The Merit Shop Spokesman - ABC Keystone - February 2021

Merit Shop The

February • 2021

Spokesman ABC Keystone Newsletter

Locking It All Together Chapter’s Pre-apprenticeship Program Builds Tomorrow’s Workforce Celebrate Career & Technical Education Month!

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Entering a Time of Opportunity

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Workforce Development...

Now More than Ever

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ABC Keystone Leadership 2021 Executive Committee: CHAIR of the BOARD – Cleo Weaver, Triangle Refrigeration Co. CHAIR-ELECT – Keith L. Eldredge, CPA, RKL LLP

1st VICE CHAIR – Steve Conway, Benchmark Construction Co., Inc.

2nd VICE CHAIR – John Lehmann, Poole Anderson Construction, LLC SECRETARY – Guy Kingree, Warfel Construction Company TREASURER – Timothy A. Kershner, CPA, Walz Group

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR – Roger S. Brubaker, Meadow Valley Electric, Inc.

2021 Board of Directors: Doug Detwiler, DeRock Electric Company Douglas M. Dvorchak, Murray Ed Engle, Smucker Company Brian Floyd, Gunn-Mowery, LLC Wayne Fuhrman, The Witmer Group Michael B. Funck, Wohlsen Construction Company Ken Funk, Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc. John H. Hykes II, B & B Integrations Steven Kearns, James Craft & Son, Inc. Michael D. Monaco, Mowery David H. Oblender, Engle-Hambright & Davies, Inc. Jon Sensenig, Speedwell Construction, Inc. James Stephens, CFSP, Clark Associates, Inc. Bethany Tesché, Houck Services, Inc. Jan L. Wagner, Kinsley Construction, Inc. Thomas O. Williams, Esq., Reager & Adler, P.C.

G. David Sload, President-CEO ABC Keystone | 135 Shellyland Road, Manheim, PA 17545 (717) 653-8106 | abckeystone.org

Merit Shop The

Spokesman Contents

2 Message from the Chair 3 Apprenticeship at ABC 4 Message from the President-CEO 5 Advocacy Update 7 Chapter Calendar 8 Career Development & Safety Education 9 Member News 10 New Members & Anniversaries 11 Workforce Development Update 13 Organizational Continuous Improvement 15 Creating Workplace Culture 19 National Craft Competitors 22 Committees Plan for 2021!

The Merit Shop Spokesman is published 12 times a year by Associated Builders & Contractors, Keystone Chapter.

Articles of interest, member news, press releases, and advertising placement requests may be submitted to: Editor/Designer: Kristi Pronovost Director of Marketing & Communications ABC Keystone kristi@abckeystone.org (717) 653-8106

Social Media facebook.com/ABCKeystonePA LinkedIn.com/company/abckeystone @ABCKeystone @ABCKeystone

abckeystone.org

A Message from the Chair BY: CLEO WEAVER, ABC KEYSTONE 2021 CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Entering a Time of Opportunity

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las it is winter, and we just celebrated - or endured - Groundhog Day. I am writing this before it happened, so I am not sure what old Punxsutawney Phil predicted for our 2021 Pennsylvania weather, but 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.

A movie critic I am not, but I am a good judge of character, therefore, I know the readers of this article do not need to repeat 2020 to get it right. You lived it and learned from it, and hopefully will never need to endure it again. Your future will be determined by the lessons you learned and your entrepreneurial spirit within, guiding you into a better year.

At ABC, we call this the “It” Factor!

This month we focus on Workforce and Career Development. Our future leaders are looking to us for guidance, as many times they are still trying to find their way in the industry. This is our chance to show that while the early stages of the learning curve include menial work, these young team members are on a path to a truly rewarding career and not just a “job.” As you meet with your workforce, challenge them to set and attain goals and ideals to reach the next level, making sure to lead by example. Avail yourselves of all opportunities to improve your workforce by providing smart training and true career opportunities. Your efforts will build favorable working attitudes and conditions. The future is in our hands, and I am confident we will equip and show our loyal workforce the best way forward.

