Meet Mike Mullen
East Coast Sales Consultant
BENECO: Part of Futureplan by Ascensus
I am a Sales Consultant helping clients save money and grow their business through education about Prevailing Wage and the Davis-Bacon Act.
In the last couple of years, almost every company has experienced or is currently struggling to attain and retain talent. Right now, across the United States, there is a labor shortage in which there are about two jobs available for every person looking. Even if you find talent, employees jump from company to company for better pay and benefits. Offering higher wages is a clear first step to finding and keeping talent, but it has limitations to maintaining profit margins attractive and bids competitive. Another solution to this problem is utilizing or starting your company’s retirement plan, especially with the passing of the SECURE Act 2.0.
Meet Dan Allegar
Business Development Manager
Team Lewis Landscaping
I am the Business Development Manager at Team Lewis Landscaping, based in Grantville, PA. My primary focus is connecting and building partnerships with building contractors and construction firms in our area to provide commercial landscaping services, such as plant installations, hydroseeding, snow removal, and ongoing maintenance. I also work in the field routinely, as part of our Tree Care Division.
Meet Joe Beahm,
Account Manager,
Graphtech – As an Account Manager for Graphtech, I am responsible for guiding our clients so they can spread their messages to their audiences both creatively and effectively. Introducing new products and ideas to customers to help them achieve their goals and streamline their communications also plays an important role in my day-to-day. Educating new and existing customers on how our services can benefit them both professionally and financially is something I incorporate into my everyday routine.
Meet CJ LaPorta, CRPS®
Corporate Retirement Plan Advisor
Stonebridge Financial Group – At Stonebridge Financial Group, I work on our corporate retirement plan team. In this role, I assist various companies and their employees with their retirement plans, primarily by educating plan participants on their retirement plans and other financially related topics.
Meet Lee Summers, Electrical Project Manager, C Mechanical Services!
How has your involvement in ABC Keystone provided you value in your professional life?
I have been involved with ABC since my apprenticeship started back in 2006. From the various apprenticeship teachers I had, to my mentors training me for the ABC National Craft Championships (NCC), to becoming an apprenticeship instructor and later leading the NCC training, I have long seen the benefits of ABC. I met many people and learned so many things during my involvement at ABC. I have learned to take criticism and use it to perform self-assessment and improve, and I have learned a great deal about how politics plays into every aspect of our trade work. It’s truly an invaluable resource.
On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies across the industry are eyeing a bounce back with a backlog of work and not enough manpower to complete the projects. Aside from a reduction in skilled tradespeople, the competition among companies to hire the most qualified individuals is another hurdle plaguing our industry. As someone who solicits career opportunities for qualified individuals, this process has been more challenging than ever.
Meet Brent Droege, Financial Director & Vice President, Cedar Run Construction! With being in the early stages of my involvement with ABC I am excited to see what doors it will help open for me and the company for which I work. So far, I have met some informative people that have helped the way I look at the business and how I interact with our stakeholders. It has also opened another world of networking that I was unaware of before being a part of the construction industry and a part of ABC Keystone. I enjoyed meeting new people at the mixer in August.
Meet Donald Stahlnecker! My role is Project Manager at Warfel Construction Company in our Operations Department. Internally, I manage our construction teams on the individual projects on which I’m working, and externally, I coordinate with our clients and design teams on project schedules, costs, and constructability.
In today’s world, retirement plans such as a 401(k) are not only commonplace, but are almost a requirement. Whether you are talking about attracting new talent or retaining your current employees, giving people the opportunity to save for their retirement is something most employers need to consider. Defined benefit plans are far less common these days. As such, most employees are realizing the need to plan for their own retirement. Sure, employers will reap the benefits of their company contributions being tax deductible, but what if there was another way a contractor could leverage their retirement plan to help make bids more competitive? The Davis Bacon Act can allow employers to do just that.
It’s no secret that the economy is rapidly heading towards uncertainty. Unfortunately, we are all subject to the consequences of that same uncertainty. Every time you put gas in your vehicle, buy groceries at the store, or purchase lumber at the supply house, you’re seeing, and FEELING the ramifications of the unsteady economy. The best thing anyone can do to ensure they can weather the storm is to be prepared. Elizabeth Warren once said, “Budgeting your money is the key to having enough,” and I would agree that this is a mainstay of financial preparedness.
Meet Amir Boutorabi! What role do you play in your organization? I am a Preconstruction Manager for Warfel Construction Company. I work closely with clients and design consultants to create conceptual/detailed estimates while analyzing market conditions and performing constructability reviews. It is the responsibility of a Preconstruction Manager to set up a project for success from the beginning and to ensure a seamless process from start to finish.
I’ve been asked a lot lately, “what’s your future look like?” or “where do you see yourself in five years?” I’m going to be honest; I don’t know. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have goals or that I’m unmotivated. I just don’t know where my accomplishments will lead me, and I’m okay with that.
Meet David Brubaker, Surety Client Service Associate, McConkey Insurance & Benefits! How has your involvement in ABC Keystone provided you value in your professional life? Since I work on the insurance side of construction, I don’t typically get to see all the details that go into planning and estimating. ABC has provided a fantastic forum for discussion and networking that allows my peers and I to learn about the areas of construction we don’t see on an everyday basis. I feel that with each meeting, I gain knowledge and experience that I can use to better serve my clients.
Meet Kyle Lukoskie, CB Construction Services, Inc., Operations Coordinator! How has your involvement in ABC Keystone provided you value in your professional life? For several years, I have predominantly taken advantage of the vast educational opportunities offered by ABC Keystone. Of these, the Leadership Development Series and the Superintendent Training Series are among my favorites. Moreover, ABC Keystone also provides a viable opportunity to network with individuals and companies from all corners of the construction industry and related businesses.
