Construction professionals from throughout Wyoming congregated in Casper in late July for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Wyoming meetings and events.  


Courtesy of ABC of Wyoming

Team Groathouse won the annual ABC of Wyoming golf tournament in Casper this summer. Left to right: Billy Brewer and Cayde Johnson with Groathouse Construction (Laramie/Cody/Casper) and Ray Drzymala with MOA Architecture.

The annual summer event kicked off with the first annual ABC Wyoming Cup golf tournament at the Paradise Valley Country Club. The ABC Cup exceeded expectations with more than 90 players participating in the tournament. Top honors went to the Groathouse Construction/MOA Architecture team. Teams from AP Wyoming and FCI of Cheyenne took home the first and second runner-up prizes.
 


The following day, more than 50 people attended ABC Wyoming’s Building for Wyoming, Working With State Government Conference, focused on how construction professionals and state agencies can better communicate and cooperate on state-funded capital construction projects.  

Presentations at Building for Wyoming included Wyoming Construction Management Office Director Rich Cathcart, Wyoming School Facilities Dept. Director Ian Cattelier, Wyoming Dept. of Administration and Information Director Chris Boswell, and University of Wyoming Vice President for Administration Douglas Vinzant.

Deb Farris, business development specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Amy Lea, program manager for Wyoming Entrepreneur Procurement Technical Assistance Center also gave presentations about SBA and PTAC programs that can help contractors seeking work on federally funded projects.
 


Contractors and state officials voiced concerns with the way public construction projects had been handled in the past, and all agencies committed to a better working relationship with Wyoming’s construction community.

University of Wyoming Vice President for Administration Douglas Vinzant said, “The university is working to build better communication and relationships with the local contracting community.” 
 


ABC Wyoming President Josh Carnahan agreed, “For the first time in many years, I feel the folks at the state are listening and willing to work with us. Things may not be perfect, but this conference is certainly evidence that we are moving forward, and that is a win for my members and the state of Wyoming.”