Message from the Chair: Stay Focused and in Control!
Are you along for the ride, just going with the flow, or are you directing the course and determining the outcome? As businesspersons, leaders, and managers, are we spending our talents and treasure on those activities that bring the best results, or, are we allowing time and events to slowly divert control of our companies away from our choices and decision-making and instead towards mandates made by government? Are we voluntarily giving up control?
Message from the Chair: Preparing for the Future
We are now in the month of June. It is our mid-way point for 2021, and I want to begin by recognizing and congratulating our dedicated Apprenticeship leaders and training staff for a championship year! Cindy DeWire (Director of Apprenticeship), her assistant Erin Hiles, and our instructors have done a great job making this an incredibly successful year – we thank you all for your hard work and dedication! Your outstanding efforts have allowed ABC Keystone to graduate the largest class in over 15 years! 108 apprentices from seven trades walked the stage on May 20, at the Clipper Magazine Stadium (home of the Lancaster Barnstormers)!
ABC Keystone Apprenticeship Training Trust Graduates Record-breaking Total of 108 Apprentices
Manheim, Pa, May 25, 2021—ABC Keystone Apprenticeship & Training Trust (KATT) is pleased to announce a record-breaking total of 108 apprentices have graduated in seven trades, including: Carpentry, Construction Craft Laborer, Electrical, Heavy Equipment Operator, HVAC, Plumbing and Sheet Metal. The ceremony took place on May 20, 2021, at the Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster.
Local Construction Industry Professional Awarded Craft Professional of the Year from ABC Keystone
Manheim, Pa, May 24, 2021—ABC Keystone is pleased to announce the 2021 Craft Professional of the Year Award (Carpentry) has been presented to George Caldwell (Holtwood), Wohlsen Construction Company (Lancaster). George received an eagle trophy and gift card when the announcement was made during ABC Keystone’s Apprenticeship Graduation & Craft Professional of the Year Award Ceremony held on May 20, 2021, at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster.
Twelve Students Seeking Education in Construction-related Careers Receive Scholarships from Merit Shop Training and Research Center
MANHEIM, Pa, May 5, 2021 – Twelve deserving individuals were recently awarded scholarships from the Merit Shop Training and Research Center (MSTRC). The $14,500 in scholarships for the 2021-2022 academic year brings the total to $550,350 that has been awarded by MSTRC since its inception, helping students entering a career path in the construction industry.
Reap the Value of Your Investment
As the blossoms and beauty of May abound all around us, it is a great time to reflect on the value of our membership in ABC. Let me begin by thanking many of you for attending my Inauguration on April 16, at the Marriott, in downtown Lancaster. It was great to see so many of you in person, at what hopefully will be the first and only Inaugural delayed by a pandemic. It was an unusual Inaugural for sure, one without “swearing in,” of the board, as that was done virtually and on schedule in January. Again, thank you to everyone for your support!
It’s Second Chance Month, and ABC Keystone is Upskilling Reentering Citizens
MANHEIM, Pa, April 12. 2021—The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors is committed to shaping an industry that welcomes all people. As part of Second Chance Month, ABC Keystone highlights its programs, partnerships and involvement in educating, upskilling and hiring reentering citizens.
Message from the Chair: Wake Up & Plan for Your Future
Everyone needs a career or a purpose to get up in the morning. In today’s fantasy world of TV, video games, 24-hour news, and Hollywood’s imaginary world, purpose seems like a dream. Drones, electric cars, computers, and many other things make reality seem far away! Well, let’s get back to reality, not ‘Reality TV’ (which is really far from reality). Let’s instead get hitched up to actual reality and chart our journey and our destination.
Local Contractor Earns National ABC Safety Excellence Award
Manheim, Pennsylvania, March 11 — ABC Keystone today announced Keystone Chapter member Wickersham Construction and Engineering, Inc. (Lancaster) received a Merit Level ABC National Safety Excellence Award. The award was presented at the 31st annual Excellence in Construction® Awards during ABC’s Convention in Grapevine, Texas, on March 10.
Local Contractors Earn National ABC Excellence in Construction® Awards
Manheim, Pennsylvania, March 11 — ABC Keystone today announced three member companies won ABC National Excellence in Construction® (EIC) awards, presented during the ABC Convention, March 10, in Grapevine, Texas. The EIC® awards program is the construction industry’s leading national competition that honors general and specialty contractors for world-class, safe, and innovative construction projects from across the nation.
Message from the Chair: Racing Towards the Future
As we are inching our way towards spring and summer, I trust your opportunities are rising in tandem with the temperatures! Seeing March on our calendars likely reminds many of us of March 19, 2020 – that Thursday when our phones blew up with Governor Wolf’s order for all construction to shut down the next day! Initially, we believed it was going to be short term, and we would soon be back to normal. Yet, many of us today are still not sure what normal looks like.
Message from the Chair: Entering a Time of Opportunity
Alas it is winter, and we just celebrated – or endured – Groundhog Day. Old Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter for our 2021 Pennsylvania weather! My purpose in referencing Groundhog Day for this article is taken from the 1993 movie of the same name, when Weatherman Phil repeated Groundhog Day over and over until he learned important life lessons and got it right.
