History
1956-59
On August 30, 1956, 19 people attended a meeting to form a nonprofit corporation to foster and promote mutual benefit of its members, and to promote the Arizona Fair Labor Practices Act and the Right-To-Work Law. The following day the articles and bylaws were drafted. Local architects refused to let nonunion contractors bid on contracts. The association continued its support of legal issues while members rallied to help each other find sand, rock and concrete. Hiring halls are established in Tucson and Phoenix to help locate workers and group medical insurance is sought.
1960-69
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rules in favor of the association on several key union activities. Architects are monitored and contacted if they refuse to let nonunion contractors bid on projects. ACA focuses on the State Legislature due to an increase in regulation and union activity. The association supports the Right-To-Work Foundation. Legal fees are paid for several members to fight union activity. ACA becomes an affiliated chapter of the Associated Builders & Contractors.
1970-79
In the early 1970s, ACA builds a home as a fund-raiser, adds the position of executive director, and begins a self-funded, health insurance plan. OSHA becomes law and the association works diligently to defeat environmental restrictions that contractors have difficulty with. Five construction associations and ACA sponsor a radio advertising campaign to strengthen the position of the Registrar of Contractors. John Wright, a retired state legislator is hired. The repeal of the Little Davis Bacon Act and a change in the membership of the Apprentice Advisory Council become key legislative goals. ACA establishes a "Free Enterprise and Lower Taxes Fund." Affirmative Action Plans become the new compliance issue and ACA forms a Political Action Committee.
1980-89
Commercial contractors are deregulated and a recovery fund is established. The association purchases property at 5701 N. Black Canyon Highway. Re-licensing of commercial contractors is sought after. A new publication, FUNDamentals is established to send safety information to the members. The Independent Contractors Association is changed to the Arizona Contractors Association (ACA). A total of $4,200 is given to community colleges as scholarships. A new image, stationery and logo are designed. ACA joins the Contractors Information Council of Arizona (CICA). A mission statement, goals and objectives are established in key areas including membership, finance, programs, public relations, and networking. Dennis Burke is hired as the executive director and the Yuma Plan Room is opened.
1990-99
The first golf tournament is held in 1990. ACA develops a HAZ COM manual and Sedgwick James develops a health plan for ACA. Don Johnson is hired as the new executive director. In 1992, a strategic plan is developed at the board retreat. Committees are formed and several goals are established. A new accounting system and database are added. Don Johnson leaves the association as executive director in 1997 and David Fraza is hired in 1998 only to resign months later.
On April 10, 1998, David N. Jones is hired as the new executive director. Mr. Jones is a former vice president of two construction companies in Indianapolis and a former state legislator in the Indiana House of Representatives. In May 1998, new bylaws are drafted and adopted by the ACA State Board of Directors and the executive director develops new policies and procedures. In December 1998, the ACA State Board approves the position of director of governmental affairs & safety designed to provide greater member services and association identity. The executive director, with the endorsement of the state board hires Brett A. Jones.
In mid-March 1999, Director of Governmental Affairs & Safety Brett Jones implements The Contractors Grassroots Network (CGN). Comprised of volunteer participants who convey to their legislators the association's position on key issues affecting the industry, CGN is an informative network stimulating interest in the legislative process by continuously educating members on current proceedings of government. ACA receives the 1999 AzSAE (Arizona Society of Association Executives) Award of Excellence in Association Management in the category of external affairs for the Contractors' Grassroots Network (CGN) program in December 1999.
2000 – 2008
The debut of the newly expanded web site, www.azca.com launches ACA into the realm of digital associations. The improvements and redesign of the site increases membership, expands the value of member services and provides greater visibility for the association in the Internet community.
In December 2000, ACA receives the 2000 AzSAE (Arizona Society of Association Executives) Award of Excellence in Association Management in the category of communications for the ACA web site, www.azca.com. In May, ACA begins a jobsite theft prevention campaign in May 2002, designed to encourage public participation by rewarding efforts of observance and action of reporting. This new program allows members, who voluntarily sign up for the program, to offer a $2,000 reward to anyone providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of any persons stealing from said member’s jobsite. In March of 2003, the Arizona Contractors Association (ACA) Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution in support of HB2529 University Research Infrastructure Financing which is a capital package for The University of Arizona (UA), Arizona State University (ASU) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) to upgrade, expand and append current university research facilities.
After a long 2003 legislative session, the Phoenix Civic Plaza bill was passed with tremendous support. In 2001, Phoenix voters approved half of the funding for the new expansion; subsequently the Arizona Legislature and Governor Janet Napolitano approved matching funds during this legislative session. The Arizona Contractors Association was the only statewide construction association to publicly support the financing for the expansion of the Phoenix Civic Plaza. Under the approved development plan, about 1.7 million square feet of new space will be built, including exhibition halls, meeting rooms, ballrooms, concourses, truck docks, parking and all back-of-house space. The total construction cost for the project is estimated at $425 million with and additional $20 million for interior renovations. While this bill directly impacts the construction industry, it will have long lasting effects on Arizona economy. Economic activity generated by convention attendees will total more than $1.02 billion annually with the Phoenix Civic Plaza expansion.
In June of 2003, The Arizona Contractors Association Political Action Committee (ACAPAC) is established. This committee is unaffiliated with any particular political party, supporting state and local candidates who have an appreciation and an understanding of construction industry issues. ACAPAC supports qualified candidates from any political party whose views on matters affecting the construction industry and business community as a whole reflect the shared interests of ACA members. Personal contributions may be made directly to the ACAPAC. Corporate contributions in Arizona are unlawful; therefore, the ACAPAC can only accept personal checks/donations.
