In this episode of *Blueprints & Banter*, titled "Celebrating Growth and Looking Ahead," host Steve Cona, President and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, is joined by co-hosts Laura Gross, Vice President of Membership, and Dave Turcios, Chairman of the Board. They dive into the latest updates, achievements, and future plans for the ABC community as they wrap up the year and prepare for 2025. The episode begins with Steve welcoming listeners and thanking the podcast’s sponsors, including Milwaukee Tool and Piper Fire, who have supported ABC’s initiatives throughout the year. Laura kicks off the discussion by sharing updates on ABC membership renewals, emphasizing the value of remaining an active member and how being involved helps the chapter thrive. Members can expect renewal invoices soon and are encouraged to reach out if there are any issues with receiving them. She also highlights ABC’s *Excellence in Construction (EIC)* awards, where members can showcase their standout projects. The awards, set for May 2025, provide a great opportunity for both general and specialty contractors to be recognized for their work. Next, Laura and Dave review upcoming events for the rest of the year, including the *Cigar Social* at Rick’s on the River, the *Merit Shop Golf Tournament*, and the always-popular *Chili Cook-Off* and *Clay Shoot*. These gatherings allow members to network and build relationships within the ABC community. Dave reflects on his time as Chairman, sharing how the role has been both educational and rewarding. Steve takes a moment to highlight some of the chapter’s major accomplishments under Dave’s leadership, including a major legal victory against the City of St. Petersburg and the celebration of ABC’s 55th anniversary. The group acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the ABC staff, recognizing their crucial role in these successes. Looking ahead, Laura discusses exciting goals for 2025, including expanding ABC’s reach into new areas like Gainesville and Polk County. They plan to continue providing a wide range of professional development opportunities, from safety training to leadership programs, ensuring members at all levels—from project engineers to business owners—can benefit. As the episode wraps up, Dave and Laura encourage members to stay involved, provide feedback, and vote in the upcoming elections, reminding listeners that ABC works tirelessly to support the construction industry and fight for legislative victories that benefit all members. Listeners are invited to subscribe to *Blueprints & Banter* to stay informed on the latest in construction, events, and ABC initiatives, as the podcast continues to grow and evolve. /// Website: ABCFLGulf.org https://www.facebook.com/abcflgulf/ https://twitter.com/abcflgulf https://www.linkedin.com/company/associated-builders-&-contractors-florida-gulf-coast-chapter/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blueprints-banter/id1729913658 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d2731d7a-0195-4513-a109-c2a1e34a907d/blueprints-banter https://open.spotify.com/show/5BggdOvAgUGdtaOzZgbLfJ?si=b17f9185e4414e38 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association with 68 chapters representing more than 23,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms. ABC's membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors of the industry. * ABC is the merit shop construction industry's voice with the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government and with state and local governments, as well as with the news media. * ABC's mission is the advancement of the merit shop construction philosophy, which encourages open competition and a free-enterprise approach that awards contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation. * ABC's activities include government representation, legal advocacy, education, workforce development, communications, technology, recognition through national and chapter awards programs, employee benefits, information on best practices and business development through an online contractor search directory. ABC was founded in 1950 when seven contractors gathered in Baltimore, Md. to create an association based on the shared belief that construction projects should be awarded on merit to the most qualified and responsible low bidders. The courage and dedication of those seven contractors - Charles Mullan, C.K. Wells, Jr., Philip Cloves, Ernest Shultz, Edward Colwill, Charles Knott and Edward Dickinson - helped to quickly spread the merit shop philosophy, within time making ABC the fastest growing association in the United States. Today, ABC is recognized as one of the leading organizations representing America's business community and the merit shop construction industry.