I challenge each of us and our companies to learn from any past missteps and not repeat them, especially the scenario of finding our ourselves understaffed or unprepared for the possibilities that lie ahead. I believe one such possibility for our industry is the opportunity to restore and repurpose facilities to accommodate the changing need for office and retail space. If you believe that when COVID-19 is past, things will return to normal, you could be in for a big surprise. Many of the ways we function, including working,

shopping, and socializing, have been permanently changed, and now we need to make the necessary adjustments that will lead us to a stronger future for our communities and lifestyle. This will be an excellent occasion for us to prepare our companies and workforce to benefit from the adjustments to our business community’s needs, as we all tackle these imminent changes.

I write this to continue challenging our Chapter and membership to jump onboard with the changing opportunities around us. By developing our talented workforce, and providing careers through vision and education, we have both a great future and many growth challenges.

2020 was a tremendous challenge. Our Chapter staff and leadership stood steady and strong through it all, and I, as your Chair, am confident that we all stand ready to guide Keystone into the next chapter. May we all determine to have no “Groundhog Days” of useless repeats due to unlearned lessons.

Cleo Weaver 2021 Chair of the Board Triangle Refrigeration Co. cweaver@trianglerefrigeration.com (717) 656-2711 2

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A Message from the President-CEO BY: G. DAVID SLOAD, ABC KEYSTONE PRESIDENT - CEO

Workforce Development, Now More Than Ever

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s we enter February, we celebrate Career & Technology Education, or CTE month. Our partners from the various County Career and Technology Centers (CTCs) are the steppingstone and first rung into developing our Craft Professionals for our industry.

We have had a long-standing relationship with both Lancaster CTC and Berks CTC. During 2020, we also entered into a formal agreement with Cumberland/Perry CTC and have opened a positive dialog with Dauphin County Technical School.

Students coming out of programs like those mentioned above have a leg up when entering our PA-registered Apprenticeship program. With these technical schools filling up, other students were being left out on the opportunity to experience a trade. Several school districts and charter schools recognized the need for help in being able to introduce students to alternate career opportunities. This created the demand for and the beginning of the Keystone ABC Pre-Apprenticeship program.

We started our pilot program in 2019, and it continued into early 2020. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit, and the limitations placed on in-person training, in conjunction with the schools’ specific COVID-19 in-person attendance limitations, slowed our progress. The great news is 11 students have applied to enter our full apprenticeship program. In addition, some have been hired as entry level field employees.

So, to the point of my topic: I get many calls asking where to find experienced craft professionals. I’m sorry to say, they are not out there looking for work. If someone comes in with any level of experience and have been unemployed for a period of time, you may want to dig deeper before extending an offer. It is only going to get harder with retirements and those that choose not to work.

Therefore, the need for Workforce Development has two main components. First, we tackle introducing and enticing young people to enter our industry. Second, we need to get them trained once we get them in the door. Training is not just their initial training, but it is the ongoing, career-advancing education and training. The good news for you, the members, is that we are here to provide these introductions and educational programs.

The key to maximizing these efforts, is that you need to walk through the door with them and with us. As we get in front of young people and introduce them to our industry, you can be a valuable resource for information and stories. When we have young people that have gone through a Pre-apprenticeship program, interview them and bring them on board as an entry level craft professional if they have the right attitude and work ethic. Lastly, once they have shown their worth, continue to invest in their training and advancement in the industry. The key to Workforce Development is the development of the individual.

Together, we all can have a true impact on Workforce Development.

G. David Sload President-CEO dave@abckeystone.org (717) 653-8106

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Advocacy Update BY: AUSTIN CAWLEY, ABC PENNSYLVANIA DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

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ABC’s Roadmap in 2021

he new year has started, and the government affairs staff has been mapping out an efficient travel guide for the long haul. Though it is a new session with roughly 30 new legislators entering office, ABC’s messaging remains the same – fighting for merit shop principles. The newly installed ABC of Pennsylvania Board of Directors has established our 2021 legislative agenda, which is broken into three categories: 1. Participating in Industry Standard Legislative and Regulatory Processes: These policies include supporting legislation that clarifies the employer-employee relationship in work sharing programs; supporting a comprehensive infrastructure package; supporting liability protections for businesses; opposing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; opposing taxes on the Marcellus Shale; and supporting legislation that prohibits indemnification clauses in construction contracts.

