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OCTOBER 2026

ABC KEYSTONE LEADERSHIP 2026 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PROUDLY PUBLISHED BY ABC KEYSTONE 3

Message from the Chair

5 From the President-CEO 8 Advocacy Update 10 Professional Prespectives: Tech Connect 12 Hands On, Hands Down: Melissa Turano's Full Circle

Chair of the Board

Steven Kearns James Craft & Son, Inc.

Chair-Elect

Ed Engle Smucker Company

1st Vice Chair

Jeff Witmer Pathway Business Advisors

2nd Vice Chair

Robb Beiler Wohlsen Construction Company

Secretary

Aimée Deraco Brubaker

Treasurer

Timothy A. Kershner, CPA Walz Group

Immediate Past Chair

Guy Kingree, III Benchmark Construction Co., Inc.

2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeff Albright

E.R. Stuebner, Inc.

Corbin Beittel

Warfel Construction Company

14 Fall Regional Construction Wake-up Calls

Jeff Bright

Offit Kurman

Stephanie Conway

Keystruct Construction, A Viocity Company

16 STEP Participants

Kevin Eshleman

SLC Excavating, LLC

Michael L. Fiore

Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.

18 Calendar of Events

Brian Floyd

MPB Insurance & Risk Management

Ken Funk

Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc.

John H. Hykes, II

B&B Integrations

Anthony Leer

Leer Electric, Inc.

Michael Metz-Topodas

Saul Ewing LLP

20 New Members 21 Merit Shop Proud 26 Anniversaries

Patrick Snyder

Peoples Security Bank & Trust

Lee L. Summers, Jr.

C Mechanical Services

Kevin VanPelt

S&T Bank

Jan L. Wagner

Wagman Construction, Inc.

G. David Sload, President-CEO

Manheim Office 135 Shellyland Rd. Manheim, PA 17545

Howard Office 898 N. Eagle Valley Rd. Howard, PA 16841 Harrisburg Office 800 North Third St., Suite 407 Harrisburg, PA 17102

The Merit Shop Spokesman is published 12 times a year by Associated Builders and Contractors, Keystone Chapter. Articles of interest, member news, press releases, and advertising placement requests may be submitted to the editor: Rebecca Wolf Director of Communications & Marketing rebecca@abckeystone.org | (717) 653-8106

Leadership Perspectives

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR BY: STEVEN KEARNS, CHAIR OF THE BOARD, ABC KEYSTONE

Building the Workforce of Tomorrow One Career at a Time Every October, our industry marks Careers in Construction Month, an observance led by NCCER's Build Your Future initiative to raise awareness of the opportunities in our trades and inspire the next generation of craft professionals. For ABC Keystone, it's also a good moment to take stock of where we stand and where we're headed. Nationally, the need remains real. Associated Builders and Contractors' latest workforce analysis puts 2026 demand for net new construction workers at roughly 349,000, climbing to 456,000 in 2027 as spending growth picks back up. An aging workforce and surging demand for specialized trades, particularly in data center and advanced manufacturing construction, mean the shortage is far from solved and likely to deepen as spending growth accelerates. Here at home, we're seeing that demand firsthand. Local construction employment is up 20% year over year, and our apprenticeship program has never been busier, with electrical training drawing more new apprentices than any other trade we offer. What sets our program apart is our full-time instructor model: nearly all of them came up through our own apprenticeship, so our apprentices are learning from people who've genuinely done the work, paired with on-the-job training through employer sponsors. We've also expanded our career development offerings this year, adding Microsoft® Project training, and a Non-Generational Coworking course to help bridge generational gaps on the jobsite. That kind of growth comes with growing pains. Our apprenticeship building is running at capacity, which is a good problem to have but a real one nonetheless, and it's part of why our board is already thinking seriously about what expansion looks like for ABC Keystone. I can't share details yet, but keep an eye on 2027 and beyond, because we're not planning to stand still. None of this happens without our members showing up. Our Construction Wars program is a great example of what that looks like in practice, putting students directly into a hands-on construction environment and, in our experience, doing more to change minds about this industry than almost anything else we run. Paired with efforts like our All 'Bout Girls Camp and our ABC Student Chapter partnerships at colleges and universities, these programs give us a natural opening during Careers in Construction Month to put our industry in front of the next generation before someone else does. Every apprentice we bring in directly addresses the workforce numbers above. I'd encourage every member firm to get involved this month and beyond, in your local schools, at a job fair, or simply by talking about what a career in the trades can offer. The workforce we need for 2027 and beyond is being built right now, one person at a time. 3

