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Get Into Politics or Get out of Business, Guest: Ben Brubeck

Blueprints & Banter

Release Date: 02/08/2024

How ABC is Changing Workforce Development & Why It Matters with Laura Gross show art How ABC is Changing Workforce Development & Why It Matters with Laura Gross

Blueprints & Banter

In this episode of Blueprints & Banter podcast, Steve Cona welcomes Laura Gross, Vice President of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, to dive deeply into how ABC’s latest workforce strategies are directly benefiting apprentices, emerging leaders, and your entire team. Specifically, you’ll hear about: The Redesigned Apprenticeship Model: ABC’s apprenticeship program has been revamped with fewer nights in the classroom, expanded online learning options, and customized in-house training opportunities. Laura explains how these changes directly support contractors by delivering more efficient,...

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Alex Myers’s Apprentice Story Is EXACTLY What the Construction Industry Needs to Hear show art Alex Myers’s Apprentice Story Is EXACTLY What the Construction Industry Needs to Hear

Blueprints & Banter

What if your entire career started with one high school program—and led you to manage multimillion-dollar jobs by your mid-20s? In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona sits down with Alex Myers, former ABC apprentice and now Assistant Project Manager at Tri-City Electrical Contractors. Alex shares how his journey started at Pasco High School, where a strong electrical program and ABC’s Build Tampa Bay event helped him skip the traditional college path and go straight into the trades. Alex was “recruited” before he even graduated, started his apprenticeship in 2018, and...

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The REAL Impact of Social Media in Commercial Construction show art The REAL Impact of Social Media in Commercial Construction

Blueprints & Banter

Does social media really work in commercial construction?  Many construction companies still believe marketing is only about getting new projects—but the reality is, digital strategy plays a much bigger role. From attracting skilled workers to strengthening industry influence, construction companies that ignore social media risk falling behind. In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona (President & CEO, ABC Florida Gulf Coast) sits down with Oliver Corizzi (Principal, Avenue Media) to break down the real impact of marketing in construction. They tackle one of the...

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Inside ABC FL Gulf Coast's Biggest Year Ever – and How It Impacts You in 2025 show art Inside ABC FL Gulf Coast's Biggest Year Ever – and How It Impacts You in 2025

Blueprints & Banter

Welcome to the first 2025 edition of Blueprints & Banter podcast! In this episode, Steve Cona (President & CEO) and David Tercios (Immediate Past Chair) reflect on a record-breaking year for ABC Florida Gulf Coast and look ahead to what’s in store for the construction industry in 2025. With the chapter reaching its highest-ever membership, 2024 was a year of growth, networking, and advocacy. From major legislative victories and legal wins to key workforce initiatives and contractor training programs, ABC continued to shape the future of construction in Florida. The conversation...

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Celebrating Growth and Looking Ahead at ABC FL Gulf Coast Chapter! show art Celebrating Growth and Looking Ahead at ABC FL Gulf Coast Chapter!

Blueprints & Banter

In this episode of *Blueprints & Banter*, titled "Celebrating Growth and Looking Ahead," host Steve Cona, President and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, is joined by co-hosts Laura Gross, Vice President of Membership, and Dave Turcios, Chairman of the Board. They dive into the latest updates, achievements, and future plans for the ABC community as they wrap up the year and prepare for 2025.   The episode begins with Steve welcoming listeners and thanking the podcast’s sponsors, including Milwaukee Tool and Piper Fire, who have...

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What Happens Next for St. Petersburg After ABC Lawsuit Ruling show art What Happens Next for St. Petersburg After ABC Lawsuit Ruling

Blueprints & Banter

00:01:22:25 Attorneys Brian Lambert from Adams & Reese, and Ric Asfar from Almazan Law join the show,   In this episode of *Blueprints & Banter*, titled "Fighting for Fairness in Construction," host Steve Cona welcomes co-hosts Dave Turcios and Laura Gross for an in-depth discussion on a significant legal battle in the construction industry. The episode centers around a five-year court case involving the City of St. Petersburg's apprenticeship and disadvantaged worker ordinances, with Steve and his guests unpacking the implications of the recent court ruling.   The episode...