2. Investing in Workforce Development: These policies include supporting reforms to the apprentice-tojourneyperson ratios; supporting re-entry programs; opposing legislation that establishes “Responsible Contracting Ordinances” that shut out competition in the bidding process; and supporting legislation which promotes career readiness.

3. Advancing the Merit Shop Philosophy: These policies are focused on ABC’s “bedrock principals,” which include supporting right-to-work; opposing project labor agreements; opposing the so-called federal “Protecting the Right to Organize” Act; and opposing any legislation that singles out or targets the construction industry.

Looking at the make-up of the Legislature this session, ABC is well-positioned to hit the ground running. At the state-level, Republicans picked up seats in the House and retained their majority in the state Senate. Returning to serve on the House Labor & Industry Committee is Chairman Jim Cox (R-Berks) and ABC’s policy champion on the apprenticeship bill, Rep. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland), who will continue to lead the fight on this important bill. We are also pleased to see many returning faces to the committee and look forward to continuing our partnerships. At the time of this writing, the Senate had not organized their committees.

Looking at the leadership slates, House Republicans re-elected Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) and Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre), along with other leaders that round 5

out the team. On the Democratic side, the minority caucus has many new faces, mostly from the Philadelphia area, where we will need to build relationships and educate those members on ABC’s policy goals.

On the Senate-side, the Republican caucus elected Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre) to serve as President Pro Tempore. New to the Republican leadership team is Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington), who will serve as caucus chair, and Sen. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe), who will join the team as the Republican policy committee chair. On the Democratic side, Senators Maria Collet (D-Montgomery) and Katie Muth (D-Montgomery) have joined the leadership ranks as caucus administrator and Democratic policy committee chair, respectively. A noteworthy detail is Senate Republicans elected the first female Majority Leader, Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), and the House Democrats elected the first female Minority Leader, Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia).

As we wind our way into 2021, ABC advocacy events will be dependent on the ongoing COVID-19 guidelines. Nevertheless, we want to provide a listing of what we are planning for the year: • April: Virtual Free Enterprise Day • June: ABC National Legislative Conference (Washington, D.C.) • September: In-Person Free Enterprise Day (Harrisburg, PA) • December: PA Society (New York City) Dates for the events above will be announced soon. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please email Austin Cawley at austin@abckeystone.org.

As we hit the road, detours and roadblocks might come along, but ABC has a solid guide, and we will be ready for whatever twists and turns we face.

We are excited for another year and cannot wait to work with you, our members.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out the David (Davidg@abcpa.org) and Austin (austin@abckeystone.org).

If you are not signed-up to receive email alerts, please download the “ABC Action App” from the app store on your mobile device, or at abc.org/abcaction.

In Memoriam Clinton A. Clubb of Oxford, MD, and former President and Treasurer of ABC Keystone, passed away at Bayleigh Chase on January 11, 2021. He was 96 years old.

Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Oxford Community Center in Oxford, MD. To send condolences to the family, please visit: www.fhnfuneralhome.com.

The Keystone Chapter wishes to express our sincere condolences to Clinton’s family, friends, and former colleagues.

Clinton A. Clubb

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Chapter Calendar - Events, Education & Training Register Today!