Leadership Perspectives

FROM THE PRESIDENT-CEO BY: G. DAVID SLOAD, PRESIDENT-CEO, ABC KEYSTONE

Keystone Academy for Construction: ABC Keystone Launches New Pathway to Solve the Skills Gap A new two-year, dual-enrollment program will prepare area students for registered apprenticeships — and for careers with you. Every member of ABC Keystone knows the numbers by heart, because you live them every day: not enough electricians, not enough carpenters, not enough masons, not enough hands on the jobsite. According to Associated Builders and Contractors' national workforce model, our industry needs to attract an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 alone a figure that climbs to 456,000 in 2027. Locally, the pressure is just as visible. Lancaster County's Career and Technical Center reports a waitlist of more than 1,000 students who want a trades education and simply cannot get a seat. We are done waiting for that gap to close on its own. ABC Keystone announced the formation of the Keystone Academy for Construction (KAC), an independent nonprofit training center built to give high school juniors and seniors a direct, structured pathway into commercial and industrial construction. KAC is targeting its inaugural class for the 2027–2028 school year, with an initial cohort of 40 students drawn from Lancaster County and the surrounding five-county region. A Model Built for Employers, Not Around Them KAC's two-year design was built with member companies in mind from day one because a training pipeline only works if it ends at your front door. Year One (Junior Year) blends core academics construction math, jobsite-focused career readiness, applied trades physics with foundational instruction across multiple trades, including carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and masonry. Students explore the industry broadly before committing to a path. Year Two (Senior Year) is where the classroom meets the jobsite. Students complete 144 hours of Related Technical Instruction alongside paid, on-the-job training through a registered apprenticeship with an ABC Keystone member contractor. They graduate with OSHA-10, CPR/First Aid certification, and a documented employer evaluation already a year into their apprenticeship before they ever collect a diploma. Students remain enrolled in their home school district throughout the program, earning high school credit while building a resume most college graduates would envy. The skills gap facing our industry is not a future problem it is here now, and it will only widen if we do not act. The Keystone Academy for Construction gives us a direct, scalable way to bring young people into the trades earlier, connect them to our member contractors, and build the workforce our region needs for the next generation. Leadership That Knows Both Sides of the Desk KAC is guided by a team with a combined half-century of relevant experience in the classroom, in career development, and in construction-industry business leadership. - Continued 5

Dr. Erik Orndorff, Academic Director 12+ years as a school district superintendent. Teaches core classes directly in Year One. Dr. Bob Orndorff, Career Director 35+ years in career development, including 12 years as Senior Director at Penn State. G. David Sload, Business Director President-CEO, ABC Keystone. Oversees financial sustainability, donor cultivation, and board coordination.

Dr. Erik Orndorff Academic Director

Dr. Bob Orndorff Career Director

G. David Sload Business Director

Randy Doxzon Workforce Director

Randy Doxzon, Workforce Director Coordinates between the Academic and Career Directors and the governing board; monitors state apprenticeship compliance. KAC is structured as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution, with a governing board that includes Academy leadership, school district representatives, and ABC member representatives ensuring the Academy stays accountable to the employers it exists to serve. What This Means for Your Company

KAC is not a classroom exercise. It is a workforce pipeline designed around real employer demand, and it depends on member participation to work: • Host an apprentice. Year Two students will need placements with member contractors for paid, on-the- job learning. Early commitments help KAC finalize its Year One curriculum around the trades where demand is greatest. • Shape the curriculum. ABC Keystone's contractor membership help design KAC's coursework to reflect the specific skills, credentials, and workplace competencies communication, teamwork, leadership, professionalism that member companies are hiring for today. That input doesn't stop now. • Invest in the runway. Like any new educational institution, KAC will operate at a deficit in its early years as it builds enrollment and facilities, with a credible, fully modeled path to break-even by Year 5. Donor support during these bridge years is what gets the Academy to self-sufficiency. Formal district partnership agreements, enrollment details, and volunteer and sponsorship opportunities will be shared with members in the coming months as KAC moves through its pre-launch milestones. In the meantime, member companies interested in an early conversation about hosting apprentices or supporting the Academy's launch are encouraged to contact Dave Sload directly at dave@abckeystone.org.

“Two Years at KAC. A Lifetime Advantage in the Workforce.” - Associated Builders & Contractors, Keystone Chapter

NOVEMBER 18

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Manheim Office 135 Shellyland Road Manheim, PA 17545

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE PRESENTED BY

Discover how technology is changing the way construction companies work and compete. Join industry experts, ABC Keystone members and partners from ABC National’s Tech Alliance for interactive sessions, practical insights and valuable connections. Featured keynote by Lumber: “How PA Contractors Win the AI Data Center Boom” Explore emerging construction technology and take home ideas to help your company seize new opportunities.

