The Merit Shop Spokesman - ABC Keystone - October 2022

CHAIR of the BOARD

Keith Eldredge, CPA

CHAIR-ELECT – Steve Conway, Pyramid Construction Services, LLC, A Quandel Company

1st VICE CHAIR – John Lehmann, Poole Anderson Construction, LLC

2nd VICE CHAIR – Guy Kingree, IMC Construction

SECRETARY – Steven Kearns, James Craft & Son, Inc

TREASURER – Timothy A. Kershner, CPA, Walz Group

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR – Cleo Weaver, Delainco Realty,

2022 Board of Directors:

Eli Ace, Nexen Construction, LLC

Robb Beiler, Quality Buildings LLC

Jeff Bright, Saxton & Stump Lawyers and Consultants

Roger S. Brubaker, Meadow Valley Electric, Inc.

Douglas M. Dvorchak, Murray

Ed Engle, Smucker Company

Joe Finkey, Martin’s Flooring, Inc.

Michael L. Fiore, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.

Brian Floyd, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

Wayne Fuhrman, The Witmer Group

Michael B. Funck

Ken Funk, Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc.

John H. Hykes II, B&B Integrations

David H. Oblender, Engle-Hambright & Davies, Inc.

James Stephens, CFSP, 11400 Inc.

Bethany Tesché, Houck Services, Inc.

Jan L. Wagner, Wagman Construction, Inc.

G. David Sload, President-CEO

ABC Keystone | 135 Shellyland Road, Manheim, PA 17545

(717) 653-8106 | abckeystone.org

Kristi

Director of

ABC Keystone

kristi@abckeystone.org

(717) 653-8106

The

Contents Merit Shop Spokesman

BIG Opportunities In Construction

Message

Chair

’ve been in the workforce long-enough to see different careers become hot and then cool off. When I was coming out of school, the big career was nursing. The employers were offering signing bonuses, and people coming out of school had their choice of places they wanted to work. Construction has had its employment issues for longer than any other profession I can remember. Guidance counselors pushed everyone to college, and no one was talking about careers in the trades, which is a shame because of the things you learn from working in construction. You learn to think on your feet, adapt to changing circumstances, and discover how to solve problems that seem unsurmountable.

I come from a long line of construction workers. I have learned more things from my grandfathers and uncles about building, thinking on your feet, and problem solving then I did during all my years in school. This is why I love working with contractors. They are thinkers, problem solvers, and risk takers. They push me to challenge myself and my abilities to find solutions.

Based on a recent survey, only 9% of Generation Z are interested in a career in construction. Why are there so few individuals interested in a career with exciting challenges and advancement opportunities? I think it is the perception of the industry. Construction has the perception that it involves long, hard hours with low pay and is a white, maledominated industry, with few opportunities for women and minorities to move ahead. The poor perception of the industry needs to change to entice the next generation to jump into construction. This must start with us, the business owners and those working in the industry.

A career in construction offers so many positive benefits. What other careers can say that every day brings new challenges, the opportunity to work with advanced

technology, and a chance to see your work put into physical motion? Those that work in the industry talk about the jobs they worked on with great sense of pride, and based on this latest survey, it is one of the professions with the highest level of job satisfaction.

With the level of understaffing in the construction industry, the opportunities for anyone interested in this profession include the chance to climb as high as one might wish. Whether you have a degree or not, there are so many jobs available in this industry.

We need to get people excited about joining this industry, and this includes not only the students in school, but everyone. We need to work with the legislators for criminal justice reform to get people back into the workforce, and we need to reach out to vets looking to transition to civilian life, minorities, women, and anyone who is under-employed.

ABC Keystone is working each of these areas to help bring individuals into this profession. We need everyone to help make the changes to make improvements in the labor shortage. Let’s celebrate careers in construction month by finding a way to get involved and help make construction a more attractive career for everyone.

Finally, don’t forget to get out and vote. This election holds many consequences to the industry and your business.

