The Merit Shop Spokesman - ABC Keystone - March 2023

ABC Keystone Leadership

2023

Executive Committee:

CHAIR of the BOARD

Steve Conway

Pyramid Construction Services, LLC, A Quandel Company

CHAIR-ELECT

John Lehmann Poole Anderson Construction, LLC

1st VICE CHAIR Guy Kingree, IMC Construction

2nd VICE CHAIR

Steven Kearns, James Craft & Son, Inc

SECRETARY Ed Engle, Smucker Company

TREASURER

Timothy A. Kershner, CPA, Walz Group

2022 CHAIR Keith Eldredge, CPA, RKL

2023 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.

Scott Duke, The Witmer Group

Joe Finkey, Martin’s Flooring, Inc.

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

Brian Floyd, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

Ken Funk, Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc.

John H. Hykes II, B&B Integrations

Anthony Leer, Leer Electric, Inc.

David H. Oblender, EHD

Matt Shehan, Benchmark Construction Company, Inc.

Jan L. Wagner, Wagman Construction, Inc.

Scott Wengrenovich, Murray

Jeff Witmer, Pathway Business Advisors

Women in Construction Month

If you attended this year’s ABC Keystone Economic Breakfast, keynote speaker Anirban Basu spoke of the shortage of available workforce across the US in general and its direct impact on the construction industry. Workforce shortages aren’t new to the industry, and I believe many of us recognize we will continue to face this barrier for the foreseeable future. Though many industries face similar shortages, construction seems to feel it more acutely, especially when recruiting females.

Currently, women make up only 10.9% of the construction industry. This number is inclusive of design professionals, managers, office staff and front line field workers, but only 1% of our skilled trades workers are women. So, while women make up 47% of the overall workforce in America, the construction industry is benefiting from only 1.25% of that talent. Like me, many members may not be surprised that women are underrepresented in the industry. Though it has been encouraging to see more women in key positions and on job sites over the years, the rate at which women are entering the industry isn’t rapid enough.

We have a perception problem in this industry. Traditionally, we have been male dominated. Likewise, our careers have been viewed as too labor intense, or dirty, unskilled, and unsafe, driving females away from the industry. We know that technological advancements and much- needed safety protocols, along with a more welcoming culture, mean it is no longer an industry of brute strength and machismo. We are an industry of opportunity regardless of gender.

So, what are we doing to make sure we increase the number of females in construction?

ABC Keystone continues to grow our network of middle schools, high schools, career and technical centers, and community partners in an effort to educate all populations about our industry and the need for new talent. We provide career awareness and exposure to our industry through Construction

Steve Conway Pyramid Construction Services, LLC A Quandel Company

Wars and All ‘bout Construction (ABC) Girls Camp. This camp is held over a 4-day period (June 1922), providing an opportunity for girls to explore careers in the industry, through hands on projects, problem solving activities, and exposure to industry professionals. The Camp is in its 3rd year, and will serve up to 30 girls this year, thanks to a grant from ABC National’s Trimmer Construction Education Fund.

Outside of ABC, PWC (Professional Women in Construction), ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) Mentorship Program and NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) are all working to promote careers in construction and support the initiative of expanding the demographic of our workforce.

What can you do?

Share your industry! Talk to your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and school board members. Educate them on the lucrative career opportunities for their children or grandchildren. There is no more rewarding career than one that has a hand in building America.

Benefit for Employee & Employer

Last month I shared several affinity programs that would possibly improve your bottom line. I mentioned a new program on the horizon, a multi-employer 401K program. Well, it is here and available.

No matter how big or how small your company is, the ABC, Retirement & Savings Plan could be a smart business decision that benefits both your company and your employees. You, the employer, have the flexibility to tailor plan provisions to meet the needs of your company. Examples of flexibility include choice of the definition of compensation, traditional and Roth 401K contributions, safe harbor choices, auto-enrollment and profit-sharing choices.

