ABC Pelican is one of 67 chapters of a national construction industry trade association representing more than 23,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy in 1980, the Pelican Chapter helps our members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, profitably, and for the betterment of the communities in which we work.
Merit Shop is a way of doing business in which companies reward employees based on performance and encourage them to reach their highest level of achievement, and in which contracts are awarded based on safety, quality and value, regardless of labor affiliation.
MERIT SHOP MESSAGE
Spring 2025
Editorial/Design
Macie Morgan
Writers & Contributors
Brenna LeMaire
John Cassagne
David Helveston LWCC
Table of Contents
2025 Events Calendar 03
Letter from the Chair 04
Health & Safety Alliance 06
Letter from the President 07
Meet the 2025 Board 08
Spring Events 10
Groundbreaking 21
New Members 23
Chair
John Cassagne
MMR Constructors
Chair-Elect
Michelle Hardy Turner Industries
Secretary Wes Mincin Performance Contractors
Treasurer Ben Brown Turner Industries
Vice Chair Education
Ben Fromenthal
MMR Constructors
Vice Chair
Membership Growth
Adam Landry PALA - Interstate
Vice Chair Member Services
Lance Arvel EXCEL
Vice Chair Governmental Relations
Shane Kirkpatrick Group Contractors
Vice Chair Outlying Area
John Freeman Brown & Root
DIRECTORS
Jeremiah Johnson Louisiana CAT
Andrew Thompson ISC Constructors
Josh Zumo Cajun Industries
Lance Glaser Performance Contractors
Danny Campbell Triad Electric & Controls
Daniel Williams MAPP
Matthew Allen MMR Constructors
Alternate Board Members:
Tyler Moore Moore Industries
Legal Counsel: Murphy J. Foster, III Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP
› 7: YP Day at the Capital/Grow Coalition Industry Reception
› 14: Women In Construction Luncheon
› 21: New Member Orientation
› 29-30: SW Fishing Tournament
SEPTEMBER
› 10: YP + Past Chair Meet & Greet
› 15: Fall Golf Tournament
JUNE
› 11-13: ABCLA Fishing Rodeo (Grand Isle)
› 22-25: ABC National Legislative Week (D.C.)
MARCH
› 12: Lafayette Member Mixer: UL Baseball Game
› 14: Spring Golf Tournament
› 18: SWTC Area Competition/Jamb alaya Cookoff
› 25-26: ABC Pelican Health and Safety Leadership Forum
APRIL
› 3: Southwest Build Your Future & Crawfish Boil
› 10: BR Crawfish Boil
› 10: BRTC High School Craft Competition
› 16: YP Political Event
› 29: SW Membership Lunch and SWTC Groundbreaking
JULY
› 21-23: ABCLA State Convention (Fairhope, AL)
AUGUST
› 04: BRTC/SWTC Fall Semester Begins
› 05: Uncommon Leadership Kickoff Lunch
› 12: Lake Charles Member Mixer
› 14: YP Lunch and Learn
› 20: ICC/Membership Breakfast
OCTOBER
› 16: Clay Shoot (Lafayette)
› 23: BR Build Your Future/Jambalaya Cookoff
NOVEMBER
› 7: Southwest Golf Tournament
› 19: New Member Orientation
DECEMBER
› 4: EIC + STEP Awards Banquet
› 11: YP Christmas Party
To register for events, visit www.abcpelican.org or contact Brooke Taylor at btaylor@abcpelican.com or 225.753.2497.
ABC Pelican events are for members ONLY. For more information about joining ABC, visit www.abcpelican.org ABC Pelican reserves the right to change, cancel or postpone events, as necessary.
A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
By: John Cassagne, MMR Constructors 2025 ABC Pelican Chairman of the Board
What a great first quarter of 2025!
This year is off to a strong start, ABC Pelican Training Centers are in full swing with classes with almost 1,500 students enrolled between the Baton Rouge and Southwest Training Centers. Since January fourteen new members have joined the ABC Pelican Chapter, bringing our membership total to 310. The events team has hosted eight events so far with many more to come (see events calendar on page three). Carson, ABC of Louisiana lobbyist, is preparing for the 2025 Louisiana Legislative Session. Session will convene at noon on Monday, April 14 and final adjournment will be no later than 6pm on Thursday, June 12. I am excited to see what the rest of the year holds and look forward to serving you as your 2025 chairman of the board.