Keith Eldredge,

YOUR Association: Looking Ahead

Many times, I refer to ABC Keystone as the members' association. The fact is that ABC Keystone is not only the members' association, but it is a member-driven association. This was very evident by the participation in our recent strategic planning session. I want to thank the more than 50 members and staff who gave up a day and a half to review and update our 2022-2024 strategic plan.

ABC Keystone’s strategic plan is a living, breathing document that gets reviewed during every monthly board meeting. How are we doing on our goals? Do we need to make any course corrections? Do any of our committees need help in achieving their goals? A plan without review is nothing more than a ship without a rudder. ABC Keystone’s history has always been to work the plan and provide success for you, the members.

Normally, the middle of a three-year plan involves minor review and tweaking. For this plan we had some unique changes that occurred in 2022 that required more discussion and direction. On June 14, 2022, we grew our geographic area from 10 counties to 33 counties. The overarching theme during strategic planning was finding ways to deliver on all our strategic initiatives and services within a larger footprint.

With great discussion and input from all the participants, I believe we have a roadmap. From additional technology to additional resources, we will be very intentional in how we reach this area of great opportunity. Over the next couple of months, the staff and committees will set tactics for achieving our goals in 2023. Like anything else that ABC Keystone has done over its 63 years, it will take member engagement.

As we enter 2023, consider joining the over 270 member employees that currently serve on chapter committees. Help us engage new members into the fold. Become part of the ABC Keystone “It” factor. The staff and I are here to serve and be good stewards of the association. Get engaged and get involved. After all, this is YOUR association.

G. David Sload President-CEO

Workforce Development Update

Careers inCareers in Construction Month

October may be Careers in Construction Month, but at ABC Keystone, every month is Careers in Construction Month! With the consolidation of the ABC Central PA Chapter into ABC Keystone Chapter, our outreach efforts extend to 33 counties, nearly 25 career and technical schools, and more than 210 school districts. We’ve started the process of introducing ABC Keystone and its programs to career and technical centers first, and those conversations have yielded one new articulation agreement with Mifflin County Academy of Science & Technology (The Academy) in Lewistown and two potential agreements with both the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center and the Central Pennsylvania Institute in Bellefonte. Every articulation agreement gives you, the members, access to young talent as these individuals pursue their careers and apprenticeships.

Another very viable source of much needed talent is citizens returning from incarceration. The Workforce Development Committee is sponsoring a series of reentry forums to educate members on the issues and opportunities surrounding this population. Our second event was Tuesday, September 27, where a panel of human resource, legal and reentry professionals discussed background checks. Our October panel will focus on the incentives available to employers who hire returning citizens, and our November panel features Kurt Danysh, who will share his firsthand experience as a person with a criminal background. In December, we complete our series by discussing remedies available to returning citizens to help them overcome barriers associated with their criminal background. These

FMLA & Mental Health

– Hot Topic Seminar

In Person or Virtual

November 2, 2022

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at ABC Keystone Headquarters

The Department of Labor recently released new guidance regarding Mental Health and the Family & Medical Leave Act. This seminar will help broaden your awareness of the increased risks of suicide in construction and the need to train your workforce.

By: Stephanie Larkin Vice President of Education, Safety & Workforce Development

free forums do require registration, so please visit the ABC Keystone calendar to sign up.

ABC Keystone has been asked to partner on two new workforce development initiatives. First, the Marshall Math Science Academy in Harrisburg has asked for our guidance and support on their first-ever Construction Club, which will give their students a chance to experience the trades in a hands-on lab. Our instructional staff created drawings and a materials list for the club project, and the school is securing material donations. We hope to have local contractor support to mentor students and pique their interest in a construction career. Next, we were approached by the Dauphin County Community & Economic Development office to join in a grant proposal that will train ex-offenders in our pre-apprenticeship program and support them through community partner programs. If awarded, the work will commence in 2023 and run for one year. We’re very excited to have this opportunity and a new partnership. Every connection counts!

We will welcome a new group of more than 200 students to Construction Wars on October 11, 12 and 13. If you’ve not yet volunteered your time or resources through sponsoring the event, I encourage you to consider it. What a fun way to share your passion and your knowledge, and hopefully, change the course of someone’s future. Information can be found on our website.