ABCKEYSTONE.ORG

Leadership Perspectives

ADVOCACY UPDATE BY: JIM WILLSHEIR, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, ABC KEYSTONE

Building Pennsylvania’s Future: ABC Keystone’s 2026 General Election Endorsements This may come as a surprise, but another important election is approaching. On November 3, Pennsylvanians will vote for governor, all members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives, and half of the Pennsylvania Senate. Elections give every citizen an opportunity to evaluate their elected officials and decide whether they have delivered meaningful results and demonstrated effective leadership. As we have shared through previous articles and advocacy efforts, some legislators consistently support policies that ABC Keystone believes advance Pennsylvania’s interests and reflect merit shop principles. Others have supported policies that we believe conflict with those principles and disadvantage much of Pennsylvania’s construction workforce. ABC Keystone follows a rigorous process when selecting candidates for legislative endorsement. This includes reviewing the voting records of incumbent state legislators. In races for open seats, candidates are invited to complete a policy questionnaire and participate in an interview. Following this thorough review, ABC Keystone is pleased to release its 2026 General Election Endorsement List. The list identifies candidates whose positions, leadership and commitment to free enterprise align with ABC Keystone’s priorities and the merit shop philosophy. “Our organization is committed to advocating for a level playing field in business and for construction projects to be awarded on merit to the most qualified, price-competitive contractor. We believe these endorsed candidates support the policies and values needed to expand Pennsylvania’s skilled-trades workforce and create rewarding construction careers. We believe these individuals are the leaders Pennsylvania needs at a critical time to rebuild our aging infrastructure and inspire a new generation to enter the skilled trades,” said Dave Sload, ABC Keystone President-CEO. We encourage you to review ABC Keystone’s Endorsement List as you consider your choices in November. Most importantly, make a plan to vote for the candidates you believe will best represent your interests and help build a stronger future for Pennsylvania.

ABC Keystone’s Endorsement List Governor Stacy Garrity State Senate Candidates Chris Gebhard — Senate District 48 Kristin Phillips-Hill — Senate District 28 Tom Jones (open seat) — Senate District 36 Judy Ward — Senate District 30 State House Candidates Marc Anderson — House District 92

Tom Kutz — House District 87

Mike Armanini — House District 75

Robert Leadbetter — House District 109

Scott Barger — House District 80

George Margetas — House District 196

Jamie Barton — House District 124

Steve Mentzer — House District 97

Kerry Benninghoff — House District 171

Brett Miller — House District 41

Stephanie Borowicz — House District 76

Dan Moul — House District 91

Martin Causer — House District 67

David Nissley — House District 100

Jeff Clark — House District 88

Clint Owlett — House District 68

Gary Day — House District 187

Chad Reichard — House District 90

Joe D'Orsie — House District 47

David Rowe — House District 85

Russ Diamond — House District 102

John Schlegel — House District 101

Mindy Fee – House District 37

Perry Stambaugh — House District 86

Wendy Fink — House District 94

Joanne Stehr — House District 107

Jamie Flick — House District 83

Michael Stender — House District 108

Mark Gillen — House District 128

Jesse Topper — House District 78

Barbara Gleim — House District 199

Tim Twardzik — House District 123

Keith Greiner — House District 43

Catherine Wallen — House District 193

Rich Irvin — House District 81

Eric Weaknecht — House District 5

Mike Jones—House District 93

Andrea Verobish — House District 79

Rob Kauffman — House District 89

David Zimmerman — House District 99

Dallas Kephart — House District 73 Kate Klunk — House District 169 9219

Professional Perspectives

TECH CONNECT BY: BEN HOFFERMAN, CHIEF CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE OFFICER, RKL ESOLUTIONS

From Buy-In to Breakthrough: A Better Approach to Technology Adoption The Betamax vs VHS debate offers a familiar lesson. The best technology does not always win; the technology people adopt does. In construction, a simple tool employees use consistently can deliver more value than sophisticated automation they resist, misunderstand or bypass. Consider a mobile daily-log form that foremen can complete from the jobsite in minutes. It may initially outperform a comprehensive reporting platform that tracks labor, materials and production but is too cumbersome for crews to use correctly. Still, “adoption beats automation” presents a false choice. Why Change Takes Time Technology can be implemented quickly; changing established behavior takes longer. Construction teams work under demanding schedules, thin margins and changing field conditions. When a platform adds unnecessary steps or conflicts with field operations, employees create workarounds. Contractors should therefore invest in training, process redesign, field support and accountability not just software. Successful automation must also be a team effort. Before automating a process, leaders should ask: • What operational problems are we solving? • Which steps add value? • Who provides the information and acts on the output? • How will the process fit into field operations? • What measurable result will define success? Without this discipline, automation may simply make a poor process run faster. Adoption Alone is not Enough Adoption alone, however, cannot solve construction’s skilled labor, productivity and safety challenges. Robotic layout, automated equipment, prefabrication and modular construction can expand production capacity when qualified workers are unavailable. Drones, sensors and autonomous equipment can remove workers from hazardous situations rather than relying entirely on individual behavior. Automation Behind the Scenes Automation also creates value behind the scenes through invoice routing, payroll validation, job-cost updates, compliance tracking and variance alerts. These processes can scale without proportional administrative hiring while improving consistency, controls and audit trails. 10

