joined ABC after a career as a lawmaker. The message has to be continuously delivered. The Merit Shop Way as the Industry Way: Open to All, Focused on Excellence One of ABC’s most powerful truths is also one of its simplest: We are open to all who support free and open competition and who commit to excellence. We are open to general contractors and specialty contractors, suppliers and associates, union and nonunion, large firms with national footprints and second-generation family businesses, and entrepreneurs and start-ups. What unites us is neither uniformity nor conformity, but our dedication to standards and principles. Those standards are visible on the job. They look like pre-task planning, near-miss reporting and leadership that treats safety as a value, not a metric. They look like earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship and upskilling that creates mobility and raises wages. They look like transparent contracts, realistic schedules and a relentless expectation of quality. They look like responsibility — to clients, to coworkers, to the public we serve. The payoff is real. Safer teams go home whole. Skilled teams solve harder problems. Honest schedules save owners money. Firms that outlearn their peers win work — not because someone anointed them, but because the market recognized their value. What We’re Rallying Around — Together As we mark ABC’s 75th anniversary and ABC Rocky Mountain’s 50th, we’re not just honoring a legacy; we’re rallying to a future we can build together. We must keep building the next generation by expanding earn-while-you-learn pathways and making craft careers a first choice for students, veterans and career changers alike. We must continue to strengthen our shared safety culture by benchmarking, mentoring and spreading best practices — because when one team levels up, the entire industry improves. We must continue to advocate for open competition ABC RMC President & CEO Jack Tate giving opening remarks to the room prior to the panel discussion featuring the Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Construction ADVOCATE 7
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==