Suicide Prevention in Construction Workshop

December 9, 2022

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at ABC Keystone’s Nittany Valley Office or

January 26, 2023

7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at ABC Keystone Headquarters

Advocacy Update

Will There B e An October

SURPRISE?

By: David G. Greineder, IOM ABC Pennsylvania Director of Government Affairs

If you follow politics, you might have heard the phrase, “October surprise.” This is political terminology to refer to a major news event – perhaps scandalous to some degree – that is aimed to influence the outcome of an election. With the popularity of early voting and mail-in voting, it will be interesting to see how much these stories will matter. It will also be interesting to see if strategists will reevaluate the timing of how and when to “release” this kind of information. Who knows, maybe October surprises will turn into August surprises.

October surprise or not, the 2022 General Election is sure to be full of surprises. In Pennsylvania, all 203 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, along with 25 seats in the Senate (in even numbered districts). Voters will also elect a new governor, a U.S. Senator, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives across 17 congressional districts.

This election will have an impact on Pennsylvania’s future, including how the commonwealth responds to critical workforce needs. That is why ABC Pennsylvania believes it is important to educate our members on who is running for office so you and your employees can make good choices on who will represent your and their interests. As we did in the primary, we will issue a Voter Guide for our members to use and disseminate as they see fit.

Advocacy Update

When it comes to voting, if you know of an employee or family member who is unregistered to vote or just reached the voting age, please encourage them to register. To vote in Pennsylvania, all eligible voters must first register with the Department of State. Registrations must be submitted by Monday, October 24. First-time voters must show proof of identification at their polling location.

Mail-in voting is happening NOW. If a voter prefers to vote by mail and has yet to do so, encourage them to carefully read the information on the Department of State’s website. The last day to APPLY for a mail-in ballot is November 1. Mail-in ballots must be RECEIVED by the voter’s local board of election by 8:00 p.m. on November 8.

Information on registering, mail-in ballots, absentee ballots, polling places and more can be found at: www.vote.pa.gov

If you are an employer and want information on how you can talk to your employees about the importance of voting, ABC National has guidance on the “do’s and don’ts”

in an election cycle. Election laws are very complex, and we encourage utilization of these resources to learn more about appropriate communications with employees. The toolkit can be found at: www.abcvotes.com

Lastly, many employers offer time off for employees to vote. Some employers even offer the whole day off. We encourage these office policies so everyone can exercise their right to vote.

November 8 is the big day! Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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.

Off and Running…

Off and Running… Apprenticeship Classes Begin A

BC Keystone was proud to welcome over 150 new apprentices and company reps to the New Student Orientation on September 7. I shared with the students the value of ABC and the importance of students and companies working together to ensure that all registered apprenticeship requirements are achieved. The two main components of registered apprenticeship are Related Technical Instruction (RTI) – requirement of 144 hours per year/level and submission of On-the-JobTraining Hours (OJT) of 2,000 hours per year. It is exciting to welcome new apprentices and several new companies to apprenticeship for the 2022-2023 school year.

All returning apprentices have started their classes and are ready to continue their education path in their chosen career. It is great to welcome all apprentices back to another year and see their continued growth and learning. Some exciting changes have happened over the summer including the hiring of our new electrical instructor Keegan Reed who was a graduate of ABC Keystone’s apprenticeship and has over 15 years of trade experience. He is a great asset to our program and to the electrical apprentices. Another change that already has received positive feedback is the switch of the HVAC curriculum from NCCER to Cengage. Cengage is more interactive and has simulations that students can use to troubleshoot and learn. The level 4 apprentices already shared that they believe that this new curriculum will be a benefit and great tool to enhance their trade knowledge and learning. Tom Fasnacht, carpentry instructor, and Randy Doxzon, plumbing instructor, have developed new projects and continue to enhance their programs to engage apprentices and increase their learning experiences.