Adoption Does Not Fix a Weak Process High usage does not necessarily mean high value. A widely adopted system may still institutionalize duplicate entry or inefficient workflows. Success should be measured through outcomes such as hours saved, shorter cycle times, reduced rework, improved safety, stronger schedule performance and higher margins. Identify the Bottleneck, Solve the Problem The better principle is straightforward: Solve the right operational problem, automate where it creates measurable value and design the solution so people can use it successfully. Start with the workflow—not the technology. Involve the people closest to the work, eliminate unnecessary steps and define the desired outcome. When technology solves a meaningful problem, automation and adoption reinforce each other.

Do you have a Professional Perspective that you would like to share? To submit an aritcle for Tech Connect, Ask An Accountant or Ask An Attorney please contact: Rebecca Wolf | rebecca@abckeystone.org (717) 653-8106

921191

HANDS ON, HANDED DOWN: MELISSA TURANO'S FULL CIRCLE BY: KIM LAM, DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER, ABC KEYSTONE

ABC Keystone plumbing instructor Melissa Turano did not plan a career in the trades. She saw an opportunity and took it before she felt ready. Now she teaches the apprentices coming up behind her. The Flyer in the Lobby Melissa Turano was working as a Property Management Technician at Target at the time. She was not looking for plumbing. She was looking for a career, and for something hard enough to be worth doing. The flyer was for the ABC Keystone Apprenticeship program, and she picked plumbing for exactly that reason.

plumbing jobs. The first company that gave her an opportunity, she took it. The Jobsite Was Nothing Like She Pictured "I knew almost nothing about plumbing. I thought I'd be installing toilets, fixing sinks, and learning as I went," she said. "Instead, I showed up to a jobsite with dirt, trenches, underground piping, and barely a building in sight. I felt completely lost," said Melissa.

"I chose plumbing because I wanted a challenge and a career," she said.

It was underground work, before there was much of a building to speak of, with a crew that had no particular reason to take her in yet. "The mornings were dark and cold, the work was hard, and everyone mostly kept to themselves," she said. She calls it a rough introduction to the trades.

She took the entrance exam, then learned apprentices need to work for an ABC member company. So she immediately started applying for

This is the part of the apprenticeship story that usually gets skipped. The first months are not a montage. They are early alarms, unfamiliar work, and the slow

realization that the job you signed up for has more to it than you knew. It is also where a lot of people decide the trade is not for them.

What She Tells Her Apprentices Ask what she wants her students to understand, and the first answer is not technical.

For the ones who stay, it is where the picture of the work gets set. For Melissa, the person setting it was a foreman named Chuck.

"Advocate for yourself," she said. Learn to communicate. Learn to work with different personalities. "Your perspective has value, even when you are the least experienced person in the room." And ask questions, she said, "because you don't know what you don't know."

Someone Decided To Teach Her Chuck had been in plumbing for more than 20 years. She had heard apprentices could spend years doing mindless work. Chuck ran it differently. "He never made me feel like I had to prove I belonged there before he was willing to teach me," she said. "He answered every question, gave me the same opportunities he gave the other apprentices, and trusted me with more as my skills grew." The distinction she draws matters: "He made sure I was learning, being challenged, and becoming a plumber, not just working beside one." The Conversation In The Hallway "Teaching was never part of my plan," she said. Melissa was at ABC Keystone for a training when Randy Doxzon, her former plumbing instructor, now VP of Workforce and Apprenticeship, stopped her in the hallway and told her there was an instructor position open. "I laughed it off at first because I didn't think I had enough experience," she said. "But I've never been one to turn away from a challenge or an opportunity to grow." So Melissa applied. Same instinct as the flyer in the lobby, years later. Coming back made sense to her. She had sat in that classroom as a student learning from Randy, and had gone on to take part in women's events, panels, media, and Girls Camp. She knew the leadership and the culture, so the role felt natural rather than like starting over. She has since started a monthly peer support group at the chapter for apprentices and employees of member companies. "I am fortunate to have people who give me opportunities and push me when I am ready for more," Melissa said. "I want to be that person for the apprentices coming behind me."