As many of you know, ABC Pelican has dreamt of opening a new training center in southwest, Louisiana for many years… and I am proud to say our dreams are finally coming true! Sitework began on the new training center in December of 2024 with plans to have a completed training center by fall of 2026. On April 29, we hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking to commemorate the start of the construction of the new training center.
While we are talking about Southwest, I wanted to recognize the Southwest crew for hosting their first graduation ceremony since before COVID. Approximately 60 students from the spring 2024 and fall 2024 semesters received recognition at the February graduation ceremony. The Southwest training center also hosted their annual Build Your Future Day, and I think it might have been the biggest one yet! Over 600 students from local schools piled into the West Cal Arena to learn about careers in construction from 40+ ABC Pelican members and local plants.
The Baton Rouge Training Center hasn’t slowed down either. The spring 2025 semester is off to a great start! The BRTC hosted their annual
graduation ceremony in January. 187 students received recognition for their hard work. Congratulations to these students! In February, the Baton Rouge Training Center sent 5 craft students to compete at the ABC National Craft Competition. While no medals were brought home this year, we are still extremely proud of these students and their dedication to their craft.
Speaking of National Convention, the LSU CM Team made the top 10 list in the ABC National Construction Management Competition for the first time since 2019, placing them in 8th place out of 35 teams. We are so proud of their hard work! The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL) also sent a team for the first time ever to the construction management competition. While they did not place this year, we look forward to seeing them improve and place next year.
This year is in full swing, and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. I want all members of ABC Pelican to know how honored I am to Chair the Board of Directors this year and I promise to serve this great association to the best of my abilities. It’s been a wonderful first quarter and many more exciting things are on the horizon. ABC Pelican’s Board is energetic, ambitious, and looking forward to making things happen in 2025!
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S t r u c t u r a l S t e e l a n d
E q u i p m e n t S e t t i n g
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ABC Health and Safety Alliance FAQ
1. What is the ABC Health and Safety Alliance?
The ABC Health and Safety Alliance encompasses all ABC health and safety programs, including the ABC STEP® Health and Safety Management System, the Total Human Health Initiative, the ABC Health and Safety Leadership Forum, the Health and Safety Performance Report and the National Health and Safety Excellence Awards.
Members do not have to be an alliance member to participate in the above programs, but members do need to participate in STEP to be an alliance member.
2. How is the Health and Safety Alliance different from earning a STEP certificate?
Health and Safety Alliance:
• Members receive an annual Health and Safety Alliance membership certificate after submitting their performance data through the STEP self-assessment portal each year.
STEP Certificate:
• Measures and recognizes a specific STEP performance level for the previous year only.
3. Can a member participate in both the Alliance and STEP?
Yes. By participating in STEP, companies become a member of the ABC Health and Safety Alliance.
4. How do members receive both their Health and Safety Alliance and STEP certificates?
Data Submission: Members must enter their health and safety data through the STEP self-assessment portal to receive either certificate.
5. What are the benefits of joining the ABC Health and Safety Alliance?
• Continuous recognition
• Ongoing support
• Peer acknowledgment
• Industry recognition
7. Where can members recieve more information?
Reach out to Joe Xavier at xavier@abc.org for additional resources, guidelines or assistance with STEP and the ABC Health and Safety Alliance.
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
By: David Helveston CEO/President of ABC Pelican
As we welcome the renewal and energy that spring brings, I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your continued dedication to the merit shop philosophy and to share a few highlights from the Pelican Chapter’s recent efforts and what lies ahead.
Our industry continues to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and a commitment to excellence, and that spirit has been reflected in everything we’ve accomplished so far this year. From robust training programs to impactful advocacy efforts, we remain focused on supporting our members and strengthening Louisiana’s construction workforce.
This spring, we are proud to report significant progress in our workforce development initiatives. Enrollment in our training programs has grown, and we’ve expanded our outreach to high schools and community partners to attract the next generation of craft professionals. It’s clear that the future of construction is bright—and it’s being built right here in our community.
We also continue to be strong advocates at the national, state and local levels, promoting policies that protect free enterprise and support the growth of our industry. With a busy legislative season underway, our lobbyist, Carson DeLarue, is actively working to ensure your voice is heard at every level of government.