Apprenticeship Update

By: Cindy DeWire Director of Apprenticeship

October is Careers in Construction month and a great opportunity to recognize our apprentices as well as workforce development and partnerships with high schools, CTEs and higher education in ABC Keystone's 33-county footprint. With the workforce shortage, the Chapter will continue to promote careers in construction as a huge component of our strategic plan. Many events take place in October, such as the ABC Keystone Local Competition with the first-ever Team Competition. The fall Construction Wars takes place mid-month, and over 200 middle school students will come to our facility to learn about career options and gain exposure to seven different trade stations to explore options that may be of interest to them as they plan their career paths. We hope to see you at one of these events.

Keystone

Career Development Education, Safety Training & Networking

October

10/1 - ABC Keystone’s Local Apprenticeship Craft Competition

10/3 - Mobile Elevating Work Platform (Aerial Lift) Training

Starts 10/3 - Dynamic Crew Leadership

10/4 - Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Training (Nittany Valley Office)

10/6 - Rough Terrain Forklift Training - SOLD OUT!

10/7 - Competent Person for Fall Protection

10/10 - Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Training

10/11 - Microsoft® Office Training Excel:® Basics

Starts 10/11 - ABC Keystone’s Construction Wars - A Middle School Hands-on Career Exploration Event

10/13 - Infection Control Risk Management (ICRA) 16-Hour Certificate Course (Nittany Valley Office)

10/13 - ABC Keystone’s Tailgate Party Presented by Barley Snyder

10/18 - Self Management - Part of the Leadership Development Series

10/18 - Microsoft® Office Training Excel:® Intermediate I

10/18 - Infection Control Risk Management (ICRA) 16-Hour Certificate Course

10/18 - Prevailing Wage & Davis Bacon - No-cost Workshop for Members

10/19 - Conducting Investigations, Disciplining, and Terminating Employees - Part of the Human Resources Management Academy

10-19 - ABC Keystone’s Fall Regional Construction Wake-up Call –Northeast Region

10/20 - Executive Leader Contractor Peer Group (CEO/Owners/ Executive Leadership)

10/20 - OSHA 10-Hour Construction

10/20 - Planning & Scheduling - Part of the Superintendent Training Program (STP)

10/25 - ABC Keystone’s Fall Regional Construction Wake-up Call –Nittany Valley Region

10/26 - Reentry Forum for Contractors and Workforce Professionals - Hiring Incentives

November

11/1 - Rough Terrain Forklift Training

11/1 - Microsoft® Office Training Excel:® Intermediate II

11/2 - ABC Keystone’s Fall Regional Construction Wake-up Call –Capital Region

11/2 - FMLA & Mental Health – Hot Topic Seminar: In-person or Virtual

11/2 - Construction Estimating I

11/2 - Advanced Blueprint Reading

11/4 - Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Training

11/4 - Fire Extinguisher Training (Nittany Valley Office)

11/7 - Mobile Elevating Work Platform (Aerial Lift) Training

11/8 - Competent Person for Excavation and Trenching

11/8 - Setting & Achieving GOALS – Part of the Leadership Development Series

11/9 - ABC Keystone’s Fall Regional Construction Wake-up Call –Southwest Region

11/9 - ABC Human Resources Contractor Peer Group

11/10 - OSHA 30-Hour Construction

11/10 - ABC Keystone’s 33rd Annual Excellence in Construction Awards Presented by ABC Insurance Trust

11/14 - Competent Person for Supported Scaffold Training

11/15 - Microsoft® Office Training Excel:® Advanced

11/16 - ABC Keystone’s Fall Regional Construction Wake-up Call –Lancaster Region

11/22 - Electrical Safety – Protection Requirements from OSHA & NFPA 70E

11/23 - Employee Relations and Engagement - Part of the Human Resources Management Academy

11/30 - Conflict Management (Nittany Valley Office)

What

someone could do it all for

DIAMOND:

SAPPHIRE:

James Craft & Son, Inc.

PREMIER:

Benchmark

Construction Co.,

H.B.

Murray

Walz Group

Company

GOLD:

Acuity Advisors and CPAs LLP

Barley Snyder

C Mechanical Services

CB Construction Services, Inc.

CV Services, Inc.

ElecTech Contracting, Inc.

Engle-Hambright & Davies, Inc.