Melissa also pushes back on the idea that construction means one jobsite for forty years. She heard that version of her own future more than once. "I had people tell me what my life in the trades was going to look like, and every time, I refused to accept someone else's version of my future." "The trade taught me more than plumbing," she said. "It taught me pride, teamwork, communication, and how to adapt when things don't go as planned. You never know where those skills will take you. Stay curious, stay open-minded, and don't put yourself in a box." Hands on, handed down This is what the September theme is describing. Not a slogan about tradition, but a working pipeline. A flyer in an apartment lobby leads to a jobsite. A foreman decides to teach instead of assign. An instructor mentions an opening in a hallway. A few years later, the apprentice is the one at the front of the classroom, watching for the student who needs what she needed. The opportunities were there the whole time. Melissa's version of the lesson is that they only count if you step toward them. 921193

FALL

NO-COST EVENT Bring a Colleague!

Labor Law Update: Back to the Future (Again?) Labor shortages and pressures. Regulatory Compliance challenges. RCOs and PLAs. While these issues aren’t new, the ever-changing construction environment in 2026 is, and ABC Keystone’s Fall Wake-up Calls will review and address the following critical elements:

7:30 am - 9:00 am

OCT

Southeast Region (Camp Hill) Boyer & Ritter LLC Camp Hill, PA Thank you to Event Sponsor and Host Venue

• What is the current union organizing climate? • How might this be impacted by large projects like data centers? • Will the new Trump NLRB reverse the pro-union decisions of the Biden Board?

7:30 am - 9:00 am

OCT

• What are the potential labor law impacts of the November election?

Thank you to Host Venue

• How can merit shop employers address potential organizing activity? • What steps should we take NOW to prepare? Presenter: Tom Davies McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC

No-cost to attend! Registration is required.

North Region (Northumberland) Zartman Construction, Inc. Northumberland, PA

7:30 am - 9:00 am

NOV

Southwest Region Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. Altoona, PA Thank you to Event Sponsor and Host Venue

7:30 am - 9:00 am

NOV

Southeast Region (Manheim) ABC Keystone Manheim, PA Thank you to Event Sponsor

921195

2026 Verified STEP Participants Assurance Media, LLC

DeRock Electric Company

B&B Integrations

Detwiler Roofing

Benchmark Construction Co., Inc.

Dolan Construction, Inc.

Brubaker

E.R. Stuebner, Inc.

C Mechanical Services

EA Roofing Co.

C.M. High, Inc.

Easy Does It Drywall, Inc.

Capital Coating, Inc.

EG Stoltzfus Construction, LLC

CB Construction Services, Inc.

Flow Mechanical, LLC

CCS Building Group

Flyway Excavating, Inc.

Clark Contractors, Inc.

Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc.

CLARK, Inc.

Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc.

CMC, Inc.

Gorski Engineering, Inc.

Commonwealth Fire Protection Co.

H&K Group, Inc.

Conewago Enterprises, Inc.

Hayden Power Group

Conewago Manufacturing, LLC

High Construction Company

Conexus, Inc.

Hursh Painting Co., Inc.

James Craft & Son, Inc.

J.F. Sobieski Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

D.E. Gemmill, Inc.

JEM Group, LLC

DenTech Industrial

Take the first STEP! Apply Today! WWW.ABC.ORG/ABCSTEP 16

As verified by ABC National as of October 2026

Get More Out of Your Health and Safety Program

John E. Fullerton, Inc.

Quarry View Building Group

Johnston Construction Company

S&S Structures, Inc.

Kessel Construction, Inc.

Scenic Ridge Company

Keystruct Construction, A Viocity Company

Schlouch Incorporated

Lancaster County Timber Frames, Inc.

SLC Excavating, LLC

Lebanon Valley Electric, Inc.

Smucker Company

Leer Electric, Inc.

Speedwell Construction, Inc.

Leo Kob Co., Inc.

Susquehanna Valley Construction Corp.

Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.

Tabora Painting, LLC

LEW Site Construction, LLC

The Tri-M Group, LLC

M. Potteiger, Inc.

The Tuckey Companies

Martins Flooring

The Witmer Group

Moses B. Glick, LLC

Vision Mechanical, Inc.

MVE Group

Wagman Construction, Inc.

MYCO Mechanical, Inc.

Warfel Construction Company

Nyce Construction Services, Inc.

Wenrich Painting, Inc.

Paramount Contracting, Inc.

White Rose Interiors, LLC

Paul Risk Construction

Wickersham Construction and Engineering, Inc.

Pincus Elevator Company, Inc.

Wohlsen Construction Company

Poole Anderson Construction, LLC

Zartman Construction, Inc.

Quality Buildings, LLC

Zebby Sulecki, Inc.

