The Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA) marked a major milestone in workforce development by graduating more than 100 construction professionals from its leadership development programs, underscoring the organization’s long-term commitment to building Arizona’s next generation of industry leaders.
The graduation ceremony took place Dec. 4 at The Clayton House in Scottsdale and recognized participants who completed the ABA’s Leadership Development Forum, Women in Leadership, and Emerging Leaders Forum programs. Together, the three initiatives are designed to strengthen leadership capacity across Arizona’s construction sector at every career stage.
Throughout the year-long programs, participants focused on developing leadership and communication skills, expanding professional networks, and gaining a deeper understanding of Arizona’s construction landscape. The programs aim to help companies address ongoing workforce challenges while preparing future leaders to guide projects, teams and organizations through a rapidly evolving industry.
“Professional development is the foundation of a thriving construction industry,” said Kim Davids, President of the Arizona Builders Alliance. “These graduates represent the future leaders who will guide our industry through evolving challenges while maintaining the high standards Arizona construction is known for. By investing in leadership training, we're building a stronger workforce that can meet the growing demands of our state's infrastructure needs.”
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The event also highlighted the ABA’s role as a connector within Arizona’s construction community. Industry veterans, emerging professionals and representatives from member companies gathered to recognize graduates and celebrate the collaborative spirit that defines the association’s leadership programs.
Networking was a central theme of the evening, reflecting how the programs encourage long-term professional relationships that extend well beyond the classroom. Graduates often continue to collaborate across companies and disciplines, strengthening project delivery and innovation statewide.
“These leadership programs create connections that extend far beyond the classroom,” said Crystal Pierce, Director of Business Development at FFKR Architects. “The relationships formed through these initiatives strengthen our entire industry and create opportunities for collaboration that benefit construction projects throughout Arizona.”
ABA’s leadership development efforts combine technical industry knowledge with essential leadership and management skills, helping participants navigate workforce shortages, regulatory complexity and increasing project demands. By bringing together professionals from a wide range of construction disciplines, the programs mirror the collaborative nature of modern construction projects and promote a more inclusive and resilient workforce.
The association said these initiatives play a critical role in closing the construction workforce gap by preparing professionals to take on expanded responsibilities and leadership roles within their organizations. As Arizona continues to see strong population growth and infrastructure investment, the need for skilled construction leaders remains a top priority for contractors across the state.
More information about the Arizona Builders Alliance’s leadership development programs is available at azbuilders.org.
Originally reported by Construction Citizen.