Warfel Construction Company

PLATINUM:

B & B Integrations

Flyway Excavating, Inc.

Frey Lutz Corp.

Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc.

McConkey Insurance & Benefits

Mowery

Poole Anderson Construction, LLC

Quandel Enterprises, Inc.

Saxton & Stump

Lawyers and Consultants

Speedwell Construction, Inc.

Wagman Construction, Inc.

Wohlsen Construction Company

Garrety Glass, Inc.

Grudi Associates

Gunn-Mowery LLC

Harmon & Davies, P.C.

Hess Auctioneers, LLC

High Construction Company

Horst Construction Co.

Hursh Painting Co., Inc.

Martin’s Flooring, Inc.

Meadow Valley Electric, Inc.

M. Potteiger, Inc.

Providence Engineering

RKL

Smucker Company

Trout CPA

Versapros, LLC

Wickersham Construction and Engineering, Inc.

SILVER:

Associated Products Services, Inc.

Bertz, Hess & Co.

Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz

C. S. Davidson, Inc.

Clark Associates, Inc.

ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC

Fulton Bank

D.E. Gemmill, Inc.

Howells Glass Co., Inc.

Leer Electric, Inc.

McKonly & Asbury

ONYX Design and Consulting, LLC

Paramount Contracting, Inc.

Superior Walls By Weaver

Walton & Company

The Witmer Group

BRONZE:

Haller Enterprises

David Miller/Associates, Inc.

Remco

Stonebridge

By: Dan Massey, CPA, Principal Walz Group CPA

Ask an Accountant

What Do the Upcoming Changes to IRS Funding Really Mean?

W

henever a new tax-related law is passed, business owners are naturally inquisitive as to the impact it will have on their enterprise. The recently signed Inflation Reduction Act has a handful of tax provisions, but the aspect that is generating the most attention is the increase to the staffing and budget of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Budget Issues

The bill, which was enacted on August 16 of this year, allocates $80 billion dollars to the IRS over the next 10 years, an average of $8 billion annually. The budget of the IRS, presently about $14 billion, dropped 22 percent (in today’s dollars) from 2010 to 2021.

Staffing Matters

In 1991, the IRS had one employee for every 2,217 U.S. residents.

Last year, they had one employee for every 4,219 U.S. residents.

The stated goal of hiring 87,000 agents to an existing workforce of 80,000 would ideally rectify this shortfall, but over half of the present IRS workforce will be eligible for retirement within five years, so total staffing may only increase by about 50 percent.

Impact on Taxpayers

Much of what the IRS does relates to taxpayer service and operations. As of July 1, the IRS anticipated 13.4 million unprocessed paper-filed returns through the end of the year. Weekly, the Service is only processing about 300,000 paper returns, meaning that it will take 45 weeks at the current pace to get through the entire projected backlog. Additionally, during filing season, approximately 1 in 10 phone calls are answered. Increasing staffing at the IRS would help returns to be more quickly processed, phone calls to be more readily answered, and tax notice responses to be more easily addressed.

What About an Audit?

For this law to have been passed, there needed to be an income element to it, and the largest revenue generation in the law is the closing of the so-called tax gap, the difference between what taxpayers actually pay in tax and what they should pay in tax. The way to close this gap, estimated at $600 to $700 billion over 10 years, is to increase the enforcement arm of the Service.

For comparison’s sake, in 2010, the audit rate of a taxpayer earning less than $1,000,000 was slightly less than 1 percent (0.87%). The audit rate of taxpayers earning over $1,000,000 in 2010 was 9 percent. In 2019, those figures became one-quarter of one percent and 1.16 percent, respectively. If audit rates going forward are tripled compared to 2019, they still would fall short of where they were in 2010, and that level of increase is not likely because the funding breakdown has a 70% increase allocated to enforcement.

Conclusion

The IRS is woefully behind in myriad areas, including technological systems. The Act has an opportunity to address these issues, but it also will come with greater likelihood of audit, especially for those taxpayers taking overly aggressive tax positions.

