Alex Myers’s Apprentice Story Is EXACTLY What the Construction Industry Needs to Hear
Release Date: 04/17/2025
2026 Mid-Year Recap | Steve Cona III & Laura Gross | Blueprints & Banter
Blueprints & Banter
ABC Florida Gulf Coast hosted over 60 events in the first half of 2026 — and the Gulf Coast construction market kept pace with each of them. In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, President & CEO Steve Cona III and Executive Vice President Laura Gross recap the first half of the year: the events, the workforce demand, the construction boom across Southwest Florida, and what ABC is doing to make sure members have everything they need to keep growing. They cover the apprenticeship program, superintendent and PM training, the STEP safety program, and what longtime members already know...
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Building the Next Generation of Construction Leaders | NEXGEN Class of 2027 | Blueprints & Banter
Blueprints & Banter
The NEXGEN Leadership Program has been developing commercial construction leaders on Florida's Gulf Coast since 2014. In this episode, host Laura Gross, Executive Vice President of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, sits down with the incoming Class of 2027 chairs Arin Lowery (ACCI), Kyle Shank (Schaefer General Contracting), and Ciarra Wilson (Gaylor Electric) — to talk about what the program is, what it does, and why now is the right time to apply. They cover the workforce shortage facing the industry, the role relationships play in a career in construction, what companies gain when they invest in...
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How to Stand Out in the Most Competitive Construction Market in Years | Oliver Corizzi, Avenue Media
Blueprints & Banter
In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona III, President & CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, sits down with Oliver Corizzi, Principal at Avenue Media - an experienced, industry-focused marketing agency based in Sarasota - to talk about what's driving unprecedented competition in commercial construction and what contractors need to do differently to stay ahead. Oliver shares why AI is dramatically increasing the number of firms bidding on every project, why more contractors are niching down into specific sectors rather than positioning as generalists, and why a strong website is...
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From Apprentice to Leader in Construction | Nick Murphy, ABC 2025 Young Professional of the Year
Blueprints & Banter
In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona III, President & CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, sits down with Nick Murphy, Project Manager at Gaylor Electric and ABC’s 2025 Young Professional of the Year, to talk about how early career decisions, hands-on experience, and industry involvement shape the next generation of construction leaders. Nick shares how starting in ABC’s apprenticeship program reshaped his perspective on learning, how combining field experience with formal education strengthened his communication and leadership skills, and why involvement in industry...
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Why Engagement Matters in Construction Associations | Jason Hall, ABC 2025 Member of the Year
Blueprints & Banter
In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona III, President & CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, sits down with Jason Hall, Chief Revenue Officer at GMF Steel and ABC’s 2025 Member of the Year, to talk about what real industry engagement looks like - and why it matters more than ever. Jason shares how his company leaned into ABC from day one, how involvement across leadership, workforce programs, and committees created measurable value, and why collective action is essential for solving the construction industry’s biggest challenges - from workforce shortages to policy advocacy....
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Leadership, Advocacy, and ABC’s Path Forward in 2026 | Jason Spears, 2026 Chairman of the Board
Blueprints & Banter
In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona III, President & CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, sits down with Jason Spears, the newly appointed 2026 Chairman, to discuss leadership, advocacy, and the future of the construction industry. Jason shares his 20+ year journey with ABC - from his early days in the University of Florida student chapter to serving on the executive board - and how programs like NEXGEN Leadership became a national model for developing industry leaders. Together, Steve and Jason unpack what really happens behind the scenes at ABC, from boardroom conversations...
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AI, Contracts & Labor Chaos: How Contractors Can Stay Protected with Adam Handfinger
Blueprints & Banter
In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, ABC Florida Gulf Coast President & CEO Steve Cona sits down with Adam Handfinger - construction attorney and co-founder of Document Crunch - to unpack the real risks contractors are facing right now, and how technology can help keep projects on track. With 25 years practicing construction law and a front-row seat to jobsite realities, Adam explains how AI is changing the way contractors understand contracts, manage risk, and avoid costly mistakes—especially in today’s volatile environment. Here’s what we cover: ✔️ How AI tools...
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Tampa's Incredible Comeback Story with Former Mayor Bob Buckhorn
Blueprints & Banter
In this powerful episode of Blueprints & Banter, ABC Florida Gulf Coast President & CEO Steve Cona sits down with Bob Buckhorn, Tampa's transformational 58th Mayor, to discuss leadership through crisis, city building, and Tampa's incredible renaissance. Here's what we cover: ✔️ Leading Tampa through the Great Recession with a $30 million deficit ✔️ The permitting crisis that's choking construction growth statewide ✔️ How Tampa became the Southeast's top destination for young talent ✔️ Why Buckhorn is considering a 2027 mayoral run to finish the...
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How AI is Transforming Construction: Practical Tech Solutions with Nathan Somerville | Blueprints & Banter Podcast w/ Ron Pierce
Blueprints & Banter
In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, ABC Gulf Coast Chapter President & CEO Steve Cona III sits down with Nathan Somerville from VectorNet, a Tampa-based engineering design firm specializing in reality capture and advanced construction technology. As a licensed engineer and contractor in Florida, Nathan brings a unique insider's perspective on how construction technology can solve real industry challenges. Here's what we cover: ✔️ How VectorNet started three years ago to fill technology gaps in the AEC space ✔️ Why AI is the hottest trend in construction - from...
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Florida's $900M Tax Cut, Permitting Reforms & ABC’s Wins | Blueprints & Banter Podcast w/ Ron Pierce
Blueprints & Banter
In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, ABC Gulf Coast Chapter President & CEO Steve Cona III sits down with Ron Pierce, President and CEO of RSA Consulting, to break down everything you need to know about the 2024 legislative session in Tallahassee. Here’s what we cover: ✔️ Why the session lasted 105 days ✔️ The $900 million commercial lease tax repeal ✔️ ABC’s major win on apprenticeship funding & transparency ✔️ How ABC plays defense against harmful bills ✔️ Key leaders from the Gulf Coast shaping Florida’s future ✔️ What’s coming next:...
info_outlineWhat 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 fast-tracked through the ABC program thanks to his high school experience. In just a few years, he climbed from apprentice to journeyman, to lead man, to foreman, and now to the project management team—running work on high-profile jobs like the new Mote Aquarium in Sarasota.
This episode is packed with real-world insight on:
- How high school trades programs can change lives
- What it’s actually like to start on the jobsite on day one
- The path from tools to the office in under seven years
- How skilled trades careers lead to real financial independence
- The role of parental support in making alternative career paths possible
- And why more young people—and their parents—need to hear stories like this one
If you’re a contractor looking to hire the next generation, a student unsure about college, or a parent who wants your child to thrive, this episode is for you.
🎧 Watch now and hear how ABC’s workforce pipeline is transforming real lives.
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