Quick Links
ABA Offices:
1825 W. Adams Phoenix, AZ 85007 602.274.8222
Tucson, AZ 85712
520.881.793
|
|
For details on advertising in this special AZRE profile, click here.
Statewide Calendar of Events
Finance in Construction Seminar
June 5
(Phoenix)
Defensive Driving Basics/Driving on the Job
June 10
(Tucson)
Global Harmonizing System Training
June 12
(Tucson)
WEBINAR
Introduction to Bluebeam for General Contractors
June 17
(Statewide)
WEBINAR
Introduction to Bluebeam for Subcontractors
June 18
(Statewide)
ABA Member Mixer at La Fuente
June 19
(Tucson)
ABA, AGC Apprenticeship Recognition Banquet
June 20
(Phoenix)
Using Alternative Delivery Methods? What you need to know first!
June 25
(Phoenix)
Every Day's a Sunday June 26
(Tucson)
ABA's Annual Convention
October 16-18
(Tubac, AZ)
Click Here to see Current Speakers
If you have questions about anything above, please contact Erica Lange.
|
Working for you...
Mark Minter
Executive Director
Tom Dunn
Southern Arizona Director
Erica Lange
Assistant Executive Director
Jenn Swanson
Director of Management Education
Dana Jones
Apprenticeship Coordinator
Mary Navarrette
Chapter Bookkeeper
Nita Ornelas Office Administrator
Debbie Carlson
So. AZ Office Manager
Mary Navarrette Chapter Bookkeeper Carol McMullen Consultant [email protected]
|
|
Happy Summer ABA Members,
 | Erica Lange
Assistant Executive Director |
Prior to working at the ABA, I was an affiliate member of the association for 16 years. I would attend events and conventions and was always impressed with the caliber of the members, as well as the quality of the events. Each event felt a little like coming home to me. As I finish my first year here at the end of June, I am reminded of how truly spectacular you members are! Whether we're raising money for philanthropic reasons, collecting cellphones for soldiers overseas, creating new educational offerings, or gathering to network, you always exceed my expectations by being the most generous, friendly, and dedicated folks I know. Each of you bring a special gift to the ABA that is really remarkable and I thank you for that!
I would love to see you all at our upcoming convention October 16 - 18. If you've never been before, give it a try. The educational opportunities will be tremendous and you'll get to meet and know other members better than you'd ever imagined. You can view a line-up of speakers who are confirmed for this year's convention here. This year's convention will be held in gorgeous Tubac, Arizona. To book your room for convention, contact Rebecca Lopez at Tubac: 800.848.7893 or [email protected]. To learn more about the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, you can visit the website. Registration will be available soon for convention.
I hope to see you at any or all of our upcoming events. Wishing you a wonderful summer!
Erica Lange
Assistant Executive Director
|
|
Finding Funding for our Workforce Development Efforts
by Mark Minter, Executive Director
 |
Mark Minter
Executive Director
|
The primary workforce development effort of the Arizona Builders' Alliance is through the ABA, AGC Education Fund. That fund is a registered apprenticeship program in the State of Arizona. It provides training for electricians, carpenters, heavy equipment operators, mechanics and other trades. It also manages the outreach program through which our industry recruits employees from high schools and other sources.
In addition to the money generated from training activities, the fund may accept contributions from contractors, owners and other third parties. That money is used for lab equipment and materials, scholarships and school-to-work transition efforts.
Typically, the fund receives funding from three sources. The direct contribution of money from a contractor is the most common source. If you have training or education funds that are available for industry support, please let us know how we apply.
We also receive funds through contractors as a result of a training requirement of an owner. Arizona's three universities have projects with training requirements that generate money contributed to a bona fide apprenticeship program. You may have a project that was funded at one of the three public universities through the S.P.E.E.D. appropriation process several years ago. Those projects require certain contractors to train or contribute to training efforts. ABA can accept contributions from those projects.
And finally, we receive direct contributions from project owners. Many owners of large projects have "community development funds." These funds are contributed to youth services, libraries and local sports efforts as a public relations effort in concert with the construction/opening of a new project. If you are working on a large project it could have such funds available. Could you make an inquiry of the owner to determine if such funds exist and how ABA might apply for funding?
