HISTORY 

ABC: A History of Quality, Safety and Progress in the Construction Industry

Principle. Integrity. Strength. Quality. These are just a few words that describe Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC). Started modestly in 1950 by seven contractors in Baltimore, ABC has grown to a membership totaling over 25,000 firms in 80 chapters throughout the U.S., proving that the pooling of resources continues to be a valuable approach to addressing common industry challenges.

ABC Keystone, the local Chapter established in 1959 and located in Rapho Business Park, Manheim, PA, covers a 10-county area in south central Pennsylvania.   Although ABC was born in a courtroom through its labor relations activities, it has developed into a full-service organization that provides apprenticeship and craft training programs, management education, marketing and networking opportunities, safety certifications, government relations and grassroots activities, and discounted products and services.

ABC is built upon the free enterprise, or open shop, philosophy which dictates that every construction contractor should be able to compete on any construction project, with a level playing field, regardless of labor affiliation. The free enterprise philosophy is also the freedom of contractors to engage the most competitive subcontractors, to hire and train a workforce as the contractors best see fit, to utilize efficiencies where called for and to pay competitive wages as dictated by market conditions. It promotes the freedom for construction users to receive the best value for their construction dollar.

ABC is a one-stop resource for all of the tools needed to run a successful business. ABC is the future of America’s construction industry, whose members work with one another for the betterment of the industry as a whole, the advancement of free enterprise, and the improved profitability of their own companies. We at Associated Builders and Contractors are working hard to help America remain the land of opportunity.


View the opening video that highlights past presidents shown at ABC Keystone's 50th Anniversary Gala. 
 
View the video about our past and hopes for the future.  

ABC Keystone's
50th Anniversary:

  • May 1959 - ABC Keystone's first "dinner meeting" was held at Hotel Brunswick.
  • Baltimore's Executive Director John Trimmer and ten members spoke to 150 "Keystone" area contractors about achieving jobsite harmony regardless of labor affiliation.
  • The "Merit Shop" talk resonated with the group; almost 70 firms committed to join ABC that same night.
  • Executive Secretary Lowell F. Halligan was hired; office space and administrative assistance was donated by the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce on Orange Street.
  • ABC Keystone, first ABC Chapter outside of Maryland, was up and running!

  • Early Chapter Leaders:

    • 1959 & 1960: Mel Peters, Warfel Construction, served as ABC Keystone's first president.
    • Mike (Miles) Ament, Diller Plank, followed in 1961.
    • Bill Baumgardner, Wickersham Construction & Engineering, served in 1962.
    • Irv Huber, Rice & Weidman, followed as president in 1963.
    • 1964 & 1965, Clint Clubb, Wickersham Construction & Engineering, was the first of our father/son Chapter leaders.

Sponsors
Harmon & Davies, P.C.

Harmon & Davies, P.C.

Sign Medix, Inc.

Sign Medix, Inc.

Triangle Communications, Inc.

Triangle Communications, Inc.

Douple Agency, Inc.

Douple Agency, Inc.

Paint Medix, Inc.

Paint Medix, Inc.


McConkey Insurance & Benefits

McConkey Insurance & Benefits

PBIP

PBIP