
‘It’s Just How I Live’: ABC's 2025 Craft Professional of the Year, Chris Weaver
By Maggie Murphy
June 9, 2025
When Chris Weaver first stepped onto a jobsite as an electrical apprentice fresh out of high school, he didn’t see it as just a job. He saw it as an opportunity. Over the last 21 years, that opportunity has transformed into a thriving career marked by leadership, mentorship and a...

Going the Extra Mile: ABC’s 2025 Craft Instructor of the Year Derek Robbins
By Jordan LeGras
June 9, 2025
For Derek Robbins, becoming an HVAC director and sheet metal instructor was never part of the plan. “Teaching kind of found me. Looking back now, that road seems like a no-brainer for me,” he says.
While the road to discovering his passion for teaching was under construction for...

Lead by Learning: ABC’s 2025 Young Professional of the Year Ray Wallace
By Grace Calengor
June 9, 2025
“Hey, let’s roll.” This is what Sarah Wallace—a military spouse, mother of three and wife to ABC’s 2025 Young Professional of the Year, Ray Wallace—said in 2021 when she learned her family would be moving…again. The couple, who married following Wallace’s second deployment, have ...

Best of the Best: ABC’S 2025 Construction Workforce Awards
By Construction Executive
June 9, 2025
These industry-leading professionals are the 2025 recipients of ABC’s Construction Workforce Awards, presented at ABC Convention 2025 in February. Each year, the CWAs honor individuals who have played a critical role in shaping the future of the industry in three categories:
You...

Building a Toolkit for Women in Construction: A Q&A With Women at BELL
By Alexzondra Fleetwood
March 27, 2025
The construction industry offers a world of opportunities for young women, but navigating the path to success can feel daunting. While men are traditionally associated with the field, many talented women are eager to pursue construction careers but may be unsure of how to get sta...

Long Shot: Chandra Wakeland's Leap of Faith Into Construction Ownership
By Jordan LeGras
March 18, 2025
When Chandra Wakeland was a young girl, most of her friends spent their summers soaking up the sun by the pool or at summer camp. Wakeland spent hers going to work with her father, a chief estimator for a steel contractor.
“I would go to work with my dad during summer school whil...

Nonunion Construction Workforce Tops 80% in 41 States
By ABC
March 14, 2025
WASHINGTON, March 12—Associated Builders and Contractors released an analysis of 2024 state union membership data published by unionstats.com, which found that in 41 states at least 80% of workers in the private construction industry did not belong to a union. At least 90% of wor...

ABC Names 2025 Craft Instructor, Craft Professional and Young Professional of the Year
By ABC
February 26, 2025
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 26—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced the honorees for the 2025 Construction Workforce Awards: the Craft Instructor of the Year, Craft Professional of the Year and Young Professional of the Year. These three construction professionals are shaping ...

New Names and Faces: February 2025
By Construction Executive
February 25, 2025
MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP FOR CENTRAL REGION
On Feb. 5, McCarthy Building Companies Inc. announced a new leadership team for its Central Region, positioning a team of internal executive promotions to guide the company’s continued growth and success acr...

Scaling Your Skills: The Path From Expert to Enterprise Builder
By Anne Lackey
February 18, 2025
Imagine a carpenter you know whose custom work has earned a stellar reputation. Attention to detail is extraordinary and clients marvel at the craftsmanship and constantly refer the carpenter to others.
Perhaps he likes the idea of expanding from an individual operation into a b...
Recommended for you
Careers

All But 3 States Had Construction Unemployment Rates Below 10% in December 2024
By ABC
In an auspicious start to the year, 94% of states boast construction unemployment rates below 10%.
Careers

Pressing Questions: Construction Leaders Address the Decade's Top Concerns
By David McMillin
Some of the brightest minds in the industry discuss their hopes and fears for the year ahead—and beyond.
Careers

ABC To Host National Construction Trade Championships and Management Competition in Las Vegas on Feb. 26
By ABC
ABC is only three weeks away from its annual Convention and with it, the annual National Craft Championships.