Thanks for your time and effort. As we try to rebuild the workforce of the construction industry these various sources of funds could help identify, recruit and train the next generation of workers in our industry.
For questions about community development funds, please contact Mark Minter.
|
 | |
Tom Dunn
Director for Southern Ari
|
by Tom Dunn
The legacy of leadership continues at the Arizona Builders' Alliance. This is the 20th anniversary of the ABC/AGC merger in Arizona that resulted in the ABA. It is also the 20th year of our industry leading community service project Volunteer Day!
Throughout the years, the membership has assisted many non-profits that support the less fortunate in our community. Recent recipients have been: Miracle Square (2013), Esperanza en Escalante (2012) and the House of Neighborly Service (2011). We've made a difference and changed peoples' lives with our efforts. Our work has helped these non-profits provide more effective and efficient means to bring services to the needy in our community. It's not only the labor and material that makes these positive changes, it is also the compassion and commitment of our membership that the less fortunate are valuable. Read More...
2014 Volunteer Day recipient selection tour
Wednesday, May 7 |11:30am
ABA office in Tucson, 1661 N Swan, Ste 144, Tucson, AZ
Please RSVP to Tom Dunn or call the office 520-881-7930.
|
 | |
Gary Townsley
ABA Apprenticeship Director
|
Apprenticeship Update
by Gary Townsley, Apprenticeship Director
We have several electrical update classes coming up this spring and summer including: NEC 2014 Update, Electrical Power Systems Maintenance, ARC Flash & 70E Safety Standard and Electrical Meter Use. Please check the ABA website for classes, dates, locations and registration.
Our SkillsUSA Championships/ABA Electrical Craft Championships were held on April 15 at the Phoenix Convention Center. Thanks to our contractors who support this contest.
The top three contestants ranked as follows:
- 3rd place - Geoffary Mullins, Jenco
- 2nd place - Simeon Higbee, Wilson Electric
- 1st place - Mike Visvydas, Corbins Electric
Mike will be representing our apprenticeship program in Kansas City, June 23-27 at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in the Industrial Motor Control contest. We wish Mike the best of luck!
Our fourth year apprentice Wade Ginther from D.P. Electric represented the ABA in the Industrial/Commercial Electrical contest at this year's ABC Craft Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. Wade had a very strong showing, placing among the top 10 competitors.
Our ABA-AGC Apprenticeship Recognition Banquet will be on Friday June 20. If you would like to be a sponsor for this event or attend this program where we recognize our apprentices who are turning out from our electrical, operating engineer and form builders programs, please contact Dana Jones or click here to register.
William Higgins is scheduled to be our guest speaker at the event. Willie is the Arizona Apprentice Program Coordinator. Our latest high school to come onboard as NCCER ATEF is the Construction Tech program at Santa Rita HS in Tucson. If you are interested in working with any of our Phoenix or Tucson NCCER Accredited Training & Education high schools programs please contact me.
|
|
June ABA Educational Opportunities
The following educational programs are being offered in the month of June:
- ARC Flash NFPA 7E Training for 2014 (Tucson) - June 4 - Register Here!
- Finance in Construction Seminar (Phoenix) - June 5 - Register Here!
- Global Harmonizing System (Tucson) - June 12 - Register Here!
- WEBINAR: Introduction to Bluebeam for General Contractors - June 17 - Register Here!
- WEBINAR: Introduction to Bluebeam for Subcontractors - June 18 - Register Here!
- Contracting with Alternative Delivery Systems? What you need to know first! - June 25 - Register Here!
- Every Day's a Sunday Seminar (Tucson) - June 26 - Register Here!
For questions about any of the ABA's upcoming Educational Programs, please contact Erica Lange.
|
|
Explorer Post 811 Continues to Make a Difference
School's out for summer and ABA's Explorer Post 811s students are well on their way to careers in construction. Three graduating high school seniors were immediately hired by ABA members. Their high school teacher stated that the three were the top of their construction program class at Catalina Magnet High School and they all connected with the companies of their choice!
We expect even more to enter into employment with ABA members and/or enter the ABA apprenticeship program.
The Explorers toured a diverse group of ABA member facilities and job sites. Last season, the tours included Millwork by Design, Concord General Contracting, Sun Mechanical, Climatec and Hensel Phelps.