We know the ABC retirement plan works. The same plan has been used by the Keystone Chapter and many other Chapters around the country for the last several years. Now the same plan we have enjoyed is available as a member benefit. This multiple-employer plan provides many advantages to our members including the following:

Flexibility

Members may customize the plan provisions to meet their specific company needs.

Fiduciary Protection

Fiduciary Consulting Group serves as our plan fiduciary and handles all compliance and reporting which allows you to focus on what you do best – build your business.

Low Cost

The aggregation of participating employers and assets allows members to take advantage of the pricing power that comes with a larger plan.

For additional information you can visit, www.ABCretirementplan.com or refer to the advertisement on the next page. The Keystone Chapter is proud to offer a program that may provide you and your employees a benefit and at the same time provide value to your bottom line.

ABC Keystone provides many values to being a member. This is just one of the latest you may want to check out.

in Construction Week

March 5-11, 2023

HISTORY OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK

Women in Construction Week takes place during the first full week in March every year. It is a time to highlight all the great initiatives and work of women within the industry. Likewise, it is a time that brings to the fore the opportunities that are available to women in construction.

Women in Construction Week traces the history of women in construction, their challenges, and the ways they’ve been able to overcome them. The holiday is observed to appreciate the women who have taken the bold step to enter the construction industry, and also to encourage those willing to make similar commitments.

Women were first mentioned as construction workers as early as the 13th century. In Spain, women are documented as working on numerous wooden and stone

structures. They were also known to serve as apprentices at their husband’s trades, or as patrons of special building projects.

In more recent times, women have made notable advancements in American history. In the late 1870s, Emily Roebling assumed management of the Brooklyn Bridge project when her husband Washington fell ill. The bridge was completed in 1883, and Emily was honored as the first person to ever walk across it.

In 1980, Barbara Res became the first woman to supervise constructing a skyscraper from start to finish. And as recently as 2019, the Leonardo tower in Africa was built by a team almost completely made up of women.

The opportunities for women in the construction industry continue to multiply today. The share of construc-

tion workers who are women is at an all-time high and has steadily increased since 2016, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Women numbered 10.9 percent of the entire U.S. construction workforce in 2022

At ABC Keystone we are committed to putting the best talent on the construction field. Welcoming to all people—where employees are limited only by their own potential and desire—is the essence of the merit shop philosophy, and that’s who we are. To learn more visit abckeystone.org

https://nationaltoday.com/women-in-construction-week/

Haley Shuman

Journeyman Carpenter

Benchmark Construction Co. Inc. | Ephrata, PA

• Thaddeus Stevens

graduate 2020

• ABC Keystone Apprenticeship graduate 2022

"Haley has a bright future in this industry. She is open to learning new tasks every day and doesn’t shy away from the difficult ones. She has the passion for the industry and that will help separate her from the rest."

What has been the most memorable moment in your career?

Knowing that I have the knowledge and background to get the job done. Being able to work along side seasoned colleagues that will help me grow in the construction industry. And, the family atmosphere on the job site is the best!

What do you think is the most important change happening in the construction industry?

A big one for me is seeing more women in leadership positions. I feel for the longest time that the industry was a little rigid when it came to how and who should fill certain roles in construction. I am excited to be able to witness the transition and see how companies offer their employees the opportunities they deserve—regardless of their race or gender.

What advice would you give to a young woman entering the industry?

What are the advantages of being a woman in construction?

Women bring a different view to every issue that arises, and experience life differently than men do. You get to bring those different experiences to the table and potentially a new outlook or solution.

I would tell young women to not be afraid to speak up. It can be intimidating being the only woman or one of very few women in a work setting, especially when you are at a young age, but your input is valuable.

Bill Lastinger, Benchmark Construction Co. Inc.

DIAMOND SPONSOR SAPPHIRE SPONSOR

PREMIER SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

Acuity Advisors and CPAs, LLP

Barley Snyder

CB Construction Services, Inc.

CV Services, Inc.

EHD

Garrety Glass, Inc.