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Exploring ABC’s New Healthcare Captive and 401k Program show art Exploring ABC’s New Healthcare Captive and 401k Program

Blueprints & Banter

- Steve Cona, President/CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter - David Turcios, Chairman of the ABC Board **Special Guest Host:** - Laura Gross, VP of Membership for ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter **Guests:** - Adam Bonsky, CEO & President, ABC Insurance Trust - Larry Crocker, Fiduciary Consulting Group /// **Segment 1: Introduction (5 minutes)** - **Opening Music and Introduction by Hosts:**   - Introduction of the podcast and its focus on ABC’s new member benefits and programs.   - Brief overview of ABC and its role in the construction industry.   - Introduction of...

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Construction Law & Litigation with Justin Zinzow show art Construction Law & Litigation with Justin Zinzow

Blueprints & Banter

JUSTIN R. ZINZOW Admitted to Practice Florida & Texas AV Preeminent® Rated Attorney Fla. Board Certified in Construction Law   Justin R. Zinzow is a cowboy at heart, a businessman by passion, and a lawyer by profession.  Hailing from a small cattle and horse farm in Upstate New York, Justin’s journey has been defined  by hard work, entrepreneurship, and a deep love for American values. From his teens, he immersed  himself in farming and livestock while nurturing his entrepreneurial spirit, founding his first  business at 16. His unwavering patriotism led him...

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Establishing Legislative Priorities with Chief Lobbyist, Carol Bowen show art Establishing Legislative Priorities with Chief Lobbyist, Carol Bowen

Blueprints & Banter

Carol Bowen, J.D., is the Associated Builders and Contractors’ chief lobbyist. For more information about upcoming legislation, contact Carol at [email protected]. /// Website: ABCFLGulf.org https://www.facebook.com/abcflgulf/ https://twitter.com/abcflgulf https://www.linkedin.com/company/associated-builders-&-contractors-florida-gulf-coast-chapter/   Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association with 68 chapters representing more than 23,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms. ABC's membership represents all specialties within the U.S....

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2024 Florida Legislative Wrap Up with Carol Bowen show art 2024 Florida Legislative Wrap Up with Carol Bowen

Blueprints & Banter

Carol Bowen, J.D., is the Associated Builders and Contractors’ chief lobbyist in Florida. For more information about upcoming legislation, contact Carol at [email protected]. /// Website: ABCFLGulf.org https://www.facebook.com/abcflgulf/ https://twitter.com/abcflgulf https://www.linkedin.com/company/associated-builders-&-contractors-florida-gulf-coast-chapter/   Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association with 68 chapters representing more than 23,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms. ABC's membership represents all specialties...

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Guest: Ben Brubeck, VP of Regulatory, Labor, & State Affairs at ABC National

Ben Brubeck is vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs at the Associated Builders and Contractors, a construction industry trade association representing more than 21,000 general contractors, subcontractors and industry partners. A recognized expert in procurement, labor and employment issues impacting the construction industry, Mr. Brubeck has extensive experience with the Davis-Bacon Act, state prevailing wage laws, project labor agreements and regulations affecting federal contractors. He also serves as vice president of policy for the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships. Prior to joining ABC, Mr. Brubeck was the 2003 James A. Finnegan Foundation Fellow for the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee.

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Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association with 68 chapters representing 22,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms. ABC's membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors of the industry.

ABC is the merit shop construction industry's voice with the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government and with state and local governments, as well as with the news media.

ABC's mission is the advancement of the merit shop construction philosophy, which encourages open competition and a free-enterprise approach that awards contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation. 

ABC's activities include government representation, legal advocacy, education, workforce development, communications, technology, recognition through national and chapter awards programs, employee benefits, information on best practices and business development through an online contractor search directory.

ABC was founded in 1950 when seven contractors gathered in Baltimore, Md. to create an association based on the shared belief that construction projects should be awarded on merit to the most qualified and responsible low bidders. The courage and dedication of those seven contractors - Charles Mullan, C.K. Wells, Jr., Philip Cloves, Ernest Shultz, Edward Colwill, Charles Knott and Edward Dickinson - helped to quickly spread the merit shop philosophy, within time making ABC the fastest growing association in the United States. Today, ABC is recognized as one of the leading organizations representing America's business community and the merit shop construction industry.