On June 20th, members of the Wabash Valley Contractors Association gathered for our highly anticipated June dinner meeting at the Country Club of Terre Haute. The evening was a dynamic blend of networking, fine dining, and insightful discussions, gathering industry leaders from across the Wabash Valley. The atmosphere was filled with camaraderie, reinforcing the strong bonds within our local business community.
This month’s speaker was Terre Haute’s newly elected mayor, Brandon Sakbun, from the Terre Haute Mayor's Office. Mayor Sakbun’s presence was eagerly anticipated, and he did not disappoint. He provided a comprehensive overview of his administration's plans and initiatives, particularly those that directly impact the building trades and related industries in Terre Haute. Mayor Sakbun began by addressing the ongoing efforts to tackle blighted properties in the city. He outlined a multi-faceted approach that includes stricter enforcement of property maintenance codes, incentives for property owners to rehabilitate dilapidated buildings, and collaboration with local developers to repurpose these spaces. His commitment to revitalizing these areas aims to not only improve the aesthetic appeal of our city but also to create new opportunities for housing and commercial development. The Mayor also addressed the current housing crisis affecting many residents. He emphasized the importance of increasing the availability of affordable housing and highlighted several upcoming projects aimed at expanding housing options for low- and middle-income families. These projects are expected to boost the local construction industry, providing jobs and stimulating economic growth. Another significant focus of the evening was on licensing and permit regulation changes. Mayor Sakbun acknowledged the challenges faced by local contractors and developers due to bureaucratic red tape. He shared his administration's commitment to streamlining these processes. In addition to addressing economic and structural issues, Mayor Sakbun also spoke passionately about assisting the homeless community. He outlined several initiatives aimed at providing comprehensive support services, including housing, healthcare, and job training programs. The goal is to not only offer immediate relief but also to create sustainable pathways out of homelessness for the most vulnerable members of our community. The evening concluded with a lively Q&A session, where Mayor Sakbun answered questions from the audience. His openness and willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue were greatly appreciated by all in attendance. The Mayor's vision for Terre Haute is one of progress, inclusivity, and sustainable development, and his leadership is poised to bring about significant positive changes for our city. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mayor Sakbun for spending the evening with us and for sharing his inspiring vision. Our gratitude also goes out to all our members who joined us for another successful dinner meeting. Your participation and engagement are what make these events truly special. As we look forward to our next gathering, we encourage everyone to stay connected and informed. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for details on our upcoming golf outing, which promises to be a fantastic opportunity for fun and networking. Information will be available soon, so stay tuned! ![]() The Wabash Valley Contractors Association (WVCA), a leading coalition of business management professionals committed to fostering growth in the construction industry throughout Terre Haute, Vigo County, and surrounding areas, hosted a successful dinner event last night, showcasing achievements and initiatives aimed at enhancing local development. The evening, held at The Country Club of Terre Haute, brought together members of the construction community to celebrate advancements in the industry and discuss future endeavors. Among the distinguished guests was Craig Maschino, Director of the Terre Haute Regional Airport, who served as the keynote speaker for the event. The association expressed its gratitude to Mr. Maschino for his insightful address, which provided updates and insights into the exciting projects underway at the Terre Haute Regional Airport. Attendees were fascinated to learn that the airport features a remarkable 9,020-foot runway, capable of accommodating any aircraft in the world, reaffirming its status as the third busiest airport in Indiana. During his presentation, Mr. Maschino also shed light on the growing demand for Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) and highlighted the airport's innovative approach to addressing this need through high school pathway to learning classes, offering non-traditional student night courses. This initiative not only contributes to the development of skilled labor but also serves as a testament to the airport's commitment to fostering education and workforce development within the community. Craig also took the opportunity to promote the upcoming Terre Haute Airshow during his address. Scheduled to take place on June 1st and 2nd, this highly anticipated event promises exhilarating aerial displays, captivating performances, and family-friendly activities. Attendees can now secure their tickets by visiting https://www.terrehauteairshow.com/, ensuring they don't miss out on this exciting showcase of aviation excellence and entertainment. "The Wabash Valley Contractors Association extends its sincere appreciation to Craig Maschino for his engaging presentation and invaluable insights into the future of the Terre Haute Regional Airport," said Don Nusbaum, WVCA Board President. "His dedication to excellence and commitment to community development are truly commendable, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from his expertise." The dinner event served as a platform for members of the association to network, exchange ideas, and reaffirm their commitment to driving positive change in the construction industry and the broader community. Through collaborative efforts and strong leadership, the association remains committed in its mission to ensure that citizens of the Wabash Valley benefit from high-quality development and sustainable growth. Congratulations to L&W Supply for being the recipient of the prestigious Cornerstone Award! This award honors forward-thinking companies for their significant contributions to the construction industry. Although Todd Thorlton was unable to accept the award at the February dinner, we were thrilled to have him join us at this month's dinner meeting to receive this well-deserved recognition. Congrats to L&W Supply for their outstanding achievements and commitment to excellence!