D.E. Gemmill, Inc.

Grudi Associates

Hess Auctioneers, LLC

High Construction Company

Horst Construction Co.

MVE Group

Martin's Flooring, Inc.

M. Potteiger, Inc.

Providence Engineering

RKL

RSR Electrical LLC

Saul Ewing LLP

Smucker Company

Trout CPA

Wickersham Construction & Engineering, Inc.

SILVER SPONSORS

Associated Products Services, Inc.

Bertz, Hess & Co.

Broderick's Landscape Contracting, LLC

Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz

C Mechanical Services

C. S. Davidson, Inc.

ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC

Harmon & Davies, P.C.

Hursh Painting Co., Inc.

Leer Electric, Inc.

GR Mitchell, Inc.

Paramount Contracting, Inc.

Remco Inc.

Silvertip, Inc.

Team Lewis Landscaping

R.A. Walton & Company, Inc.

Weaver Superior Walls

The Witmer Group

BRONZE SPONSORS

Commonwealth Fire Protection Co.

Fulton Bank

Haller Enterprises

ONYX Design and Consulting, LLC

Stonebridge Financial Group

JIM WILLSHIER ABC KEYSTONE, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

As the state legislature is kicking off a delayed start to legislative business, we should recognize some things that reflect the General Assembly’s growth in 2023. This session will see the first female Senate Pro Tempore (Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland) and first female Majority Leader in the House (Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia) along with 77 other women in the legislature – the most ever. We also have nearly 50 new legislators, the largest freshmen class in 60 years. It’s easy to see that many historical changes are happening in the Capitol while, at the same time, those newly elected and those experienced but new to leadership roles are still on a learning curve. More importantly, all of them are still deciding how they want to lead and represent their home districts with their position of influence.

The beginning of 2023 presents the first test of state policy-makers with the looming state budget, which will also be the first Governor Shapiro on March 7. While little is known about the administration’s plans in this budget, it will become the opening negotiation for this administration’s future policy priorities and potential taxes.

A significant amount of education will be needed for the legislature and Governor Shapiro’s administration on our industry, regardless of what we see in the budget proposal. Just like your potential clients and partners need to hear your company’s story, these public officials need to listen to it too. They need to understand what you do for the Pennsylvania economy, how you help the workforce, and what it means for the future of Pennsylvania. They need to understand your challenges that need to be solved or the potential barriers they unintentionally create.

Remember, it is always better to have an ally before you need one than miss having an ally in a potential crisis because it will be too late to start building that relationship. The way to do that is to have those conversations now through advocacy at ABC and your meetings with legislators. Engage with us at ABC if you want help with talking points on anything, questions about setting up an appointment, or learning about other opportunities to educate your legislators.

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

Honoring the Best in the Construction Community

Nominations are now open for the ABC Keystone 2023 Craft Professionals of the Year! These individuals play critical roles in shaping the future of the construction industry by highlighting construction as a meaningful lifelong career, emphasizing safe work practices and expanding education opportunities.

Do you know a craft professional who excels in his or her field, demonstrates a passion for the trade, exhibits outstanding leadership qualities and demonstrates a commitment to safety, education and the merit shop philosophy?

Nominations for Craft Professionals Award for each of the following trades:

• Carpentry

• Electrical

• Plumbing

• HVAC

• Sitework

• Interiors

• Exterior veneers

Entry Form & Instructions Visit: https://bit.ly/craft-prof-year-2023

Entries are due no later than Friday, March 31, 2023 by 4:30 p.m.

Emily Winslow at emily@abckeystone.org

2022 Craft Professional of the Year Brian Williams, C. Mechanical Services

High-paying Jobs that Don't Need a College Degree?

Like most other American high school students, Garret Morgan had it drummed into him constantly: Go to college. Get a bachelor's degree.

"All through my life it was, 'If you don't go to college you're going to end up on the streets,' " Morgan said back in 2018. "Everybody's so gung-ho about going to college."