2/3 - ABC Human Resources Contractor Peer Group 2/4 - Positive Assertiveness – Part of the Professional Development Series 2/9 - Engaging and Mobilizing Your Team – Part of the Leadership Development Series 2/9 - Networking, Referrals & Strategic Alliances – Part of the Leadership Development Series Starts 2/9 - Dynamic Crew Leadership

2/10 - Virtual & In-person Event: ABC Keystone’s Economic Outlook Breakfast with Anirban Basu 2/17 - Competent Person for Jobsite Safety Inspections Starts 2/17 - Project Management & Leadership

2/17 - Virtual Event: ABC Keystone’s Winter Construction Wake-up Call: ABC PA Legislative Update 2/23 - Adult AED, CPR & Basic Medic First Aid Starts 2/23 - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People© 2/25 - Competent Person for Fall Protection

3/3 - Delegating for Results Part of the Professional Development Series

3/3 - ABC Keystone’s Meet the Generals

3/9 - Presentations: Removing the Fear Part of the Leadership Development Series Starts 3/9 - Dynamic Crew Leadership 3/11 - Communications

Part of the Superintendent Training Program (STP) 3/17 - HR’s Strategic, Operational & Administrative Roles

Part of the Human Resources Management Academy 3/17 - Advanced Blueprint Reading 3/22 - Mobile Elevating Work Platform (Aerial Lift) Training 3/25 - Rough Terrain Forklift Training

Save the Date: 4/16 Inaugural Gala for Cleo Weaver Rescheduled due to COVID-19

5/20 ABC Keystone’s Apprenticeship Graduation & Craft Professionals of the Year Awards Dinner 6/8 ABC Keystone’s Golf Outing

Discover more events, education & training & register online: abckeystone.org Coronavirus (COVID-19) Safety Update: Your health and safety are our number one priority. Total registration numbers may need to be limited to observe safety requirements, and early registration is encouraged. Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.

We Can Customize Training for You!

We Strive to Meet Your Training Needs - Contact Us Today!

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(717) 653-8106 | Barbara Holtzapple (Career Development) & Kevin Keith (Safety)

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#ABCMeritShopProud

The Latest ABC Keystone Member News Barley Snyder Adds Three Attorneys and a Paralegal in York Office Barley Snyder announced it has added three new attorneys in the office, along with an additional paralegal and legal assistant. The announcement comes on the heels of the firm’s expansion at its Gettysburg office in November. The attorneys joining Barley Snyder effective Jan. 4: J. Robert Katherman, Stacey R. MacNeal, and Jayne R. Katherman. Also joining the firm is Linda L. Shaffer, a paralegal in the Barley Snyder Real Estate Practice Group. The four come to the firm from the former Katherman & Perry law firm, which announced in the fall it would close at the end of 2020.

Benchmark Construction Company Announces Promotion Benchmark Construction Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Matt Oswald to the role of Superintendent.

He is responsible for coordinating all site construction activities and supervising and training all field personnel as required to successfully complete projects while adhering to schedules and budgets. This includes maintaining the highest quality and supervising all trade and field personnel, all while administering good construction safety practices. Matt joined Benchmark in 2014 as an Apprentice Carpenter and has an Associate degree in Building Construction Technology from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.

RKL LLP Welcomes Three New Managers to Firm RKL LLP recently announced the hire of three new managers in its Business Development Department, Financial Services Industry Group and Small Business Services Group.

They are: Lauren Gluckman, Business Development Manager; Janily Jones, CIA, Manager, Financial Services Industry Group; and Keith McLaughlin, CPA, CFE, Manager, Small Business Services Group.

Saxton & Stump Lawyers and Consultants Promotes Three Women to Equity Shareholder Saxton & Stump Lawyers and Consultants announced that attorneys Kathleen Duffy Bruder, Emina Henne and Erin Redding have been named equity shareholders with the firm effective January 1, 2021, recognizing their exceptional work, client service and professional contributions. “Kathy, Emina and Erin are excellent attorneys and have demonstrated initiative, leadership and collaboration during a particularly challenging year,” said CEO James W. Saxton. “We are pleased to see many women ascending to leadership roles throughout the community and Saxton & Stump is proud to include Kathy, Emina and Erin as equity shareholders.”

