In this episode of Beyond the Build, Kelvin Enfinger sits down with Jennifer Conoley, President & CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest, to discuss the strategy behind economic development in Northwest Florida.

Jennifer shares how regional collaboration, site readiness, infrastructure investment, and workforce alignment are driving major industry recruitment across the Panhandle. From aerospace and defense to advanced manufacturing, we explore what it really takes to compete for high-impact projects, and why long-term vision matters more than ever.

If you care about jobs, infrastructure, and keeping young talent in our region, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

In this episode of Beyond the Build, Associated Builders & Contractors Kristen Swearingen, Vice President of Government Affairs, and Melanie Pfeiffenberger, Senior Director of Political Affairs, take us inside the advocacy work shaping the commercial construction industry. We discuss how ABC’s political programs - including the ABC PAC and the Free Enterprise Alliance - support merit shop policy for contractors across the country, where key issues like Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and merit-based visa reform stand today, and what contractors should be watching as we head into the 2026 election cycle. This conversation offers practical insight into how policy decisions in Washington and in the states directly impact contractors, workforce development, and the future of our industry.

This podcast episode features a conversation with Carol Bowen, Chief Lobbyist of Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida. The episode provides insights into the challenges and opportunities within the construction industry and the impact of political dynamics on legislative priorities. The conversation covers various legislative bills and industry challenges, including the statute of repose, commercial construction permitting, property tax reform, owner direct purchase, anti-development pressure, and the importance of advocacy at the legislative conference.

Takeaways

• Lobbying and Advocacy
• Legislative Planning and Advocacy
• Construction Industry Challenges

In this episode of Beyond the Build, host Kelvin Enfinger sits down with Greg Sizemore to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry today - the workforce shortage. But as Greg explains, this isn’t just a labor problem. It’s a cultural, educational, and policy issue that affects how young people view the trades and how decisions are made far from the jobsite.

Greg shares insights from a national perspective on why the industry struggles to attract talent, how policy and perception impact workforce development, and what contractors, educators, and communities can do to change the narrative. From apprenticeships to advocacy, this episode goes beyond the headlines to unpack what it will take to build the next generation of skilled professionals.