by Jessica Gillette | Aug 31, 2026
THE GC PERSPECTIVE PANEL & SOCIAL HOUR AT WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB
Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 4:30PM – 7:00PM
Join us at the beautiful Westwood Country Club for a panel with the largest general contractors in the DMV area. Spencer Teel, President of TEEL Construction, will moderate the panel discussion. A networking happy hour will follow the panel, featuring recognition of our newest STEP members and a door prize drawing.
New and prospective members are encouraged to attend this event! We will host a 30-minute pre-mixer for new and prospective members at 4:00PM. Please plan to attend the pre-mixer if registering as a prospective member.
PANELISTS
TBA
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Event $1,000 – includes two (2) tickets, signage at event, logo/name on marketing materials
Bar $1,000 – includes two (2) tickets, signage at event, logo/name on marketing materials
Drawing $500 – includes one (1) ticket, signage at event, logo/name on marketing materials
SPONSORS – THANK YOU
LOCATION
Westwood Country Club
800 Maple Avenue East, Vienna, VA 22180
COST
ABC-VA Member — $95
Prospective Member — $125
Includes heavy appetizers and two (2) drinks
Prospective Members: please plan to attend the special pre-mixer right before we kick off the panel!
SUBSTITUTIONS/CANCELLATIONS POLICY
Substitutions are welcome at any time if the originally registered individual(s) can no longer attend. Cancellations must be made within 48 hours of event.
Questions?
Contact Maureen Nanna
by Jessica Gillette | Aug 20, 2026
SAFETY LUNCH & STEP AWARDS: BEYOND THE HARD HAT — EXPLORING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAFETY, WELL-BEING AND WORKFORCE SUCCESS
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 11:00AM – 2:00PM
Safety is more than what happens on the jobsite.
A strong safety culture goes beyond PPE, training, and compliance. It also means understanding the people behind the hard hats—and recognizing the personal, mental, and emotional challenges that can affect their well-being, engagement, and ability to stay safe.
Join ABC Virginia for the 2026 Safety Luncheon & STEP Awards: Beyond the Hard Hat for an engaging conversation about how supporting the whole person can strengthen your safety culture, your workforce, and your organization.
Featured Speaker
Jared Elmquist, Vice President of Field Development, Corporate Chaplains of America
Jared Elmquist works with business leaders across the country to help organizations support their people and strengthen workplace culture. He began his career in construction and residential HVAC, working his way through college before spending a decade working alongside farmers and ranchers. These experiences gave him a firsthand appreciation for the people who perform demanding work every day and the challenges they face both on and off the job.
Today, Jared draws on that experience to help leaders address employee well-being, mental health, workforce engagement, and organizational success. He brings a practical, people-centered perspective to conversations about creating workplaces where employees feel supported and have trusted resources when life gets difficult.
What you’ll take away:
Gain a new perspective on workplace safety.
Explore the connection between employee well-being, mental health, workforce engagement, and safety—and why what happens off the job can have a real impact on the jobsite.
Walk away with practical insights.
Hear real-world stories and strategies for recognizing challenges employees may be facing and creating a workplace where people feel supported and connected.
Strengthen your safety culture.
Consider how your organization can move beyond compliance toward a culture where safety means genuinely caring for the people who make your work possible.
Connect with construction leaders and safety professionals.
Share ideas, experiences, and best practices with peers who are working toward safer jobsites and stronger teams.
STEP Awards: Celebrating Members Who Put Safety First
The luncheon will culminate in the presentation of the 2026 STEP Awards, honoring companies that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to safety through ABC’s STEP Safety Management System. The STEP Awards recognize contractors who go above and beyond to build strong, proactive safety cultures—setting a higher standard for safety performance across Virginia’s construction industry.
Learn More About STEP
Interested in strengthening your company’s safety program or pursuing STEP recognition? Learn more about ABC’s STEP Safety Management System or email Rob Camlin.
SPECIAL NOTE: only ABC-VA members from the Hampton Roads region will be recognized during the STEP awards. Northern VA and Central VA STEP recipients are recognized at their respective ceremonies.
Agenda
11:00 AM — Check-in & Networking
11:30 AM — Lunch
12:00–1:30 PM — Presentation & STEP Awards
1:30 PM — Networking/Departure
Showcase YOUR Safety
Safety Showcase Sponsor $500 — includes vendor display table, two (2) registrations, opportunity to distribute promotional materials, logo/name on marketing materials
Select during online registration or email Meredith Strahan to sponsor!
Sponsors
Additional Details
LOCATION
Chesapeake Conference Center
700 Conference Center Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23320
COST
Members Early Bird – $60
Members (starting 10/19) – $80
Non-Members Early Bird – $100
Non-Members (starting 10/19) – $125
SUBSTITUTION/CANCELLATION POLICY
Substitutions are welcome at any time if the originally registered individual(s) can no longer attend. Please note: a reservation constitutes a financial commitment unless cancellations are made 48 hours in advance.
Questions?
Contact Meredith Strahan
by Jessica Gillette | Jul 22, 2026
2026 PROJECT MANAGERS ACADEMY
October 14 – 16, 2026 | 8:00AM – 6:00PM | See detailed schedule below
This three-day intensive program is geared toward Project Managers who are looking to improve their skills in the day-to-day management of successful construction projects and the leadership of today’s construction team. Students will sharpen their estimating, resource control, contract administration, scheduling and management skills through case studies and group exercises facilitated by some of the industry’s most talented instructors and construction leaders. Participants of this program will dramatically accelerate their growth and overall performance, thus increasing their value to their company and clients.