SEK Announces Supervisor and Senior Staff and Manager Promotions Camp Hill, PA Office: Benjamin L. Hursh, CPA promoted to Senior Associate Carlisle, PA Office: Deirdre M. Korkes promoted to Senior Associate Barry C. Lyons promoted to Supervisor Jodie N. Meglio promoted to Senior Associate John E. Stoner, CPA promoted to Supervisor Chambersburg, PA Office: Kristin A. Delauter, CPA promoted to Supervisor Jordan P. Hurrell, MAcc promoted to Senior Associate Hagerstown, MD Office: Kelly A. Garbinski, CPA promoted to Manager Hillary M. Grove, CPA promoted to Manager Cara A. Lowery promoted to Senior Associate York, PA Office: Aaron J. Althouse, CPA promoted to Senior Associate Teena R. Curnow promoted to Manager

If you have news to share, please send your press release to:

Kristi Pronovost, Director of Marketing & Communications: kristi@abckeystone.org 9 13

Welcome to ABC's Newest Members!

Thank you for your support of the merit shop mission!

Affordable Paving & Excavating Tom Shumate, Owner 201 Briar Hill Road Lititz, PA 17543 ph. (717) 627-0364 tshumate@apellc.net Sponsor: Cleo Weaver, Triangle Refrigeration Co.

BLM Construction and Remodeling Barry Mease, Owner 2415 W Market Street York, PA 17404 ph. (717) 650-1472 quality@blmconstruction.net

Jones Masonry Restoration Corporation Trina Hardison, Secretary 6740 Allentown Boulevard, Suite 6 Harrisburg, PA 17112 ph. (717) 233-8323 trina@jmrpa.com

Paragon Engineering Services, Inc. Christina McCullough, Business Development 1071 Edgar Street York, PA 17403 ph. (717) 854-7374 cmccullough@peservices.org

View a searchable membership directory at abckeystone.org Download the mobile app at the App Store or Google Play!

Happy Anniversary!

Thank you for your continued support of the merit shop!

Join us in congratulating these members celebrating milestone anniversaries in February 2021:

15 Years:

Bertolet Construction Corporation

5 Years: Rettew Associates, Inc.

1 Year: Safety Works, Inc. 10

Keystone: Locking It All Together BY: STEPHANIE LARKIN, VP OF EDUCATION, SAFETY & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

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y the time you read this article, you may have figured out February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. Though not in the league with other holidays like “National Donut Day” (which is June 4, 2021 – mark your calendars), without CTE your company and the construction industry would not survive.

CTE provides core academic skills, employability skills and technical, job-specific skills. In Pennsylvania, CTE is offered through high schools, career and technology centers, community colleges, and even some four-year institutions of higher education. Good CTE programs have established partnerships between high school and postsecondary education. The one thing all programs have in common is that they apply what students are learning to the needs of area employers. Another thing CTE programs have in common is that they work. In Pennsylvania, data shows that 99% of secondary students with a CTE concentration graduated, and 93% of postsecondary CTE concentrators went on to the workforce, the military or an apprenticeship.

(ACTE, 2020) In the ABC Keystone Chapter footprint, we benefit from having nine CTCs, 10 high schools that offer ABC-articulated CTE programming, and nearby, Penn College of Technology.

Why is our proximity to these institutions important? We have connections with these organizations, and all these entities feed our registered apprenticeship program and provide your companies with the ongoing stream of young talent that you so desperately need.

It’s easiest to think of how these entities connect with ABC Keystone if you view it from a student’s perspective.

The student is on a path to their career. They may first hear about construction in middle school by coming to ABC Keystone’s Construction Wars event where they build projects and learn what it means to go to CTC. In high school, they may follow through and get into a construction program at a CTC or join a trades class associated with ABC Keystone. Maybe they will hear more about opportunities in the industry by touring our building or hearing from ABC staff at a career event.

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By the time they leave high school, we hope to have captured their attention and interest, so they might apply to our registered apprenticeship program and get credit for what they’ve already learned. At this point, ABC Keystone facilitates their connection to you, the member.