So he tried it for a while. Then he quit and started training as an ironworker, which is what he was doing on a weekday morning in a nondescript high-ceilinged building with a concrete floor in an industrial park near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Morgan and several other men and women were dressed in work boots and hard hats, clipped to safety harnesses with heavy wrenches hanging from their belts. They were being timed as they wrestled 600-pound I-beams into place.

Back then, the demand for ironworker's was rising – and it still is: the sector is growing 4% annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ironworker's earn, on average, $27.48 per hour, or $57,160 per year. Morgan was already working on a job site when he wasn't at the Pacific Northwest Ironworker's shop. At 20, he was earning $28.36 an hour, plus benefits.

Five years later, he's on the job full time, working "six-10s" — industry lingo for 10 hours a day, six days a week. He helped build the Rainier Square Tower in Seattle and a data center for Microsoft. "I'm loving it every day," he said. "It was absolutely the right choice.

As for his friends from high school? "Someday maybe they'll make as much as me."

Raising Alarms

While a shortage of workers pushes wages higher in the skilled trades, the financial return from a bachelor's degree is softening, even as the price, and the average debt into which it plunges students, remain high.

But high school graduates have been so effectively encouraged to get a bachelor's that high-paid jobs requiring shorter and less expensive training are going unfilled. This affects those students and also poses a real threat to the economy.

"Parents want success for their kids," Mike Clifton, who taught machining for more than two decades at the Lake Washington Institute of Technology before retiring, said in 2018. "They get stuck on [four-year bachelor's degrees], and they're not seeing the shortage there is in tradespeople until they hire a plumber and have to write a check."

The Washington State Auditor found in 2017 that good jobs in the skilled trades were going begging because students are being almost universally steered to bachelor's degrees. Recent labor statistics suggest that's still the case – in Washington State and around the country.

President Biden, in his State of the Union address this month, spoke of "jobs paying an average of $130,000 a year, and many do not require a college degree."

Among other things, the Washington auditor recommended that career guidance — including choices that require less than four years in college — start as early as the seventh grade.

"There is an emphasis on the four-year university track" in high schools, Chris Cortines, who co-authored the report, said after it was issued. Yet, nationwide, nearly three out of 10 high school grads who go to four-year public universities haven't earned degrees within six years, the most recent figures from the National Student Clearinghouse show. At four-year private colleges, that number is nearly one in five.

"Being more aware of other types of options may be exactly what they need," Cortines said. In spite of a perception that college "is the sole path for everybody," he said, "when you look at the types of wages that apprenticeships and other career areas pay, and the fact that you do not pay four years of tuition and you're paid while you learn, these other paths really need some additional consideration."

And it's not just in Washington state.

Today, nearly 90% of construction companies nationwide are having trouble finding qualified workers, according to the Associated General Contractors of America; in Washington, the proportion is 88%. Ironworker's remain

Yet, thousands of them sit empty.

in particularly short supply, along with drywall installers and sheet metal workers.

The $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure plan – Biden's signature legislation passed by Congress in 2021 – will create 1.5 million construction jobs per year for the next 10 years, the White House says, boosting the share of all jobs that are connected with rebuilding the nation's infrastructure from 11% to 14%, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Median wages for construction jobs are higher than the median pay for all jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

"The economy is definitely pushing this issue to the forefront," Amy Morrison Goings, president of the Lake Washington Institute of Technology, which educates students in these fields, said in 2018. "There isn't a day that goes by that a business doesn't contact the college and ask the faculty, 'who's ready to go to work?' "

Amy Morrison Goings, president of the Lake Washington Institute of Technology, said in 2018: "There isn't a day that goes by that a business doesn't contact the college and ask the faculty who's ready to go to work."

Sy Bean/The Hechinger Report

In all, some 30 million jobs in the United States that pay an average of $55,000 per year don't require bachelor's degrees, according to the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce.