The ACA Economic Development Committee (ACAEDC) was established in September of 2003 and holds its first meeting in October. The ACAEDC is a proactive committee assisting key economic developers create, retain and expand businesses in Arizona. Through communications with local economic developers, one of the objectives of the ACAEDC is to assist in providing conceptual cost estimates and explain advantages in utilizing alternative construction project delivery methods. In addition, the committee will keep participants informed of leading developments from across the state.
In June 2004, ACA won a major victory for the construction industry when Governor Napolitano signed into law a bill designed to make architectural and engineering services on design-build contracts not subject to the transaction privilege tax. The bill, sponsored by Senator Dean Martin, clarifies that architecture and engineering services are not subject to transaction privilege tax (TPT) for design-build contracts that are not attributable to the direct costs of these services.
The Arizona Contractors Association (ACA), strongly opposed any impoverishment of the State Compensation Fund (SCF) by the Legislature, won a hard earned victory in April when the Superior Court of Arizona Maricopa County found in favor of SCF in its nearly two-year legal battle over the assets of SCF. For 2000-02, SCF returned $100 million back to its 53,000 policyholders, many of whom are small business owners who infuse those monies back into their business, thus resulting in a positive economic impact to their communities.
In 2005 several events were on the agenda for the calendar year and much planning was conducted to prepare for ACA’s 50th Anniversary in 2006. As a result of previous year’s attempts to sale the Arizona State Compensation Fund, ACA and its Board of Directors advocated for representation on the State Compensation Funds Board of Directors. Close to 40% of SCF’s policyholders are construction industry related businesses. During the Legislative Session ACA was once again successful in defeating the “handyman” licensing exemption threshold dollar amount increase. Late in 2004 ACA had ask the Governor for a study on manpower for the construction industry and in early 2005 ACA received results from the Arizona Department of Commerce who released its workforce assessment for the construction industry. It was determined in the study that the Arizona construction industry would fall 40,000 skilled workers short by 2014. ACA supported and informed the Arizona construction industry about the Registrar of Contractor new online licensing renewal program, which is a time saver for contractors.
2006 was ACA’s 50th Anniversary! For 50 years ACA has been representing constituents of the Arizona construction industry. During this time ACA has shared in the success of the Arizona construction industry and are proud to have helped members with business issues, governmental affairs, providing a safe work environment and creating relationships that have led to a profitable construction economy. In July, ACA celebrated 50 years of success aboard the Diamond Princess bound for Alaska. During this celebration, ACA members were presented a Proclamation from Arizona’s Governor Janet Napolitano in recognition of our 50 Anniversary. In May, ACA Board toured the new Cardinals Stadium being build by ACA member Hunt Construction. ACA solicited construction companies across Arizona to join us in the Cardinals Construction Zone in the new stadium. ACA has over 150 people seating in this section during Cardinal Games.
In early 2007, ACA’s director of governmental affairs and safety Brett A. Jones was promoted to vice president of operations. Jones has been with ACA since 1999 and in his new capacity will continue to administer the ACA Safety Program and will now oversee Governmental Affairs and Membership Relations. In addition to these responsibilities Jones will ensure that the organization is well positioned in a rapidly evolving and competitive environment by being an agent for organizational change. In April of 2007, Governor Janet Napolitano appointed ACA Vice President Brett Jones to the SCF Arizona Board of Directors. SCF Arizona is the state’s largest workers’ compensation carrier, covering more than 57,000 businesses and 70 percent of the market. 2007 also brought the introduction of AZTrainingOnline.com a new online Safety Trainer program – sponsored by the Arizona Contractors Association. AZTrainingOnline.com brings safety to next level offering over 450 risk based courses, in five different languages, to ACA members and non-members alike. The courses are very diverse – ranging from lab safety to emergency preparedness – and are suitable for any industry with safety concerns. Later in the year ACA along with a coalition of businesses and trade associations filed suit in Federal District Court in Phoenix, Arizona challenging the constitutionality of Arizona’s new employer sanctions law concerning illegal immigration. ACA along with coalition members were concerned that their rights will be violated by this law and worry about its paralyzing effect on the Arizona economy.
2008 brought the purchase of a new office condo to house the ACA. The purchase took place in April and construction of the build-out of the space was conducted in the later half of the year. The new office overlooks Park Central Mall and the light rail system and features access to a 180 seat theater auditorium and a 60 seat conference venue, expanding educational and training opportunities. The space was known for housing the Phoenix Playboy Club during the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. Also in the 2008, ACA formalized a partnering agreement with the Arizona Capitol Times who will begin in 2009 publishing the association’s quarterly magazine The Arizonan. The new arrangement will provide increased exposure to advertisers and will allow ACA expand the magazines readership by reaching top decision makers in Arizona by being distributed via the Capitol Times publication.
Video Archive
Building Blocks of the Community Awards Program - Click Here for Video
ACA's 49th Annual Membership Dinner - Click Here for Video
ACA Board Meeting with Guest Speaker Israel Torres, Registrar of Contractors - Click Here for Video
2005 Governor's Legislative Kickoff Reception Sponsored by the ACA.
David Jones interview with Governor Janet Napolitano - Click Here for Video
Brett Jones interview with Senator Harry Mitchell - Click Here for Video
