Blueprints & Banter

In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona III, President & CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, sits down with Oliver Corizzi, Principal at Avenue Media - an experienced, industry-focused marketing agency based in Sarasota - to talk about what's driving unprecedented competition in commercial construction and what contractors need to do differently to stay ahead. Oliver shares why AI is dramati...

In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona III, President & CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, sits down with Nick Murphy, Project Manager at Gaylor Electric and ABC's 2025 Young Professional of the Year, to talk about how early career decisions, hands-on experience, and industry involvement shape the next generation of construction leaders. Nick shares how starting in ABC's apprenticeship pro...

In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona III, President & CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, sits down with Jason Hall, Chief Revenue Officer at GMF Steel and ABC's 2025 Member of the Year, to talk about what real industry engagement looks like - and why it matters more than ever. Jason shares how his company leaned into ABC from day one, how involvement across leadership, workforce programs...

In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona III, President & CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, sits down with Jason Spears, the newly appointed 2026 Chairman, to discuss leadership, advocacy, and the future of the construction industry. Jason shares his 20+ year journey with ABC - from his early days in the University of Florida student chapter to serving on the executive board - and how progr...

In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, ABC Florida Gulf Coast President & CEO Steve Cona sits down with Adam Handfinger - construction attorney and co-founder of Document Crunch - to unpack the real risks contractors are facing right now, and how technology can help keep projects on track. With 25 years practicing construction law and a front-row seat to jobsite realities, Adam explains how AI is...

In this powerful episode of Blueprints & Banter, ABC Florida Gulf Coast President & CEO Steve Cona sits down with Bob Buckhorn, Tampa's transformational 58th Mayor, to discuss leadership through crisis, city building, and Tampa's incredible renaissance. Here's what we cover:  ✔️ Leading Tampa through the Great Recession with a $30 million deficit  ✔️ The permitting crisis that's choking constructi...

In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, ABC Gulf Coast Chapter President & CEO Steve Cona III sits down with Nathan Somerville from VectorNet, a Tampa-based engineering design firm specializing in reality capture and advanced construction technology. As a licensed engineer and contractor in Florida, Nathan brings a unique insider's perspective on how construction technology can solve real industry...

In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, ABC Gulf Coast Chapter President & CEO Steve Cona III sits down with Ron Pierce, President and CEO of RSA Consulting, to break down everything you need to know about the 2024 legislative session in Tallahassee. Here's what we cover: ✔️ Why the session lasted 105 days  ✔️ The $900 million commercial lease tax repeal ✔️ ABC's major win on apprenticeship fundin...

In this episode of Blueprints & Banter podcast, Steve Cona welcomes Laura Gross, Vice President of ABC Florida Gulf Coast, to dive deeply into how ABC's latest workforce strategies are directly benefiting apprentices, emerging leaders, and your entire team. Specifically, you'll hear about: The Redesigned Apprenticeship Model: ABC's apprenticeship program has been revamped with fewer nights in the...

What if your entire career started with one high school program—and led you to manage multimillion-dollar jobs by your mid-20s? In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona sits down with Alex Myers, former ABC apprentice and now Assistant Project Manager at Tri-City Electrical Contractors. Alex shares how his journey started at Pasco High School, where a strong electrical program and ABC's...

Does social media really work in commercial construction?  Many construction companies still believe marketing is only about getting new projects—but the reality is, digital strategy plays a much bigger role. From attracting skilled workers to strengthening industry influence, construction companies that ignore social media risk falling behind. In this episode of Blueprints & Banter, Steve Cona (P...

Welcome to the first 2025 edition of Blueprints & Banter podcast! In this episode, Steve Cona (President & CEO) and David Tercios (Immediate Past Chair) reflect on a record-breaking year for ABC Florida Gulf Coast and look ahead to what's in store for the construction industry in 2025. With the chapter reaching its highest-ever membership, 2024 was a year of growth, networking, and advocacy. From...

In this episode of *Blueprints & Banter*, titled "Celebrating Growth and Looking Ahead," host Steve Cona, President and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, is joined by co-hosts Laura Gross, Vice President of Membership, and Dave Turcios, Chairman of the Board. They dive into the latest updates, achievements, and future plans for the ABC community as th...

00:01:22:25 Attorneys Brian Lambert from Adams & Reese, and Ric Asfar from Almazan Law join the show,   In this episode of *Blueprints & Banter*, titled "Fighting for Fairness in Construction," host Steve Cona welcomes co-hosts Dave Turcios and Laura Gross for an in-depth discussion on a significant legal battle in the construction industry. The episode centers around a five-year court case involv...

- Steve Cona, President/CEO of ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter - David Turcios, Chairman of the ABC Board **Special Guest Host:** - Laura Gross, VP of Membership for ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter **Guests:** - Adam Bonsky, CEO & President, ABC Insurance Trust - Larry Crocker, Fiduciary Consulting Group /// **Segment 1: Introduction (5 minutes)** - **Opening Music and Introduction by Hosts:**   - I...

JUSTIN R. ZINZOW Admitted to Practice Florida & Texas AV Preeminent® Rated Attorney Fla. Board Certified in Construction Law   Justin R. Zinzow is a cowboy at heart, a businessman by passion, and a lawyer by profession.   Hailing from a small cattle and horse farm in Upstate New York, Justin's journey has been defined   by hard work, entrepreneurship, and a deep love for American values. From his...

Carol Bowen, J.D., is the Associated Builders and Contractors' chief lobbyist. For more information about upcoming legislation, contact Carol at cbowen@abcflorida.com. /// Website: ABCFLGulf.org https://www.facebook.com/abcflgulf/ https://twitter.com/abcflgulf https://www.linkedin.com/company/associated-builders-&-contractors-florida-gulf-coast-chapter/   Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)...

Carol Bowen, J.D., is the Associated Builders and Contractors' chief lobbyist in Florida. For more information about upcoming legislation, contact Carol at cbowen@abceastflorida.com. /// Website: ABCFLGulf.org https://www.facebook.com/abcflgulf/ https://twitter.com/abcflgulf https://www.linkedin.com/company/associated-builders-&-contractors-florida-gulf-coast-chapter/   Associated Builders and Con...

John (JC) Hudgison is a native of Columbus, Georgia. He advanced his education by attending and graduating from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Architecture & Design (B. Arch), and is scheduled to attain a Master's in Public Administration (MPA) from Troy University in 2022. JC is currently the Construction Services Center Manager and Chief Building Official for the City of Tampa, F...

David joined Guignard Company in 2021 and is Vice-President of its Tampa office. Introduced to surety as a college student when he was hired by a Tampa bond agency, David has developed a reputation for hard work, strong ethics, and being a tireless supporter of the construction industry. During his 25+ year career, David has worked with all types and sizes of contractors. From startups with first-...

Guest: Ben Brubeck, VP of Regulatory, Labor, & State Affairs at ABC National Ben Brubeck is vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs at the Associated Builders and Contractors, a construction industry trade association representing more than 21,000 general contractors, subcontractors and industry partners. A recognized expert in procurement, labor and employment issues impacting the c...