Kudos to Explorer Post chairmen Tom Kittle and Todd Scholer, the entire Explorer Post 811 committee and all those who participated.
If you're interested in participating in the Explorer Post 811 this upcoming season, contact Tom Dunn.
|
|
ABC Offers Free Webinars
When you joined the Arizona Builders' Alliance, you had to choose a national affiliation with either the ABC or the AGC. If you chose ABC, these webinars are available to you for free!
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) as Risk Management for Subcontractors and Suppliers
- Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 | Time: 11:00 a.m. (PT) || Length: 90 minutes
- Speaker: Jon Faill, ADA Compliance Director, HCA (Healthcare Corporation of America)
Basics of Construction Industry Taxation
- Date: Thursday, June 5, 2014 |Time: 11:00 a.m. (PT) |Length: 60 minutes
- Speaker: Warren Hennagin, CPA, MST, CCIFP, Director, Glenn M. Gelman & Associates
- Date: Monday, June 16, 2014 | Time: 11:00 a.m. (PT) | Length: 90 minutes
- Speaker: Raphael Lapin, Mediation & Litigation Avoidance Specialist, Lapin Negotiation Strategies
- Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 |Time: 8:00 a.m. (PT) | Length: 60 minutes
- Speaker: Rob McKinney, Construction App Guru
- Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2014 |Time: 11:00 a.m. (PT) |Length: 60 minutes
- Speaker: Sam Melamed, Senior Director of Sales, ABC Insurance Trust
To see a complete list of free upcoming ABC Webinars, please click here.
*If you're not sure which national affiliation you chose, please contact Nita Ornelas or call the office at (602) 274-8222. If you'd like to add the ABC Affiliation to your membership, we can do so at any time.
|
AGC's Newsletter Program
When you joined the Arizona Builders' Alliance, you had to choose a national affiliation with either the ABC or the AGC. If you chose AGC, the following newsletters, e-newsletters, and archives of each are available to you for free!
- The AGC Pipeline
- AGC Construction Legislative Week in Review
- AGC Highway Facts Bulletin
- Human Resource & Labor News
- AGC Environmental Observer
- AGC's Building Material
- AGC's Specialty News
- AGC Federal Contractor Report
- AGC News & Views
- Safety Matters
- TechBrief
- The Legacy
- Data DIGest
- AGC SmartBrief
- BIMForum SmartBrief
- Constructor e-Newsletter
For a description of each newsletter, as well as to subscribe to each, click here.
|
|
University of Arizona's "Ticket to Success Tour" to visit ABA's Tucson office
On Tuesday, June 17, Greg Byrne, Vice President for Athletics at the University of Arizona, is scheduled to visit the ABA  office in Tucson for a BBQ to meet with the membership.
"Special Guest" to be announced. Can you guess who will be accompanying him?
Greg and his team from the U of A will present the state of the U of A Athletics Department and educate the community on the importance of a full Arizona Stadium on football game days.
SAVE THE DATE!
Stay tuned - more details to follow!
Please rsvp to Debbie Carlson or sign up online.
|
|
ABA's Community Service Board Smashes Cellphone Goal with YOUR help
The ABA's Community Service Board recently collected Cellphones for Soldiers. Last year the ABA collected a little over 800 phones. Our goal this year was to collect 1,000 phones. With the help of our fantastic members, we collected more than 1,300 phones! For every two cellphones the ABA donates, a soldier receives one-hour of calling time. This means that you helped us create more than 650 hours or more than 39,000 minutes of calling time for soldiers overseas!
Thank you to the many, many members who contributed phones! Every phone counts!
A special thank you to the following companies who donated more than 50 phones each or more than 25-hours of calling time: 
- Corbins Electric
- McCarthy
- Sundt Construction
- Caliente Construction
- Schuff Steel Management
- FCI Constructors
- Comfort Systems
- Barker Morrissey
Corbins Electric gets a special shout-out with their donation of over 300 phones, which created more than 175-hours of calling time for soldiers!
If you'd like to participate in the ABA's Community Service Board, please contact Erica Lange.
|
|
____________________________________________________________________________
|
|
|
|
|
