Board Sets 2025/26 Goals

On June 5th, the ASAMW Board set 2025/26 goals to further the mission of the Association. The goals address:

• Legislation/Advocacy to make significant changes in current payment practices to ensure the financial success of subcontractors. Issues to be addressed include payment on a date certain, the ability to stop work if not paid, and change order and retainage reform.
• Education and Events to make every member a "value-added" subcontractor. The board will seek to build ASAMW into a community of subcontractors who provide added value to each project because of how they work together and how they work with their General Contractor partners throughout the entire project lifecycle.
• General Contractor Partners will assist ASAMW in creating a community of subcontractors who provide "value-added" services on each project. ASAMW will continue meeting with each GC Partner on a regular basis and offer opportunities for GC Partners to host networking events with members.
• Membership will continue to grow through targeted onboarding and engagement programs and enhanced social media presence.

HITT Hits the Top Ten
HITT jumped from number 26 to number 10 in the latest ENR report of top general contractors in the nation. Whiting-Turner (at #4) is the only other ASAMW GC Partner to make the top ten. Others in the top 100 include Gilbane (17), Clark (19), Balfour Beatty (32), and Consigli (40).

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Economy Getting Bleak
Housing and Commercial construction have flattened in our area (Richmond District) according to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book report. Nationwide the number of abandoned projects hit the highest number on record in May. Construction Connect reports an 11.4% increase over the previous month. Bid date delays and on hold projects are about normal, but this increase in abandoned projects is unprecedented. 

While private projects are being abandoned, the outlook for public projects remains flat, which is a positive sign. According to this article from Construction Dive, public projects placed on hold were below previous years and abandonments are flat.

ABC reports 22% of contractors have seen project delays or abandonments in this Construction Dive Article. What is your experience?

Claims
ConsensusDocs offers an excellent reminder of how to successfully address a claim by preparing early. Be ready for claims before the project begins by knowing the important sections of the contract and meeting all deadlines. Are you prepared to document all potential claims with formal project documents, documented communication and other directives? Value added subcontractors work in partnership with the GC and Owner to properly prepare for claims. 

Problem Subs
Looking from a General Contractors perspective, it is easy to see why some stay awake at night worrying about a problem sub. ASAMW encourages all members to become “value added” subcontractors who bring solutions and not problems to its clients. This article from Construction Dive reveals how GCs have to prepare for problem subs. It shows how a Subcontractor who is not a problem can get caught up with contract provisions that protect the GC from a problem Sub.

Ike is Retiring
This newsletter will continue on a monthly basis after the next edition. The ASAMW newsletter (Ike’s Thoughts) will not go away.

SubExcel
Our national organization of ASA is having its annual conference in Oklahoma City this year. Mark your calendars and join other members from our Metro Washington Chapter on Sept. 16 – 18, 2025 for programming, networking and fun. Click here for more information.

MEMBER NEWS

Heat Stroke – Watch this video provided by Ryan Hogan at Preferred Insurance on how to recognize the signs of heat stroke before it’s too late. 60 seconds to learn how to save a life.

ADVOCACY

Federal – ASAMW Members visited selected lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss issues of national interest.  Martin Press, Cindy Athey, Mark Flavin, Robby Couch, Megan Bailiff, Patti Coen and I visited three Senators and four Representatives to discuss issues to improvement payment to Subcontractors as part of the ASA National Fly-in day on the Hill. Our primary legislative priority was supporting a proposed bill that would require timely payment of change orders on federal construction projects.

DC– Legislation has been introduced by Council Member Kenyan McDuffie that will protect subcontractors’ payment for work completed. If you are familiar with any member of the DC Council, please let us add you to the list of those to help get this legislation passed.   

MD – ASA of Metro Washington is working with ASA of Baltimore to seek legislation that will protect subcontractors from unfair contract clauses.   

VA – No report.

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 4, 2025 -  Fall Golf Tournament
September 9, 2025 - SAVE THE DATE - ASAMW/CFMA Joint Event
September 16-18, 2025 - Subexcel
March 7, 2026 - SAVE THE DATE - 62nd Annual Subby Awards Gala