A Word From AGCVA Chair, Arlene Lee

What Does Being A Part of AGCVA Mean To You?

What does being a part of AGCVA mean to you? For me, it’s being part of a long legacy in a five-generation family business and seeing how our history is intertwined with AGCVA’s history and the construction industry in Virginia. It’s being part of carrying things forward to the next generation. It’s watching so many kids who came to the Annual Convention year after year, watching them grow, and knowing that their parents and grandparents were once those same kids in AGCVA.

It’s knowing that AGCVA has my back when I need a resource for industry information, training for my teams – both field and office – or leadership training for myself and company leaders. It’s knowing that AGC supports and provides resources for workforce development and bringing more people into the industry. It’s knowing that training is available to grow the employees we already have and the many opportunities for our young leaders to learn, grow and lead. It’s knowing that programs like Virginia BEST and the Safety Roundtable make us better not just as companies but as people, too, and ultimately becoming an avenue for caring and connection. It’s knowing that we save money and resources through AGCVA’s affiliate discount programs and can support employee’s retirements through the 401k program. 

It’s knowing that we have a network of professionals and industry experts at our fingertips. It’s knowing that the connection we have made through AGCVA haven’t just helped our business but resulted in lifelong friendships and sometimes ones that last for generations in our families.

It’s knowing that AGCVA has my back and advocates for me. When we became a women-owned and run company, we applied to add the “W” to our “S” for SWaM Certification. We were originally denied, which was an unintended technical result of a change in the interpretation of a regulation. AGCVA along with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce stepped in to help. Within two weeks were surrounded by a team that included lawyers, lobbyists and legislatures. They worked together to request a regulation change and were positioned to shepherd a bill if the regulation change didn’t go through. They succeeded in the regulation change, and we got our “W,” but it was never just about us. Hundreds of companies across the state were helped by the regulation change. Companies that lost their certification, due to the same technicality, were able to successfully reapply.

While AGCVA has a powerful voice with lawmakers and regulators, advocacy means more than lobbying during session, it means AGCVA is literally there for your company too. I know I am not the only one to appreciate all AGCVA has meant in my life and that of my family, company and employees. 

I invite you to join me in reaching out to other contractors who are not a part of the AGCVA family. AGCVA is offering a Fall Member Special. Any new members that join between Aug. 29, 2024, and Oct. 31, 2024, will get the rest of the year for free. We are strong together.