Yet the march to bachelor's degrees continues. And while people who get them are more likely to be employed and make more money than those who don't, that premium appears to be softening; their inflation-adjusted median earnings were lower in 2018, the most recent year for which the figure is available, than in 2010.

"There's that perception of the bachelor's degree being the American dream, the best bang for your buck," said Kate Blosveren Kreamer, deputy executive director of Advance CTE, an association of state officials who work in career and technical education. "The challenge is that in many cases it's become the fallback. People are going to college without a plan, without a career in mind, because the mindset in high school is just, 'Go to college.' "

It's not that finding a job in the trades, or even manufacturing, means needing no education after high school. Most regulators and employers require certificates, certifications or associate degrees. But those cost less and take less time than earning a bachelor's degree.

Tuition and fees for in-state students to attend a community or technical college in Washington State, for example, came to less than half the cost last year of a four-year public university, and less than a fifth of the price of attending the cheapest private four-year college.

Washington is not the only state nudging students into education for the trades. At least 39 states have taken steps to encourage career and technical education, and many

have increased funding for it, a 2017 Brookings Institution review found.

At the federal level, legislation introduced in Congress in January would make some short-term workforce programs eligible for federal Pell Grants. "For too long, the collegefor-all mentality drove Americans toward expensive and often ineffective education pathways," its sponsors said. "As our country stares down a historic worker shortage, fewer Americans are getting the skills they need to be successful."

The Branding Issue

Money isn't the only issue, advocates for career and technical education say. An even bigger challenge is convincing parents that it leads to good jobs.

"They remember 'voc-ed' from when they were in high school, which is not necessarily what they aspire to for their own kids," Kreamer said. Added Kairie Pierce, apprenticeship and college director for the Washington State Labor Council of the AFL-CIO: "It sort of has this connotation of being a dirty job. 'It's hard work — I want something better for my son or daughter.' "

The Lake Washington Institute of Technology, about 20 miles from Seattle, changed its name from Lake Washington Technical College, said Goings, its president, to avoid being stereotyped as a vocational school.

These perceptions fuel the worry that, if students are urged as early as the seventh grade to consider the trades, then low-income, first-generation students, and students of color will be channeled into blue-collar jobs while wealthier and white classmates are pushed by their parents to get bachelor's degrees.

"When CTE was vocational education, part of the reason we had a real disinvestment from the system was because we were tracking low-income and minority kids into these pathways," Kreamer said. "There is this tension between, do you want to focus on the people who would get the most benefit from these programs, and — is that tracking?"

The Lake Washington Institute of Technology, about 20 miles from Seattle, changed its name from Lake Washington Technical College, said Goings, its president, to avoid being stereotyped as a vocational school.

These perceptions fuel the worry that, if students are urged as early as the seventh grade to consider the trades, then low-income, first-generation students, and students of color will be channeled into blue-collar jobs while wealthier and white classmates are pushed by their parents to get bachelor's degrees.

"When CTE was vocational education, part of the reason we had a real disinvestment from the system was because we were tracking low-income and minority kids into these pathways," Kreamer said. "There is this tension between, do you want to focus on the people who would get the most benefit from these programs, and — is that tracking?"

Jon Marcus, The Hechinger Report https://hechingerreport.org/

Andrew Soule, SVP Senior Relationship Manager

asoule@mtb.com | 717-344-0425

www.mtb.com

How did you get involved in the industry?

I've been with M&T Bank for eight years. My education is in counseling and I found that in banking I could accomplish what I most enjoy, hearing the need or desire and finding the path to successfully accomplish that goal.

Tell us about your company?

M&T Bank was formed in 1856 and has continued as a retail and commercial bank in communities throughout the mid-Atlantic and New England regions. M&T’s commitment and presence within Pennsylvania has been consistent for decades as we continue to support the needs of the businesses and families throughout the communities served.

Did you know?

M&T Bank is an acronym for Manufacturers and Traders Bank which began in 1856 when a few business leaders recognized a bank was necessary to support their growing community. Our commitment to local business is in our name and deep in our roots!