Dan Massey is Principal in Charge of Walz Group CPA’s Assurance Division. He performs audit services for clients in many industries, focusing on construction, entertainment production, and notfor-profit entities. Dan is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). He is also chairman of the C.O.R.E. Task Force for the Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn or contact our office to get in touch.

Sources: US Government Accountability Office (May 2022); New York Times (“Republican opposition to I.R.S. funding is rooted in broader political goals”, August 26, 2022); Kiplinger (“ Is an Army of New IRS Agents Coming for Your Tax Dollars?”, August 29, 2022); American Institute of CPAs (Town Hall, August 25, 2022); Tax Policy Center (July 4, 2022); National Payer Advocate (“NTA Blog: IRS Deputy Commissioners Respond to Taxpayer Advocate Directive on Scanning Technology; National Taxpayer Advocate Appeals Decision to IRS Commissioner”, August 4, 2022)

BETTER

Congrats 2022

to ABC Keystone's

STEP Recipients!

As verified by ABC National as of September 1, 2022

future Merit Shop Spokesman issues for

Diamond:

11400 Inc.

Commonwealth Fire Protection Co.

DeRock Electric Company

Keystruct Construction, A Viocity Company

Leo Kob Co., Inc.

Allan Myers

Quandel Enterprises, LLC.

Platinum:

ADMAR Supply Company, Inc.

Benchmark Construction Co., Inc.

CB Construction Services, Inc.

CCS Building Group

CLARK, Inc.

Conewago Enterprises, Inc.

James Craft & Son, Inc.

Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc. Garrety Glass, Inc.

Hursh Painting Co., Inc.

Legacy Electrical Services, Inc.

RSR Electric, A Viocity Company

Smucker Company

The Tri-M Group, LLC

Gold:

Conewago Manufacturing, LLC Poole Anderson Construction, LLC Paul Risk Construction

Warfel Construction Company

Zartman Construction, Inc.

Silver:

Allied Mechanical & Electrical

Bertolet Construction, LLC

CH+N Site Construction Inc.

Digging & Rigging Inc Dolan Construction Inc. John E. Fullerton, Inc.

H&S Industrial, A Viocity Company

Hayden Power Group C.M. High, Inc.

High Construction Company Johnston Construction Company Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.

Mowery

Paramount Contracting, Inc. PSI Pumping Solutions, Inc.

M. Potteiger, Inc.

S&S Structures, Inc. EG Stoltzfus Construction, LLC Talent-Corps

Vision Mechanical, Inc. Wagman Construction, Inc. Wohlsen Construction Company

Bronze:

Ames Construction, Inc.

B&B Integrations

C Mechanical Services

Cedar Run Construction, LLC CMC, Inc.

Cyprium Solutions, Inc.

ESCO Security

The Farfield Company

Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc.

D.E. Gemmill, Inc.

Goodco Mechanical, Inc.

Kauffman Kitchens

Leer Electric, Inc.

Meadow Valley Electric, Inc. Pincus Elevator Company, Inc.

Quality Buildings, LLC

Speedwell Construction, Inc. Stuebner, Inc.

Susquehanna Valley Construction Corp.

The Tuckey Companies

White Rose Interiors, LLC H.L. Wiker, Inc.

UPSIDE UPSIDE AND AND BEYOND BEYOND

Member Spotlight

Tell us about your company!

Leonard S. Fiore Inc. (LSF) is a third-generation, family-owned builder with offices in Altoona and State College, PA. LSF has completed more than 2,000 projects in Pennsylvania and more than $1 billion in construction projects across eight Mid-Atlantic states. Single project sizes range from less than $1 million to over $60 million and include a blend of public and private work from all vertical markets.

LSF offers a full range of construction services and employs over 250 employees, including highly skilled tradespeople for major trade work. Our services include Preconstruction, Design/Assist and Design/Build, General Contracting, Construction Management at Risk, Self-Performance Trade Work, and Maintenance and Service Contract Delivery.

Did You Know?

LSF’s self-performance capabilities are available for subcontracting. We self-perform a wide range of work with tradespeople and operators that we employ for many contract types. Operating for 68 years, we have built an extensive network of resources including our employees and owned equipment, a loyal supplier base, and connections to many industry professionals.