Quandel Enterprises, LLC

Zook Interiors, LLC

131713

OCTOBER

EVENTS, COURSES & TRAINING

10/5

EVENTS, COURSES & TRAINING

First Aid/CPR/AED with Emergency Care & Safety Institute Certification

Starts 10/5 Dynamic Crew Leadership: Empowering Foreman, Superintendents & Project Managers 10/7

Southeast Regional Fall Construction Wake-up Call (Camp Hill) MEMBER Thank you to Event Sponsor & EVENT Host Venue Boyer & Ritter LLC! Camp Hill, PA

10/8

Excel® Intermediate – Module 2

10/8

AI Workshop

FREE MEMBER WORKSHOP

Starts 10/12 STP: Communications Part of the Superintendent Training Program Starts 10/13 Medical Gas and Vacuum Piping Systems: Installers Certification Course ASSE 6010 10/13 North Fall Construction Wake-up Call (Northumberland) Thank you to Host Venue Zartman Construction, Inc.! Northumberland, PA

MEMBER EVENT

10/13 Taking Charge: Self & Time Management Part of the Leadership Development Series Starts 10/14 Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) 8 & 16-Hour Certificate Courses 10/15 Executive Leader Contractor Peer Group 10/15 VitalCog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace 10/15 Excel® Advanced – Module 3 18

OCTOBER

10/16 Arc Flash & Energized Electrical Work Safety

MEMBER SEMINAR

10/19 Senator Scott Martin Luncheon Register by contacting terri@abckeystone.org 10/19 First Aid/CPR/AED with Emergency Care & Safety Institute Certification 10/21 CQM-Certificate Testing 10/21 HRMA 8: Conducting Investigations, Disciplining, & Terminating Employees Part of the Human Resources Management Academy 10/22 Total Human Health Symposium Manheim, PA 10/22 Microsoft Project Introduction 10/22 Bluebeam® Launch Webinar 10/27 Rough-Terrain Forklift Training Starts 10/28 Advanced Blueprint Reading 10/28 Davis Bacon Prevailing Wage: Fact or Fiction Seminar Starts 10/29 OSHA 10-Hour Construction Starts 10/29 OSHA 30-Hour Construction 10/30 Essential Rigging & Crane Signaling Practices

MEMBER SEMINAR

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER

EVENTS, COURSES & TRAINING

11/3

Southwest Fall Construction Wake-up Call (Altoona) Thank you to Event Sponsor and Host Venue Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.! Altoona, PA

EVENTS, COURSES & TRAINING

MEMBER EVENT

11/5

VitalCog: Understanding and Addressing Substance Use Disorders in the Workplace

11/5

37th Annual Excellence in Construction Awards Manheim, PA

11/6

Field Supervisor Safety Skills – Your Role in Driving This Bus

11/9

First Aid/CPR/AED with Emergency Care & Safety Institute Certification

11/10

Southeast Fall Construction Wake-up Call (Manheim) Thank you to Event Sponsor RKL! Manheim, PA

MEMBER SEMINAR

11/18

Construction Technology Conference Presented by Everound, LLC Manheim, PA

11/19

VitalCog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace

11/19

Bluebeam® Basics Material Takeoffs & Estimates Part of the Bluebeam Series

MEMBER SEMINAR

11/20 Bluebeam® Basics Advance Material Takeoffs & Estimates Part of the Bluebeam Series 11/24 Bluebeam® for Administrative Professionals

MEMBER EVENT

11/10

Setting & Achieving GOALS Part of the Leadership Development Series

11/10

Construction Estimating Principles and Application

11/11

Human Resources Contractor Peer Group

11/12

Reading Construction Documents

11/13

Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) Training

11/17

Bluebeam® Baseline Basics Part of the Bluebeam Series

11/17

Employee Relations and Engagement Part of the Human Resources Management Academy

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS SVZ Power, LLC Russ Zaytsev, Partner/Sales

Reliable General Contracting Dan Kaplan, Owner

137 Henson Drive Lyman, SC 29365

22 Country Club Road Limerick, PA 19468

(717) 682-5321

(484) 752-6571

www.svzpower.com

www.reliablegeneralcontracting.com

Sponsored by: Aimée Deraco, Brubaker

Adamstown | Mohnton 20

TwoRoads Strategy Beth Meiklejohn, Principal

MERIT SHOP PROUD QUANDEL ENTERPRISES WELCOMES PATRICK HART AS CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF SAFETY Quandel has welcomed Patrick “Pat” Hart as Corporate Director of Safety, bringing an experienced construction safety leader, trainer and former first responder to the organization. Hart will lead Quandel’s safety and risk management program across the family of companies, providing strategic direction for safety culture, policies, training and risk management while working closely with safety representatives and operations teams across the organization. A strong field presence will be central to Hart’s leadership. He will work alongside safety representatives and project teams on jobsite audits and inspections, preconstruction safety planning, corrective actions and projectspecific safety needs, while remaining visible and accessible to employees in the field.