From small "handyman" projects, maintenance services, fencing, patios, pavers, retaining walls to complete landscape design Team Lewis Landscaping can handle your project in a professional efficient manner.

www.myteamlewis.com

DAN ALLEGAR

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER TEAM LEWIS

LANDSCAPING

717.220.6288

dan@teamlewislandscaping.com

Q: Q: Q: Q:

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

emily@abckeystone.org

What role do you play in your organization?

I am the Business Development Manager at Team Lewis Landscaping, based in Grantville, PA. My primary focus is connecting and building partnerships with building contractors and construction firms in our area to provide commercial landscaping services, such as plant installations, hydroseeding, snow removal, and ongoing maintenance. I also work in the field routinely, as part of our Tree Care Division.

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

Working alongside a dedicated and hardworking team, committed to both professional and personal growth, that keeps the needs of both our team and the clients we serve at the forefront of our mission makes coming to work a rewarding experience.

What are your hobbies?

I'd say being a musician is my number one hobby. I'm a piano and acoustic guitar player, and I play in an acoustic folk duo around south central PA with a longtime friend. I'm also into reading, and volunteer regularly working with youth in the Lower Susquehanna synod of the Lutheran church.

What is the last book you read?

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant is a favorite that I've read recently, and I'm currently reading the Overstory by Richard Powers.

ASK AN ATTORNEY Labor Update –The Government Is Not Your Friend

By: Tom Davies, Esq. Harmon & Davies, P.C.

Although 2023 has just begun, governments at all levels, Local, State, and Federal, have made it clear that it will be a challenging year for merit shop contractors. We'll discuss just a few of the specific challenges below:

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

City and county governments across the Commonwealth are interested in adopting so-called Responsible Contractor Ordinances (RCOs.) It is well-established law that public projects in Pennsylvania must generally be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. An RCO is an attempt by the local governmental unit to add requirements that must be met by a contractor to be deemed responsible. In theory, such an approach may make sense. Still, in practice, the RCOs currently being considered and adopted by places like Reading and Centre County have been designed to exclude most merit shop contractors from the bidding process. All contractors must pay attention to what is happening in their area and alert ABC if they hear that an RCO is being considered.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Based on his actions as Attorney General, we can expect Governor Josh Shapiro to continue to target the merit shop construction industry. One of his areas of focus as Attorney General was the enforcement of Act 72, known as the Construction Workplace Misclassification Act. There is no question that the practice of some unscrupulous contractors of classifying all of their workers as "independent contractors" harms not only those workers but all legitimate contractors who find it difficult to compete. On December 1, 2022, the joint task force on misclassification of employees issued its final report, which included some alarming statistics regarding the problem's scope and a host of recommendations for legislative and regulatory changes. In addition, there are several steps that all ABC contractors should take immediately to avoid unintentional violations of ACT 72. These include:

• Draft a "real" contract and use it with all independent contractors. Include many of the same provisions in

any other contract, such as indemnification, insurance requirements, etc.

• Avoid, if at all possible, payment terms based on an hourly rate.

• Don't use the same independent contractors so often that they can't demonstrate that they also work for other contractors.

• The larger the "independent contractor," the better.

• Periodically monitor your use of independent contractors.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

As discussed previously, the Biden Administration is moving ahead on several fronts to continue to fulfill the President's promise to be the most pro-union president in history. The National Labor Relations Board is in the process of not only undoing many of the more proemployer decisions issued by the Trump Board but has outlined an agenda that would re-write seventy years of labor law. Some of these changes involve "minor" issues, such as the limits employers may place on the speech and conduct of employees in the workplace. Others, however, could impact critical issues such as the ability to prevent labor unions from picketing neutral employers as part of a dispute with the employer with whom they have the dispute. Many of you may be familiar with the "Two Gate" system which construction industry employers have used since the Board first established this principle in its Moore Dry Dock decision in 1950. That longstanding decision is now in jeopardy.