Why ABC Keystone?

LSF is a proud ABC member and has supported the mission of ABC as a founding member in the ABC Central PA chapter (Now ABC Keystone) since 1964. Our company’s founder, Leonard S. Fiore, was active and vocal in operating with a merit shop philosophy and advocating for construction business rights. LSF actively develops our tradespeople’s skillsets to earn NCCER credentials and supports continuous improvement for our employees with ABC training, seminars, and networking.

Michael L. Fiore, Director of Project Management

mlfiore@lsfiore.com

Leonard S. Fiore Inc. 5506 6th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 www.lsfiore.com 814-946-3686

Meet Michael!

Spending summers as a laborer on LSF job sites taught Michael valuable lessons about the construction process and effective project leadership from his family members. He worked at LSF for 18 years and as an LSF Project Manager for more than 10 years, developing expertise in CPM scheduling and earning a certification as a Primavera Professional. Dedicated to mentoring the next generation of professionals, Michael serves as a Board Member for Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Construction Management program and is a graduate of Leadership Blair County and Leadership Centre County.

Welcome to ABC's Newest Members!

Comfortable Design, Inc.

Joseph Giandalia, President

125 North Fourth Street

Wrightsville, PA 17368 (717) 252-2078 joe@comfortabledesigninc.com

Royal Square Development & Construction Damian Nagle, President of Construction

29 South Duke Street York, PA 17401 (717) 893-5139 dnagle@rsdcinc.com

Sponsor: Robb Beiler, Quality Buildings, LLC

Stratix Systems

John Erisman, Account Executive

1011 North Park Road Wyomissing, PA 19610 (610) 374-1936

jerisman@stratixsystems.com

Sponsor: John H. Hykes, II, B&B Integrations

Twilight Renewables, LLC

Brett M. Nolt, President/CEO

181 East Stiegel Street

Manheim, PA 17545

(717) 990-6722 brett@twilightrenewables.com

these members celebrating milestone anniversaries in October 2022!

40 Years:

Capital Electric 15 Years:

Leer Electric, Inc.

Top to Bottom Interiors

10 Years:

DeLauder Mechanical, LLC

Pro Max Fence Systems, LLC

Rufus Brubaker Refrigeration, LLC

Waggoner Construction, Inc.

Happy Anniversary!

5 Years:

ADMAR Supply Company, Inc.

HC Quality Door

TLC Group Investment Advisors, LLC

1 Year:

IJ Tech Mechanical Services, Inc.

ISI Demolition

PaulB Hardware

Reynolds Restoration Services, Inc.

Shrock Fabrication, LLC

Triple Crown Corporation

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

#ABCMeritShopProud

Barley Snyder Announces Appointments

Barley Snyder has appointed Kevin A. Moore chair of its Labor Law team. In addition to leading the Labor Law team, Moore practices in Barley Snyder’s Employment Law and Litigation practice groups.

Barley Snyder announces Jennifer Craighead Carey has been named to the Law Power 100 by City & State PA as one of the most powerful people in the legal profession in Pennsylvania. A partner in Barley Snyder’s Employment Practice Group, Craighead Carey concentrates her practice in the areas of labor and employment law and associated litigation.

Barley Snyder attorney Elizabeth Melamed was elected to the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster. She will serve a one-year term. Prior to being elected to the board, Melamed served as a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster.

Boyer & Ritter LLC Promotions

Boyer & Ritter has named long-time principal Lisa Myers as the firm’s first Chief Operating Officer. Myers was elected the firm’s first female partner in 1999 and in 2016 served as Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ fourth woman president in its more than 100-year history.

Jay A. Goldman, who chairs Boyer & Ritter’s Dealership Group and has more than 30 years of public accounting experience, has joined the firm’s Executive Committee.

Two new principal owners and two new principals were announced by Boyer & Ritter. Elected Principal Owners are: Benjamin R. Bostic, CPA; Jeremy D. Medernach, CPA; and Nathaniel J. Yost, CPA. Promoted to Principal are: Jeremy Scheibelhut, CPA and Senahid Zahirovic, CPA.