Pat Hart Corporate Director of Safety

Hart joins Quandel with more than a decade of construction safety leadership experience. Most recently, he served as Safety Director for a Maryland construction firm, leading jobsite safety management, employee training, inspections, job hazard analyses, incident investigations, and risk management initiatives. Training has also been a significant part of Hart’s career. An adjunct professor since 2018, he has taught OSHA, CPR, First Aid and AED courses and holds numerous safety and trainer credentials. These include Certified Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Construction Safety and Health Specialist and Advanced Safety certifications, as well as credentials covering OSHA 10 and 30, fall protection, confined spaces, scaffolding, trenching and excavation and other areas of construction safety. Before entering construction safety, Hart served with the Baltimore City Fire Department as a firefighter paramedic, EMT-paramedic and pump operator. His first-responder experience brings an additional perspective to risk assessment, emergency preparedness, training, and decision-making in the field. “Safety is part of how we operate and a responsibility we all share,” said Greg Quandel, President and CEO of Quandel Enterprises. “Pat brings the leadership, field experience, and ability to connect with people that will help us continue strengthening that culture across our organization. His background in construction safety, training, and emergency response gives him a unique perspective on how to identify risk, prepare our teams, and respond when it matters. He understands that safety must be both practical and proactive, supporting our teams where the work gets done and helping everyone take responsibility for their own safety and the people working beside them.” Hart’s leadership will support Quandel’s continued focus on strengthening safety across its companies and jobsites and reinforce the organization’s longstanding commitment to Safety: First. Last. Always! and the responsibility shared by every employee to send people home safely at the end of each day.

#ABCMeritShopProud

For inclusion in future issues of the Merit Shop Spokesman, please send your press releases to: Rebecca Wolf | rebecca@abckeystone.org (717) 653-8106 21

MERIT SHOP PROUD WALZ GROUP CELEBRATES LEADERSHIP GROWTH Walz Group is proud to recognize two of our leaders, Robin Davis and Ryan Fisher, for their recent accomplishments and their work to grow our Specialty Tax Services. Robin Davis Named a 2026 Forty Under 40 Honoree Robin Davis, Tax Partner and Tax Department Leader, was recently named a 2026 Central Penn Business Journal Forty Under 40 honoree. The recognition celebrates professionals making an impact in their careers and communities, and we are proud to see Robin included among this year’s honorees. Along with leading our Tax Department, Robin has been working with Ryan Fisher to expand Walz Group’s Specialty Tax Services, including Cost Segregation Studies, Predominant Use Studies, and R&D Tax Credit Studies. As Tax Department Leader, Robin plays an important role in guiding the direction of our tax team and helping ensure Walz Group continues to bring strategic, forward-thinking solutions to the businesses we serve.

Robin Davis Tax Partner and Tax Department Leader

Ryan Fisher Promoted at Walz Group Walz Group is also excited to recognize Ryan Fisher on his recent promotion to Manager in the Tax Department. Ryan continues to grow within the firm and has taken the lead in developing our Specialty Tax Services. Ryan has coordinated much of this initiative while also educating staff on the process, available services, and related credits. He works directly with business and property owners to provide an initial complimentary analysis and determine whether a specialized study could make sense for them. From purchasing or renovating a building to investing in equipment or developing new processes, these studies can uncover tax savings tied to investments businesses are already making. Ryan’s leadership in this area reflects Walz Group’s continued focus on expanding the tax services and resources available to business owners as they invest in and grow their companies.

TOTAL HUMAN HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

Ryan Fisher Tax Department Manager

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UNITED ELECTRIC SUPPLY EARNS TOP WORKPLACE RECOGNITION United Electric Supply (United) has been named a Top Workplace 2026 by The Delaware News Journal. This recognition reflects the company's continued commitment to fostering a workplace culture built on employee ownership, collaboration, and shared success. The Top Workplaces award is based on employee feedback gathered through a confidential thirdparty survey. The survey measures key drivers of organizational success, including employees' feelings of being respected and supported, enabled to grow, and empowered to execute. "Earning Top Workplace recognition from The Delaware News Journal reflects the experience our employeeowners create across the organization," said Lindsey Cropper, Chief Human Resources Officer, United Electric Supply. "We are committed to fostering an environment where people can develop their skills, contribute in meaningful ways, and build rewarding careers. This recognition is a testament to the workplace our employeeowners help create every day." “This recognition reflects the strength of our employee-owned culture and the commitment of our employeeowners," said Tony Buonocore, President & CEO, United Electric Supply. "Our team’s dedication to supporting each other, delivering value to customers, and pursuing continuous improvement has been instrumental to our success and will continue to drive our future growth.” United’s continuous recognition as a top workplace from USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Delaware News Journal, The Baltimore Sun, and WTOP News reflects the company’s commitment to fostering an environment where employee-owners can thrive. Through a workplace built on accountability, teamwork, communication, and continuous learning, employee-owners are empowered to contribute to the company’s success while developing their skills and advancing their careers.