While these cases work their way through the legal system, employers should review their existing employee handbooks or rules to ensure they don't provide a union an easy target for an unfair labor practice charge.

With all these pending threats, it is essential to remember the sage advice that Sgt. Phil Esterhaus gave the police every week on Hill Street Blues: "Let's be careful out there."

KEYSTONE HEADQUARTER

Career Development Education, Safety Training & Networking

Barley Snyder New Partners & New Hire

Barley Snyder is pleased to announce the addition of four new partners to the firm’s partnership group.

Lindsey Cook works for the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. She has represented some of the largest businesses in Maryland and Pennsylvania, both at a trial court level and before appellate courts.

Christopher Naylor is a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Business practice groups. As a real estate attorney, he handles a wide range of real estate matters including counseling residential and commercial landlords and tenants, drafting leases and contracts, resolving disputes, representing clients in disputes, and more.

Kevin Myhre is a patent attorney for the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. He is involved in patent application preparation and prosecution, trademark matters, litigation support, and research and strategy development. Myhre brings real-world experience working in the engineering community as a safety manufacturer for a Philadelphiabased airline department.

Barley Snyder is pleased to announce attorney Beth M. Kohl has joined the firm in its Reading office. Kohl will work in Barley Snyder’s Real Estate and Land Use practice groups.

McKonly & Asbury Wins Award for Service

McKonly & Asbury Wins ClearlyRated's Best of Accounting® Award for 2023. They won the Best of Accounting 5 Year Diamond Award for providing superior service to their clients for at least five (5) consecutive years.

RKL Named to Forbes List & Award Winner

RKL LLP remains one of the most recommended tax firms in the nation, according to a Forbes survey. The global media brand used feedback from approximately 4,500 tax and accounting professionals and their clients to generate the list of 240 U.S. firms. The firm also earned a sixth consecutive honor as one of the Best Places to Work in PA.

CPA and advisory firm RKL LLP has won a 2023 Best of Accounting Award for client satisfaction. This recognition from B2B directory ClearlyRated is based solely on service feedback and ratings from the firm’s recent client survey.

RKL LLP is pleased to announce that Senior Managers

Daniel Boyle, CPA, and Zachary Galloway, CPA, CFP®, recently joined the ranks of the nation’s top construction

industry business advisors by earning the Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP®) designation. CCIFP® is the only accounting certification for construction financial professionals accredited by the American National Standards Institute.

Saxton & Stump Lawyers and Consultants Promotions & New Hires

Saxton & Stump is pleased to announce that attorney Stephen J. Fleury Jr. has been elevated to equity shareholder at the firm. Fleury, who came to Saxton & Stump in 2018, is a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment Group as well as the Investigations and Criminal Defense Group.

Saxton & Stump has announced that the Lancaster law firm Kegel Kelin Litts & Lord LLP has joined Saxton & Stump. Saxton & Stump is expanding its Intellectual Property Group by adding experienced IP attorney Jason Somma. In addition to his work as a shareholder in the Saxton & Stump Intellectual Property Group, Somma is now also part of Saxton & Stump strategic partner Palq IP, an intellectual property-focused consulting firm that helps businesses and creators grow their business through IP and business management strategies.

Saxton & Stump announces that Pauline Markey, a tax attorney with more than 15 years of experience at some of Philadelphia’s largest law firms, has joined the firm as an equity shareholder. She is a member of the firm’s Business, Corporate and Tax Group working with clients on federal income tax matters, specifically working with compensations, pass-through entities and tax-exempt organizations.

Schaedler Yesco Finalizes Purchase of YESCO

Schaedler Yesco Distribution, Inc. finalized the purchase of YESCO Electrical Supply. The purchase included all assets for the 5-location supplier serving Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Schaedler Yesco Distribution, established in 1924, is a 4th generation family- and employee-owned provider of complete connected solutions for the electrical industry.

For inclusion in future issues of the Merit Shop Spokesman, please send your press releases to: rebecca@abckeystone.org