Mission, Goals, and Core Value

Our Mission

ABC believes contractors should have equal opportunity to win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably.

The Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) North Florida Chapter represents contractors from Leon to Escambia Counties. ABC is the largest open shop construction trade association in the United States and is the only organization that can serve Contractors and Subcontractors in all trades (as well as Suppliers and Associates) who want to conduct their business in an unrestricted market to protect and enhance the merit shop philosophy within the construction industry.

We are guided by a vision to provide leadership and be the recognized voice of the construction industry – to provide a forum of open exchange and camaraderie through membership, service, and networking; to promote integrity and ethics through the Merit Shop Philosophy. We work toward improving education and training in the construction industry and are active in encouraging and facilitating participation in the political process.

Across three decades, our mission has been to advance the Merit Shop Philosophy which encourages open competition and a free-enterprise approach that awards contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation.

Our Philosophy and Values

  • We believe in the system of free enterprise and open competition.
  • We believe Florida’s Right-to-Work statute.
  • We believe the employees and employers should have the right to determine wages and working conditions, through either individual or collective bargaining, as they choose, within the boundaries of the law.
  • We believe that the employer must have concern for the general welfare of the employee and that there must be a fair compensation for work performed. At the same time, we believe that the employee has an obligation for satisfactory performance of assigned work.
  • We support sound legislation in the areas of workers’ compensation, safety and unemployment compensation. We believe legislation that embraces fair play for both employer and employee is essential to the preservation of our Free Enterprise System. The law should protect the right of employees to work regardless of race, color, creed, age, sex or membership or non-membership in a labor organization.
  • We oppose violence, coercion, intimidation and the denial of the rights of the free working person and free management.
  • We believe the economy is incumbent upon all branches of government and that government should award contracts to the lowest responsible bidder only. We oppose unjust pressure to violate these principles.
  • We believe that work opportunities in this nation should be made available to all of our people, regardless of race, color, creed, age, sex or national origin and we support programs toward that end.
  • We believe that the destiny of all Americans can best be served by cooperation, reconciliation and following the tenets of free enterprise and democratic government. We believe business leaders can best preserve these tenets by becoming active in politics and civic affairs.

Our Goals

  • Perpetuate and defend the free enterprise system and the merit shop philosophy by participating in the democratic process.
  • Deliver programs and services that have a direct, positive and measurable effect on our members’ prosperity.
  • Promote business development by providing members with networking opportunities.
  • Promote training of employees.
  • Effectively communicate the services and benefits of membership, and encourage member participation and involvement in the association.
  • Promote for mutual benefit majority, women and minority members.
  • Improve industry practices.
  • Improve where we live and work through our members' active community service.
  • Show good stewardship and fiscal responsibility in the leadership and management of the association.