37th Annual

Excellence in Construction Awards

NOVEMBER 5, 2026 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Spooky Nook Sports Manheim, Pennsylvania SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE!

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MERIT SHOP PROUD LAUREN P. HAND, FORMER THIRD CIRCUIT AND PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT CLERK, JOINS SAXTON & STUMP Saxton & Stump is pleased to announce that Lauren P. Hand has joined the firm as an associate in its Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions group in the Pittsburgh office. Lauren brings a distinguished record of appellate and judicial clerkship experience at the federal and state levels to her litigation practice. Lauren's clerkship experience began with a judicial internship for the Honorable Yvette Kane on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She then served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable David N. Wecht on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Following that, Lauren served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Cindy K. Chung on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. “Lauren's clerkship experience is exceptional,” said James W. Saxton, chairman of Saxton & Stump. “She has seen litigation from the bench at both the federal appellate and state supreme court levels, and that perspective is an incredible asset to our clients and our Business Litigation team.” Lauren's earlier legal experience includes work as a Summer Associate at a regional law firm, where she supported the firm's business, real estate, employment, and litigation practice groups; a Legal Extern with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, focusing on state environmental regulation; and an IOLTA Fellow with the Community Justice Project. Lauren is a graduate of Gettysburg College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish, summa cum laude, and Penn State Dickinson Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, graduating fourth in her class. Outside of her legal practice, Lauren serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Community for Pittsburgh Ultimate.

FIRST AID/CPR/AED TRAINING with Emergency Care & Safety Institute

CERTIFICATION

OCT 19

12 PM - 4 PM

NOV 9

12 PM - 4 PM

DEC 1

12 PM - 4 PM

JAN 8

12 PM - 4 PM

FEB 1

12 PM - 4 PM

SCAN TO REGISTER!

ABCKEYSTONE.ORG

BUILD YOUR TEAM WITH ABC Strength Starts With Your Workforce ABC Keystone helps contractors build skilled, compliant workforces through registered apprenticeship. We provide the guidance and support you need to succeed—now and into the future.

Grow and Develop Your Workforce with ABC Keystone.

Create your own workforce through formalized training.

Increase productivity, safety & profits.

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To learn more about how ABC Keystone can help build your workforce for today and tomorrow contact Randy Doxzon at randy@abckeystone.org.

MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES Congratulations to these members celebrating milestone anniversaries in October 2026! 65 YEARS James Craft & Son, Inc. 55 YEARS The Witmer Group 45 YEARS Dolan Construction, Inc. 40 YEARS Tri-Boro Materials, Inc. 25 YEARS H2, LLC 20 YEARS Corl Communications, Inc. 5 YEARS Triple Crown Corporation PaulB Hardware Reynolds Restoration Services, Inc. 1 YEAR Elizabethtown Area School District Ville Painters ServiceTitan King Concrete, LLC Semmel Excavating, LLC Hubric Resources

2026 C.O.R.E. SPONSORS DIAMOND SPONSOR

SAPPHIRE SPONSORS

PREMIER SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

Aerotek, Inc. Assurance Media, LLC Barley Snyder Cargas Systems, Inc. Commonwealth Fire Protection Co.

SILVER SPONSORS Associated Products Services, Inc. Brown Plus emc CPAs Fulton Bank D.E. Gemmill, Inc.

BRONZE SPONSORS David Miller/Associates, Inc. ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC

EHD Garrety Glass, Inc. Horst Construction Co. Hursh Painting Co., Inc. Martins Flooring

McNees Wallace & Nurick, LLC Poole Anderson Construction, LLC M. Potteiger, Inc. Providence Engineering RKL

S&T Bank Saul Ewing LLP Smucker Company Trout CPA

Leer Electric, Inc. MPB Insurance & Risk Management Paramount Contracting, Inc. Remco Inc. Vision Mechanical, Inc. The Witmer Group

Want to learn more about C.O.R.E? Visit ABCKEYSTONE.ORG or contact Laura Chanoski at laura@abckeystone.org.

135 Shellyland Road Manheim, PA 17545

BREAKFAST MIXER

DECEMBER 10 | 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM • Savor a seasonal breakfast • Network with industry peers • Share insights on construction • Test your holiday trivia skills!

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