EG Stoltzfus Construction, LLC Receives

Award for Ethical Business Practices

Samaritan Consulting Group recognized EG Stoltzfus Construction, LLC as the 2022 Ethics In Business award recipient. Andy Dula, president of the company, accepted the award and said how important it is to practice humility as a company, especially when they experience successes. Dula also said that the company still strives today to follow founder E.G. Stoltzfus's mission of customer first, employee second and profitability last.

Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP New Hire

Michael Metz-Topodas joined Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr as a partner. He will represent clients in construction-related litigation and disputes and counsel them on construction law matters.

Providence Engineering Announces Promotion

Providence Engineering Promoted Dan Confer to Vice President of Business Development. Confer joined Providence in 2019 as a business development manager, where he was responsible for developing new business throughout SouthCentral Pennsylvania and Maryland.

The Witmer Group Announces Acquisition

The Witmer Group announced that they have acquired the assets of Hi-Tech Coatings Inc. to create Hi-Tech Concrete Coatings LLC. This new addition will expand the resources and capabilities of The Witmer Group's concrete floor repair services.

A Thank You from the Editor

ABC Keystone has been my home for nearly seven years, and during that time I've had the privilege to build lasting relationships with members and staff. It has been exciting to see the Keystone Chapter develop and grow over the years while always ensuring member value is at the forefront of every service provided. I look forward to continued connections with both members and staff in my new role as Senior Marketing Manager for ABC National effective October 1. Thank you to each of you for your dedication to ABC Keystone and to the mission of ABC. Your consistent support, leadership and involvement have brought high ROI to our members year after year. I wish you, the members, and the ABC Keystone staff continued success.

- Kristi Pronovost, Director of Marketing & Communications, ABC Keystone

For inclusion in future issues of the Merit Shop Spokesman, please send your press releases to:

fellow ABC

Ames Construction, Inc. Benchmark Construction Co., Inc. C Mechanical Services CCS Building Group CMC, Inc.

CLARK, Inc. James Craft & Son, Inc. Dolan Construction Inc. JEM Group, LLC Keystone Fire and Security Keystruct Construction, A Viocity Company Legacy Electrical Services, Inc. Mowery Paramount Contracting, Inc. Poole Anderson Construction, LLC Pyramid Construction Services, Inc., a Quandel Company Quality Buildings, LLC Quandel Enterprises, LLC RSR Electric, A Viocity Company Wagman Construction, Inc. Warfel Construction Company Wickersham Construction and Engineering, Inc. H.L. Wiker, Inc. The Witmer Group Wohlsen Construction Company

Young Professionals Spotlight

Meet CJ!

Tell us about the role you play in your organization:

At Stonebridge Financial Group, I work on our corporate retirement plan team. In this role, I assist various companies and their employees with their retirement plans, primarily by educating plan participants on their retirement plans and other financially related topics.

Why do you wake up and go to work every day?

I wake up and go to work every day to help others understand their finances and help them reach financial freedom and stability. I know many people never had the opportunity to learn a lot about investing, economics, and basic finances, so I feel that I can use my position to help people learn those concepts in an accessible and educational manner. By helping individuals, I feel that these concepts will spread throughout various communities and help them grow while I learn and better my understanding.

How has your involvement in ABC Keystone provided you value in your professional life?

I recently joined ABC Keystone, but my involvement has been quite valuable. With each meeting, I gain valuable insight into different industries and their current situations. ABC Keystone also provides great opportunities to connect with other businesses throughout the area, which allows us all to build our network of connections and see how we can benefit each other.

Which hobbies do you enjoy?

I love to hunt, fish, and shoot. I also enjoy going to the gym on a regular basis.

CJ LaPorta, CRPS®

Corporate Retirement Plan Advisor

Stonebridge Financial Group

CJ.LaPorta@stonebridgefg.com

What is your favorite inspirational quote?

What has been your favorite concert to attend? Warren Zeiders

“Try not to become a person of success, but rather, try to become a person of value” - Albert Einstein