This program is limited to 25 participants. We sold out last year — register early! Registration deadline is 5PM on Wednesday, October 7.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The academy is designed for project managers and estimators with at least two years of on-the-job experience.
SPEAKERS
Patrick Dean, ABC Virginia
Kyle Clayton, S-Works Construction Corp.
Nick Giambra, Aegis Consultants
Shannon Kualii, E.E. Reed East Coast, L.P.
Rich Ruckman, S-Works Construction Corp.
Mike Quadros, E.E. Reed East Coast, L.P.
SCHEDULE
October 14 8:00AM – 6:00PM Dinner and networking after class
October 15 8:00AM- 6:00PM Dinner and networking after class
October 16 8:00AM – 12:00PM Certificate Ceremony takes place on last day
COST
Member – $825
Non-Member – $1,175
Includes all course materials, lunch and dinner and drinks during networking portion
LOCATION
ABC-VA Northern Virginia Training Facility
42680 Trade West Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
SUBSTITUTION/CANCELLATION POLICY
Substitutions are welcome at any time if the originally registered individual(s) can no longer attend. Please note that a reservation constitutes a financial commitment unless cancellations are made by Wednesday, October 7, 2026 by 5PM.
Questions?
Contact Ashley Richey
by Jessica Gillette | Jul 9, 2026
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE PROGRAM KICKOFF • CENTRAL VA & HAMPTON ROADS
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 2:00PM – 4:00PM | ABC-VA Hampton Roads Training Facility
The 2026 Leadership Institute kicks off on October 7 with a program overview and the ABCs of ABC. Applications for the Leadership Institute are due Monday, September 21, 2026.
The Leadership Institute brings together aspiring leaders that have three or more years in the AEC industry. Our program is designed to enhance the potential of our industry’s rising leaders by helping them to develop a greater self-awareness of their unique leadership style. Current industry leaders will facilitate discussions that encourage active participation.
The curriculum requires reading assignments, an emotional intelligence/personality assessment with a professionally facilitated workshop, social outings and a community service project.
Eligibility
- Nominee must have worked in the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry for a minimum of three (3) years
- Nominee must be employed by a member in good standing of the ABC Virginia Chapter
- Nominee must be able and willing to attend at least nine out of ten sessions to graduate
Sessions (beginning October 7)
- Program Kickoff & the ABCs of ABC (October 7)
- The Purpose Driven Life (November 18)
- Effective Communication (December 9)
- Behavior Profile Workshop & Emotional Intelligence (January 20, 2027)
- What Makes a Leader? (February 17)
- Extreme Ownership (March 10)
- Corporate Culture and Ethics (March 24)
- Stephen Covey’s Speed of Trust (April 14)
- Identifying Ideal Team Players (April 28)
- Career Development & End of Year Celebration (May 12)
LOCATION
ABC-VA Hampton Roads Training Facility
530 Independence Parkway, Suite 500, Chesapeake, VA 23320
COST
$650 per Participant
Please note: registration is not available online. Please submit your application with all required documents to Meredith Strahan.
by Jessica Gillette | Jul 7, 2026
2026 RICHMOND & HAMPTON ROADS PROJECT MANAGERS ACADEMY
**FULL. Please email Kristen Altermatt to be put on waitlist.**
September 30 – October 2, 2026 | 8:00AM – 6:30PM | See detailed schedule below
This three-day intensive program is geared toward Project Managers and Assistant Project Managers who are looking to improve their skills in the day-to-day management of successful construction projects and the leadership of today’s construction team. Students will sharpen their estimating, resource control, contract administration, scheduling and management skills through case studies and group exercises facilitated by six of our industry’s most talented instructors and construction leaders. Participants of this program will dramatically accelerate their growth and overall performance, thus increasing their value to their company and clients.
This program is limited to 24 participants. Register early! Registration deadline is 5PM on Wednesday, September 23.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Project managers and assistant PMs of all experience levels
SPEAKERS
Nicole Anderson, Clancy & Theys
Jeremy Crumley, Balfour Beatty
Scott Brame, W.M. Jordan Company
Jamie Vanek, Etolin Strait Development Group
Scott Kowalski, PLDR Law Firm
Patrick Dean, ABC Virginia
SCHEDULE
September 30 — 8:00AM – 6:30PM Breakfast, lunch and dinner/networking included
October 1 — 8:00AM – 6:15PM Breakfast, lunch and dinner/networking included
October 2 — 8:00AM – 12:00PM Breakfast, Certificate Ceremony takes place on last day
COST
Member – $825
Non-Member – $1,250
Includes all course materials, breakfast every day, lunch on Wednesday/Thursday, dinner and drinks during networking portion
LOCATION
ABC-VA Central Virginia Training Facility
1600 E Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23228
SUBSTITUTION/CANCELLATION POLICY
Substitutions are welcome at any time if the originally registered individual(s) can no longer attend. Please note that a reservation constitutes a financial commitment unless cancellations are made by Wednesday, September 23, 2026, by 5PM.
Questions?
Contact Kristen Altermatt
