The weekly email from ABC you don't want to miss!
MAY 18, 2017
 

Yesterday, Jeremy Blanchard, Blanchard Caulking & Coating, and ABC's April Cowdery met with nearly 200 local middle school students to talk about careers in construction. The kids they met really liked the idea of having a great career working with their hands, creating something and NOT being tied to a desk all day. They got the message that there are excellent, lucrative opportunities with on-the-job training...opportunities that don't require a pricey college degree. Next week, we're meeting more middle and high school students with the same message.

Within ABC, we talk a lot about getting the message to kids (and parents) about construction careers. We talk about changing the narrative that college is the only path to success. We talk about the great salaries that skilled tradespeople earn, and how we know successful business owners who started out swinging a hammer. Within ABC, we have been talking about this for too long. This and next week, we're having that talk where it can make a difference: in our schools. Thanks, Jeremy and April, for getting us started!

See you soon,
Karin
Karin Tucker Hoffman
President/CEO
Florida First Coast Chapter - Associated Builders & Contractors
"Do Business with a Member!" 

 * * * * * Upcoming Events * * * * *
June 1: NexGen Application Deadline
June 5: Excellence in Construction Awards Entry Deadline
 June 15
Baseball Night - Jax Jumbo Shrimp
June 20
ABC Women's Council 
after-hours
June 22
ABC Legislative Day Washington, DC
$21,000 in Local Scholarships Awarded

Last Friday, ACE Mentor Program of NE Florida awarded local students $21,000 in scholarships for their education in Architecture, Construction & Engineering. 

The ACE mission is to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and to support their continued advancement in the industry.

Through the program, local industry professionals - including many ABC members - serve as mentors, meeting with students for two hours a week for 16 weeks. During these sessions, students work in teams to create practical solutions for "real-world" projects. Scholarship recipients included students from Lee HS, Orange Park HS, Middleburg HS, Creekside HS, and home school programs. ABC and ABC Women's Council are proud to support ACE and its scholarship program. Thank you, ACE supporters: Haskell, Miller Electric Company, Auld & White Constructors, Danis, Integrated Construction, Pivot CPAs, McVeigh & Mangum Engineering, and all ACE mentors!
Leadership Development for YP's

What is NexGen? NexGen is a four-month leadership development program comprised of a series of educational events designed to enhance the leadership skills and knowledge of young, high-potential construction professionals. 

New course and application dates have been announced! Applications/nominations are due June 1, 2017 and classes commence in July. A complete program guide and application materials can be downloaded here. Questions? Call Karin at (904) 731-1506.
2017 Blue Ribbon Partners
eagle banner
Excellence in Construction Entries Due 

The deadline for entries in the 2017 Excellence in Construction Awards is set for June 5, 2017. 

As you're working on your entry, please don't hesitate to reach out to ABC staff with your questions. If Karin and April can't answer your questions, they will take your questions to the knowledgeable, experienced Excellence in Construction Committee and get you the guidance you need. Entry questions? Give Karin or April a call at (904) 731-1506.
2017 Red Ribbon Partners
COX
Exhibitor Space at SAME Symposium

Mark your calendars for the 2017 Southeastern Tri-Regional SAME Joint Engineer Training Symposium. The symposium theme for 2017 is "Securing our Future" with technical tracks focusing on Resiliency (energy and sea level rise), Construction Management, Business and Environmental Issues. Events will run from 29 August to 31 August 2017 at the Hyatt Regency.

Connect with hundreds of government, private industry, public sector engineers and scientists who are working to strengthen America's future through building and sustaining our military's infrastructure. Attendees will include reps from DOD agencies  including NAVFAC SE and the US Army Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division.  Exhibit space is filling fast! More info here.
ABC Baseball Night:  Go Shrimp!

Join us for one of the best ABC networking events on the calendar! We have a skydeck reserved at the Jumbo Shrimp game on Thursday, June 15, with a huge barbeque buffet. We'll watch the game in the shade, and cool off with dollar drafts. Details here.

Tickets are just $28. Last year, we sold out, so we've reserved an even larger space for the fun this year. Bring your whole team! RSVP via email to events@abcfirstcoast.com

Thanks to Advanced Disposal for sponsoring this fun event. 
2017 White Ribbon Partners
BUILDING CONNECTIONS

Visit ABC's website for pictures from our May 1 Golf Tournament at Deerwood Country Club. Congratulations to the team from All Pro Asphalt who took home top honors, bragging rights and the traveling trophy for the year. Thanks to all of our sponsors for supporting this great event, and special thanks to the committee for pulling it all together. What a great time everyone had golfing and BUILDING CONNECTIONS.

2017 Winning Team

2017 Committee
Trip Thompson, GT Leasing (chairman)
JD Loudermill, AIM Printing & Graphics
Wendy Rouse, Argos US
John Moore, Metro Property Services
Richard Carr, Cox Fire Protection
Lee Holland, GCP Applied Technologies
Michael Larsen, JP Perry Insurance
Mike Gruber, Ellis & Associates

2017 Golf Tournament Sponsors


STAY CONNECTED:
Associated Builders & Contractors - Florida First Coast Chapter
904-731-1506 | info@abcfirstcoast.com | abcfirstcoast.com