Once a journeyperson, they may attend safety training or take a leadership development course. At every turn, ABC Keystone is their resource, and yours.

Are you inspired to get involved? There are so many opportunities for businesses and tradespersons to influence the next generation, and we can help connect you. Consider involvement in SkillsUSA or help guide high school students through the ACE Mentor Program. Serve on your school or CTC occupational advisory council and share what’s needed in the industry so the schools can make sure it’s being taught. Of course, there’s the ABC Keystone Workforce Development Committee, where members get involved in outreach, Construction Wars, mock interviews and soon, our first intensive construction camps.

February may be CTE Month, but your help is needed and appreciated all year.

For more information on how to get involved, contact Stephanie Larkin, VP of Education, Safety and Workforce Development, stephanie@abckeystone.org.

Continuous Improvement BY: BRAD LEFEVER, PROJECT MANAGER, WOHLSEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

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he world is always changing and always adapting.

When we are asked to change and adapt with it, that can be tough. Whether it is a new piece of technology, a new process, or even a new teammate, we are constantly asked to evaluate and implement. At Wohlsen Construction we have five core values, continuous improvement is one of those five. We are taught to reflect on the process of a task or project to help identify waste and eliminate it. While eliminating waste in an organization can sound negative, it is not. Eliminating waste is essential to aid the development of employees and increase organizational efficiency.

results. If the results are positive, great! If the results are negative, you pivot and plan again until the outcome is deemed a success.

The beauty of this system is that it is never-ending. Don’t get me wrong, that can sound tireless, but if you have an organization who commits itself to always being better, in essence, it is fantastic. I would encourage you to do some further research on continuous improvement and speak

Continuous improvement stems from a model developed by the Japanese, called “Kaizen.� This model is based around the idea of a never-ending strive for perfection through the elimination of waste. Waste elimination can be a difficult concept to grasp, as is the action required to actually do it.

It requires organizational buy-in from the lowest level, all the way to the top. Without each level of the organization taking action to eliminate waste, it can all be for naught.

I am sure many of you have been in a situation where you or your co-workers are frustrated by something within your company. It is easy to vent to one another about something you would like to change, but it is much harder to go about changing it. This is where the process of continuous improvement, if correctly implemented in an organization, can make a real difference.

Think about a situation in your career where you wanted something within your organization to change. Now imagine if you did an analysis on that change to identify how you would become more efficient in your role if that change were made. The model of continuous improvement relies on employees to hold themselves to a higher standard. We cannot be content with simply venting about a frustration we have. We must show our superiors how making a change will benefit the organization. We are called to develop a plan and understand what success will look like if this change occurs.

Continuous improvement is most importantly about the cycle of the change, not its success. You plan, you implement, you check in, and you act accordingly on the 13

to your organization about this concept. As I mentioned earlier, if you can create top to bottom buy-in for continuous improvement, you will see tangible results in bottom line dollars and organizational health. In addition, you will create an environment where employees want to come to work because they are able to speak up about their ideas and grow in the process.

Let’s Talk ABC!

Mike Bachman | Director of Membership | mike@abckeystone.org 14

Explore All Aspects of Wellbeing to Create a Culture Where Employees Thrive

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or decades, employers have been using strategies to attract, retain and engage talent; the construction industry is no different. The ability to have the right resources at the right time for employees has become a common strategy many organizations have developed.

The real reason these strategies have started to become more common practice is the need to have a personalized, holistic, well-rounded workplace experience for employees.

matter, that is no longer the case, and businesses are seeing the returns. For example, employees whose wellbeing is properly maintained are 36% more likely to report a full recovery after an illness, injury or hardship.

Wellbeing at work is influenced by personal factors experienced by employees outside the workplace.

Gallup research revealed there are five areas of wellbeing that differentiate a thriving life from one spent merely existing: career, social, community, financial and physical.

• Career wellbeing is liking what you do every day and having purpose; • Social wellbeing is having strong supportive relationships in your life; • Community is liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride; • Financial is managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security; and • Physical is having good health and enough energy to get things done.