We have had a very busy first quarter, with many events under our belt already. We are looking forward to hosting more, including the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new, long-awaited, Southwest Training Center, more golf tournaments, fishing tournaments and of course our annual convention. These opportunities allow industry to come together, share knowledge and celebrate the incredible work being done across our membership.
I’m proud of all we’ve achieved so far this year, and even more excited for what’s ahead. Thank you for your trust, your engagement, and your unwavering commitment to our mission.
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEET OUR 2025 ABC PELICAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair
John Cassagne
MMR Constructors
Chair-Elect
Michelle Hardy Turner Industries
Secretary Wes Mincin
Performance Contractors
Treasurer Ben Brown
Turner Industries
Vice Chair Education
Ben Fromenthal
MMR Constructors
Vice Chair
Membership Growth
Adam Landry
PALA - Interstate
Vice Chair Member Services
Lance Arvel
EXCEL
Vice Chair Governmental Relations
Shane Kirkpatrick Group Contractors
Vice Chair Outlying Area
John Freeman
Brown & Root
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeremiah Johnson
Louisiana CAT
Andrew Thompson
ISC Constructors
Josh Zumo
Cajun Industries
Lance Glaser Performance Contractors
Danny Campbell Triad Electric & Controls
Daniel Williams MAPP
Matthew Allen MMR Constructors
Alternate Board Members: Tyler Moore Moore Industries
BUILDING BETTER
AT EVERY SCALE
This past year has been a powerful testament to a simple truth: excellence is measured by commitment, not project scale. From $100,000 upgrades to $100 million mega-projects, Performance Contractors delivers uncompromising quality across every endeavor—proving that precision knows no boundaries.
Our recent Eagle Award wins aren’t just accolades; they’re chapters in our ongoing story of industrial construction mastery. Each project exemplifies our dedication to innovation, safety, and unparalleled quality.
These aren’t just projects. They’re proof that when Performance Contractors steps in, scale becomes irrelevant. Whether your project is a whisper or a roar, we bring the same extra-focused expertise, the same protective instinct, the same relentless pursuit of excellence.
We’re not just contractors. We’re your partners—unlocking possibilities, protecting potential, delivering beyond expectations.
SPRING SEASON EVENTS
SPRING SEASON EVENTS
SPRING SEASON EVENTS
SPRING SEASON EVENTS
SPRING SEASON EVENTS
HTB
Audit + Assurance
Tax Planning + Preparation
Mergers + Acquisitions Due Diligence
Outsourced Accounting
Business Valuations
SPRING SEASON EVENTS
SPRING SEASON EVENTS
SPRING SEASON EVENTS
YOUR PARTNER IN THE DIRT
SALES • RENTALS • SERVICE • PARTS
For nearly two centuries, John Deere has led the way in building dependable construction and forestry machines. At Doggett, we carry that tradition forward across our 16 locations in Texas and Louisiana— delivering the equipment, service and uptime support professionals count on to keep projects running smoothly.
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE ABC PELICAN CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
ABC Pelican hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for our brand new, state-of-the art, Construction Education Center of Excellence. The new Southwest Training Center is aimed at equipping individuals with the kills needed for careers in construction. As always, this initiative is part of a broader effort to address the skilled labor shortage in the construction industry by providing accessible, hands-ion training opportunities.
This new facility will serve as a hub for skilled trades education and workforce development, supporting the future of Louisiana’s construction industry.
The new training center features over 37,000 square feet of classrooms, labs and meeting spaces for industry and other ABC supporters to use. More than 13,000 square feet of this new space will be used as a hands-on training space. This hands-on training space will house an 8,350 square foot welding lab with 80 welding booths.
Along with the hands-on space, there will also be 12 classrooms and multiple labs for electrical, instrumentation, pipefitting and millwright training. We have also included a training yard for heavy equipment and mobile crane as well as a Process Equipment Training Plant.
Along with the multiple educational spaces, the new facility will house a large conference center with flex spaces and an executive conference room for industry use.
We have hopes that this facility will shape the lives of many construction craft professionals for years to come. If you are interested in being a part of this momentous new building, please contact the ABC Pelican offices or training centers for more information.