Wabash Valley Contractors Association honors scholarship recipients and announces member awards2/23/2024
The Wabash Valley Contractors Association (WVCA) celebrated their members at the annual awards night dedicated to recognizing excellence within the industry and the association. “As the Board President of WVCA, I am constantly inspired by the incredible work of our members. Taking a moment to recognize and celebrate their achievements not only honors their hard work but also serves as a reminder of the collective impact we can achieve when we support and uplift one another,” states Don Nusbaum. Michael Shaw with Earl C. Rodgers & Associates received the prestigious President’s Award. The President’s Award is the highest honor within the association. Shaw was recognized for his outstanding support and dedication to the construction industry and support of the association. Tim Twitchell of Garmong Construction Services was awarded the Honorary Member Award. Twitchell’s many years of service were recognized through this award along with his passion and pledge to the industry. L&W Supply was the recipient of the Cornerstone Award. The Cornerstone Award recognizes a progressive company for their contributions within the construction industry. L&W Supply regrets its inability to attend the event; however, acknowledged with gratitude the honor of being selected to receive this recognition prior to the meeting. The annual awards night also recognized students who have shown exceptional academic excellence over their college careers by awarding several scholarships. Recipients in attendance included Bailey Truxal, Mason Unger, Kendra Deckard, and Hailey Walden. WVCA began their scholarship program in 1999 to encourage higher education for students of the Wabash Valley. Every year, the scholarship funds are supported by membership fees, the annual golf outing held in September and the Christmas party. WVCA has awarded over $101,000 dollars to eligible recipients in the last ten years alone.
The next round of scholarship applications is due on July 1, 2024. For applicant qualifications and the full application, visit www.wabashvalleycontractorsassociation.com/awards.html. Another successful Christmas Party is in the books! Thank you to everyone who came out to the 2023 Annual WVCA Christmas Party on Friday night. We appreciate our members, friends and families who attend each year. A special thank you to those who donated items to raffle, and thank you to the board for planning this event. Our 2023 Dinner Meetings concluded with last month's meeting!
A special THANK YOU goes out to Mike Rich from the Terre Haute Casino Resort who provided us updates on the casino. We also appreciate all our members taking an evening to come together at Rod & Gun Steakhouse. We’re looking forward to continuing these meetings throughout 2024! Our last member event of the year will be Annual Christmas Party on Friday, December 1. Another year, another successful golf outing! Thank you for all the Wabash Valley companies that came out for our Annual Scholarship Golf Outing.
Also, thank you to this year’s sponsors: MacAllister Rentals, Sycamore Engineering, Top Notch Indiana and Terre Haute Chevrolet. Another Dinner Meeting is in the books! Thank you to everyone who came out – as always, it was a pleasure getting all our members together. A special thank you goes out to Indiana State Baseball Head Coach Mitch Hannahs for attending as our guest speaker. Coach Hannahs spoke to our WVCA members about the culture he tries to achieve and gave us an insight on the ISU Baseball future. Our next event is when we’ll be swingin’ for scholarships – the annual Scholarship Golf Outing on Friday, September 8. See you on the links! Thank you to all that came to our June Dinner Meeting!
Just as always, we enjoyed our time at Rod & Gun Steakhouse with all our members and member organizations. We also want to thank Inee Mahan, N.E.A.T Coordinator from the Vigo Country School Corporation, for speaking to us on their efforts in helping high school students in the area enter the trades industry. We’ll see everyone on August 17 for our next Dinner Meeting.
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