By Mitch DeBlois, Chairman
I am honored to be your chair and look forward to the opportunity to meet, listen, and know you better. We are here to serve you, guide you through any challenges you may have, and listen to suggestions and solutions on improving as an industry. When we all lean in, we create an environment that supports everyone.
We want to thank Tawnya Brown, our outgoing chair, for her leadership and support over the past two years. Tawnya has been a great team member and we look forward to her continued leadership and support as past chair.
We have a great staff with Hope and Tami, and our board of directors and our committee chairs are ready to help. I am happy to report that Dan Coffey of Cianbro has accepted the co-chair position for 2021 and 2022.
I also want to thank my wife Peggy and team members at DeBlois Electric for their support in allowing me the opportunity to be your incoming chair.
We can all agree that COVID has made 2020 a challenging year. Amazingly, we all came together through meetings, workshops, and seminars to support each other through these times of uncertainty. We all leaned in, and with your support, we continue to hold our industry together.
ABC Maine helped each of us weather the pandemic’s storm, with ongoing assistance navigating protocols and requirements to keep our employees and worksites safe.
ABC Maine helped each of us weather the pandemic’s storm, with ongoing assistance navigating protocols and requirements to keep our employees and worksites safe. The chapter remains strong with 175 members. ABC Maine stayed active throughout 2020 in local, state and federal government affairs, keeping us all notified of important issues affecting our businesses.
ABC’s mission was founded on the merit shop philosophy, to help members develop people, win work, and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work.
Here are some of our strategic goals for 2021. Let’s think carefully about what each of us can do to lean in, be proactive, and work together starting in the first quarter of 2021.
- Environmental Health, Safety and Workforce Development are working to create and develop a safe and healthy construction workplace for the state of Maine.
- Increase Step participation from 27% to 35%
- Virtual trade event for students — We were happy to have our first virtual trade event on Nov. 19, 2020, and it was received well. We are planning another one in the first quarter of 2021.
- Increase Cents for CTE by $10,000
- Develop a strategy to help guide and facilitate an apprenticeship program to implement within your company.
- Offer training and OSHA certifications
- The Membership Committee is committed to building relationships with ABC members and providing the opportunity to grow ABC’s membership.
- Retaining our current members
- Increasing membership to 200 by 2022
- We have created a new subcommittee, Social Media/Marketing, to execute a strategy to communicate and promote ABC Maine’s mission in the industry. We are looking to recruit members for this subcommittee.
- Continue to be creative on networking opportunities.
- Government Affairs works for ABC to become the industry leader by speaking for/against legislation that can impact our employees, projects, businesses, and communities.
- Increase PAC donations
- Create a strategy to reach policymakers with our mission and goals.
As part of ABC National Cares, I am happy to announce that ABC Maine’s charitable recipient will be the Boys and Girls Club of Maine this coming year. This is a state-wide organization that supports underserved children with safe places to learn, have fun, and develop skills and interests.
Lastly, our challenge is to lean in and add value, people first. I will be reaching out to you to set up an in-person or virtual meeting to learn about your company, what you are passionate about and how we can work together.
My hope for ABC Maine is that we all lean in, do the work, and make a positive impact. We have a voice, we have influence, and our combined strengths make us stronger.
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts, and I look forward to leaning in with you and adding value to people first as your incoming chair.
Be safe in 2021.
