Bill Roachell
Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas
Contributing to an in-state construction boom and helping prepare its members for the future is the mission of the Arkansas chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors of America.
Bill Roachell, ABC Arkansas chapter president, says his group seeks to help its non-union members get work and then deliver that work safely and profitably for their communities through training and education.
“Our overall goal is to train the next generation of our workforce and to make sure we have people who can continue on the work of the craftsmen who are retiring, while making sure we provide good benefits to our ABC members,” he says.
Roachell doubles as ABC’s local registered lobbyist with a primary focus on workforce development.
“A segment of our industry is aging out of the workforce, and we’ve got to get people to replace them,” he says. “I also think we’ve got a perception problem with construction — most people think it’s digging a ditch, but it’s really not that way.”
To combat that misperception, ABC is partnering with Building and Information Modeling to educate and train members to use drones and GPS systems to inspect and plan worksites. Like every trade association, ABC requires fees and provides services.
“The fees are based on previous years’ revenue, which is a good thing,” says Roachell. “Everyone pays what’s fair for them; smaller contractors who are starting out aren’t paying the same dues structure as a Nabholz or a VCC.”
ABC also provides member discounts with a variety of businesses and services as well as networking opportunities.
“We help subcontractors, suppliers and industry professionals rub shoulders with general contractors, and we help the general contractors find good subs. A general contractor is only as good as their subcontractors,” says Roachell.
READ MORE: September Association Roundup
