(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 Get $1.82 Billion Construction Plan
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 …
2019 STEP Award Winners
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 Joins Harkins Builders
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, …
New Program to Help Members Meet Healthcare Mandate on State Work
Effective July 1, 2019 the State of Maryland adopted new legislation requiring contractors performing work on State of Maryland contracts to provide health insurance to all employees on the jobsite. In addition, the employer must certify they are contributing at a minimum 50% of the employee premium or contribute …
Craft Competition Winners Announced
The countdown to ABC’s National Craft Championships has begun, with three local apprentices emerging victorious in last week’s Greater Baltimore Craft Competition. The event, held on October 3 at Timonium Fairgrounds, had four participants in each of three categories. A hearty congratulations to the following winners who will go on …
Take a STAND Against Suicide
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 …
Of Collaboration, Deliberation & Axe Throwing
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 …
Working Group Considers Overhaul of School Construction Funding
Maryland legislators are considering a new, complicated formula to restructure the way school construction money is allocated in the hopes of targeting systems with the most need. The draft formula, which would replace the current system that distributes state aid proportionally to all of the state’s 24 subdivisions, had trouble …
What You Need to Know About Where the Economy is Headed
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 …
Fraud Protection: How Safe is Your Company?
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 Sharing Economy and the Construction Industry
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 …
ABC Members Dominate List of ‘Largest Women-Owned Businesses in Greater Baltimore’
The Baltimore Business Journal reported on the largest contractors in the area which are ranked by 2018 Baltimore-area revenue. Congratulations to the 8 ABC member companies for topping this year’s list! BFPE International Fireline Corporation Walter Electric Smith Mechanical M. Luis Construction Co, Inc. Habitat America LLC Timber Industries Site …
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT: BENECO partners with ABC Greater Baltimore
ABC Greater Baltimore is pleased to announce its new strategic partnership with BENECO, a national leader in providing customized benefits for your employees and for providing a competitive advantage for contractors who perform prevailing wage work. The ‘ABC Benefit Package‘ will help contractors stay compliant, reduce administrative burden, manage benefits …
Construction Companies Could Become 680% Safer by Following These Best Practices
Construction continues to be one of the most dangerous industries in America. . Naturally, industry professionals were excited when an annual assessment showed that using STEP safety measures could lead to an 85% percent reduction in the occurrence of record-able incidents. This would cause the best-performing companies, that conform to …
Meet ABC Greater Baltimore’s 55 New Members!
Company FullName EmailAddress Absolute Integrity Electrical Contractors, LLC Kim DiTommasso kditommasso@absoluteintegrityec.com Admiral Leasing Brent Baron BBaron@admiralleasing.com Adrian Steel of Maryland Rafael Onrubia ronrubia@adscom1.com American Heritage Excavating LLC Deborah Collins digit06@comcast.net B & B Welding Company Dennis R. McCartney drmc@bandbwelding.com Benchmark Building Enclosure, Inc. Richard Paulding rpaulding@bbeiglass.com Beneco Todd Kikol tkikol@beneco.com …
Baltimore Members Recognized Nationally Among ABC’s Top Performers
ABC National released its ‘Top Performers’ list which lists contractor members that achieved ABC STEP Gold Status or higher and earned ABC’s AQC credential in 2018. ABC Member companies are ranked from 1 to 150 based on work hours reported on their 2018 STEP applications. Companies are recognized for National …
The Importance of Communication in Construction
Communication is a fundamental aspect of all businesses, but it is often overlooked in construction. Failure to communicate clearly can lead to misunderstandings, worker confusion, project delays, and even lawsuits. With growth in construction jobs expected to outpace all other industries, the need for superintendents and project managers who know …
New, Full-Service MEP firm, Genesis Corp, Opens its Doors
Michelle Wittig, President of Genesis Corporation (a woman-owned mechanical, electrical, plumbing contractor) and her team celebrated their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony with clients, vendors, and guests including Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill. Genesis is an ABC Greater Baltimore member and Michelle serves on the chapter’s Diversity Council. In prior years, …
The Women in ABC Committee Announce Scholarship Winners
Each year, the Women in ABC Committee awards exemplary young women entering a construction-related trade with an award of $2000. This year, out of 15 applicants, the committee awarded two very deserving young women with a scholarship; Rachel Solak and Keely Barkell. Keely Barkell, Winters Mill High School graduate, will …




















