Answer extracted from The Think Small Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How can construction associations support members during periods of industry contraction and uncertainty?
Construction associations support members through advocacy to legislators and government officials, resource mobilization (sourcing critical supplies like PPE), and peer-to-peer learning networks where contractors share best practices. These three pillars help contractors navigate regulatory uncertainty, supply chain disruption, and operational challenges during industry downturns.
Playing advocate when members need government access most
During crises like COVID-19, trade associations become the critical link between contractors and policymakers. Marissa Bankert explains that ABC Eastern PA served as the voice of members to legislators and government officials, ensuring the construction industry's real needs reached decision-makers. This advocacy role transforms an association from a networking forum into a direct channel for regulatory relief and industry-specific support.
The value of this function becomes acute when legislative deadlines compress and contractors individually lack the bandwidth to engage. A unified voice backed by 67-chapter network coverage across the United States and territories amplifies impact far beyond what any single firm could achieve alone.
Sourcing resources when supply chains freeze
Beyond policy work, associations address immediate operational pain by becoming resource hubs. During the pandemic, ABC Eastern PA actively sourced and distributed critical PPE—masks, hand sanitizer, and safety equipment—that contractors needed to stay operational. This role shifted the association from a governance body to a logistics partner solving real-world supply friction.
This function matters most when commercial supply chains fail contractors first, and associations with scale can negotiate access or pool demand across members to secure stock that individual buyers cannot.
Building collective knowledge through safety and best-practice groups
Perhaps most durable is the peer-to-peer learning infrastructure. The organization brought together safety groups so contractors could share best practices on implementing new safety protocols—whether COVID-specific or broader operational standards. This de-risks individual contractors' trial-and-error learning by pooling real experience across the membership.
Collective problem-solving reduces the cost of adaptation and ensures no member faces an unprecedented challenge entirely alone. A contractor in one county learns from peers across ABC Eastern PA's 17-county footprint, accelerating adoption and compliance without duplicated effort.
"Construction really is the foundation of our nation. Whether you're a laborer or a CEO, you're all helping to weave that fabric that we all walk upon every single day."
Marissa Bankert — President & CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors Eastern Pennsylvania. Bankert has built her career in association management, starting as a membership director in a realtors association before transitioning to the construction sector as an executive director working with independent electrical contractors. In her role leading ABC Eastern PA for just over a year, she brings experience in mentorship, volunteer leadership at board level, and a deep commitment to positioning the skilled trades as essential infrastructure.
To see how Bankert applies these principles in real time and hear more about the apprenticeship programs and workforce development initiatives driving construction's future, listen to the full episode on Listenly.
See also
What education and professional development services do construction trade associations offer their member contractors?
ABC Eastern PA offers apprenticeship programs registered with the state of Pennsylvania, technical education, leadership education, and business acumen training covering everything from apprenticeship to business ownership.
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People need to hear a message six or seven times before they notice it or begin to believe it, making repetition essential for both internal brand adoption and culture change within organizations.
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