Gallup’s research has determined that thriving as an employee is defined by ultimately having the understanding that each element intersects with each other. It is incredibly hard to thrive in one area alone; when one area of wellbeing is imbalanced, it can affect another area. As an example, if a person is struggling with finances, many times that person is also dealing with stress, which impacts emotional health and wellbeing.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, “resilience is a key strategy that helps employees tackle stress, a competitive job market, workplace conflicts and address challenges on the job.” According to Gallup, employees with high wellbeing are more resilient during widespread or personal tough times. While in the past, it might have been easy to dismiss wellbeing as a personal

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Creating a culture of wellbeing where employees can thrive in the workplace or on the jobsite is where thriving begins. There are five steps employers can take to help create a wellbeing culture where employees can thrive at work.

1. Understand workforce demographics to communicate in the most effective way.

Understanding how each generation prefers to be communicated with can help employers leverage those communications to have the biggest impact on their population.

2. Recognize resources can make an impact.

Give employees the perks, benefits, and resources they value and want, versus what leaders think they need. Organizations for years have continued to provide employees with the basics without asking employees what they really need, want or value. Stop and ask them.

3. Change the mindset inside the organization to prioritize wellbeing.

Start with leaders and teach them to be inclusive and to recognize when someone is struggling. Asking for help isn’t easy; making it part of a culture gives all employees, including leaders, the opportunity to open up and talk. Leaders and supervisors don’t need to have all the answers or solutions, but they need to have awareness of the resources available to employees.

4. Give grace.

The workplaces of today demand a lot from employees. Are we giving employees an opportunity to be open and honest about what they need or even how they feel? Creating the personal connection with each employee allows leaders to create a safe place to have difficult conversations.

5. Communicate with intention.

Focus not only on what is communicated but also how it’s communicated. The “voice” leaders use in the company’s communications with employees can leave a big mark on how employees feel about the company, which is a direct tie to the culture.

Organizations in every industry are exploring ways to maintain culture, drive engagement and empower employees, all while aiming to improve their bottom line.

The pandemic has physically, mentally and emotionally challenged employers to think differently about how they care for employees. Taking a critical look at company culture and the resources provided to employees is an important first step to developing thriving employees.

Reprinted from Construction Executive, December 15, 2020, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors.

Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

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ABC Keystone’s Economic Outlook Breakfast with Anirban Basu In-person & Virtual Networking!

Limited In-person Seating!

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 7:00 am – Networking

8:00 am – Breakfast & Program Network with Business Leaders & Decision Makers!

Hear the latest economic forecast from ABC National’s informative & entertaining economist, Anirban Basu!

Register online: abckeystone.org

Thank you to our Elite Sponsor:

Exclusively for Specialty Contractors, Architects, Engineers and Site-Designers:

ABC Keystone’s Meet the Generals

Don’t Miss this Chance to Meet Face-to-Face with ABC’s GCs! Wednesday, March 3, 2021 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm (2 Rounds)

Register online: abckeystone.org

• Meet one-on-one with multiple general contractors in one afternoon!

• Strengthen relationships with 12 industry-leading General Contractors • Gain first-hand information on upcoming projects and bid qualifications

Presenting Sponsor Available!

Sign Up to Sponsor: emily@abckeystone.org

2021 National Craft Competitors Committed to Excellence BY: KRISTI PRONOVOST, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

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hat makes up the character of a true champion?

Hard work. Determination. Consistency. Excellence.

The Keystone Chapter has a strong tradition of training Champions, several of which have brought home gold, silver and bronze medals earned at the annual ABC National Craft Championship. Each year, we send a team of top apprentices to this event. Throughout the final three months of 2020, training was once again in full gear. ABC Keystone’s 2021 National Craft Competition (NCC) team put in countless weekend hours preparing for the competition that was to be held concurrently with the ABC National Convention in March 2021. It was certainly a disappointment to all to hear the news last month that although the convention will go on as planned, the competition had to be canceled again this year due to COVID-19 safety concerns.

