He took the reins in October, Kate McShane, JumpStart’s longtime director, retired …

Montgomery County schools Superintendent Jack Smith recently released a five-year school construction and infrastructure improvement plan totaling $1.82 billion. The long-range plan includes nine new projects. The school board previously approved the school district’s capital improvements program (CIP) for fiscal years 2021-2026 but can adjust the plan each year. According …

STEP is a world-class safety management system that dramatically improves safety performance among participants regardless of company size or type of work. Congratulations to the ABC Baltimore members receiving their 2019 STEP Awards. The winners will be honored at ABC’s State of the Industry and Annual Meeting on November 7th. …

Kristen Schrader has joined Harkins as business development manager of the commercial group.  After starting her career as a receptionist at a civil engineering firm, Schrader’s initiative made her quickly stand out. Over time, Schrader’s colleagues and mentors recognized her customer service and business development skills. Prior to joining Harkins, …

The construction industry has the highest rate of suicide, as well as the highest number of suicides across all industries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention was founded to promote mental health wellness.  In September, CIASP launched a …

ABC/AIA panel meet to discuss ‘Navigating Budgets & Owner Expectations’ The always interesting dynamic between architects and contractors must be improving, at least in the Baltimore region. How else would you explain having a panel discussion between AIA and ABC members followed by axe throwing? The trust level must be …

Despite some great economic indicators, such as low inflation and historically low unemployment, there’s been a lot of buzz lately that the U.S. economy may be headed into a recession. During a recent meeting of the General Contractor Executive Roundtable, ABC’s long-time economist, Anirban Basu, offered advice on preparing for …

The ABC Small Business Circle is hosting a special seminar on Wednesday, September 11 here at our offices in Towson. This is a free seminar to our contractor members. Our speaker is Allen Schiff, CPA, CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner). If you would like to attend, you can email our Small …

The world is changing in so many ways. One sign of this change is the sharing economy. It has transformed the world of taxi driving with the advent of ride-sharing services and expanded the options for lodging as well. New areas seem more suitable for the sharing economy and are …