A canceled competition does not take away from the effort, skill and determination shown by this year’s team. We wish to congratulate and honor these five top apprentices for their unwavering commitment to excellence and their focus throughout their competition training. Sky, Philip, Dakota, Matthew and Jeremy deserve our gratitude and applause for a job well done. They were each looking forward to the opportunity to meet their counterparts from across the nation - top apprentices from ABC’s 69 chapters nationwide and were eager to display their knowledge, skills and talent.

Intent to succeed, they willingly gave up precious free time to hone their skills - each Saturday, following a full week on the job with their employers and attending classes at ABC - in an effort to represent the Chapter and showcase the excellence in education provided by ABC Keystone’s PA-registered apprenticeship program.

While they will not get the opportunity to compete in March, these individuals are true champions deserving of recognition and respect. We thank each of them for their dedication and efforts and, of course, their understanding, as we all grapple with the ever-changing scheduling effects of COVID-19.

Congratulations on a job well done, Champions - ABC Keystone is proud of you and your accomplishments!

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Thank You! • Sky DeLaughter, Electrical Cedar Electric, Inc. • Philip Gregg, Sheet Metal James Craft & Son, Inc. • Dakota Leibensperger, Carpentry Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc.

• Jeremy Ressler, Carpentry J.D. Eckman, Inc.

• Matthew Tressler, Plumbing James Craft & Son, Inc.

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ABC Keystone Committee and Task Force Descriptions Education:

Develops and provides course offerings in management and continuing education; assists our members in the growth and development of their workforce, from support staff all the way to the company CEO. Meetings held the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 am.

Events:

Develops and delivers programming such as the Economic Outlook Breakfast, Golf Outing, Clay Shoot, Meet the Generals, Excellence in Construction Awards Program, mixers and other events to provide quality business development opportunities for members.

Meetings held the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 am.

Government Affairs:

Promotes, protects and defends the ABC position on the legal, legislative and regulatory fronts; establishes and maintains strong working relationships with lawmakers; develops and strengthens industry-wide grassroots advocacy efforts to educate, elect, and encourage participation in the political and legislative processes.

Meetings held the second Thursday of every month at 7:30 am.

Membership:

Works to actively engage ABC members to increase their involvement and improve their overall ABC experience; identifies and pursues new membership growth opportunities.

Meetings held the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 am.

Safety:

Promotes safe and healthy work environments for member firms; conducts quarterly Safety Forums for safety and HR professionals and contractors; monitors OSHA regulation developments; promotes and facilitates the STEP (Safety Training and Evaluation Process) program.

Meeting held the third Tuesday of every month at 8:00 am.

Workforce Development:

Continues to showcase careers in construction and the talents of our member employees; builds bridges between industry and educators on skills needed, plus careers available for K-12 and post-secondary students; utilizes our state-of-the-art training facility as a destination for school in-service days and career days.

Meetings held the 1st Wednesday of every month at 7:30 am.

Young Professionals:

Develops and provides networking activities, leadership and educational opportunities, and community service outreach for those currently in their first 10 years in the industry and who are employees of ABC Keystone member firms.

Meetings held the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 am.

(Off-site meetings held in March, June, and September from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm.)

C.O.R.E. Task Force:

Oversees, promotes and works to raise awareness about the benefits of the annual sponsorship, marketing, events and training programs (Contacts, Opportunities, Resources & Education).

Committee meeting schedules above are subject to change at the beginning of each year.

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Keystone Chapter Kicks off 2021 with All Committee Virtual Meeting!

Thank you to our nearly 200 members who met virtually on January 13, 2021, to plan for the year ahead, alongside their fellow committee members, at ABC Keystone’s annual All Committee Kick-off.

Are you signed up for a committee?

Committee membership is crucial to increasing your connections with your fellow ABC members! It’s not too late!

View the listing on page 21 to learn more and contact us at (717) 653-8106 to sign up!

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135 Shellyland Road Manheim, PA 17545

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