Mike Epstein
Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA), a statewide commercial construction trade association, recently elected a new board president and added four new directors to its board.
Mike Epstein, owner and managing member of Tucson-based Epstein Construction, has been tapped as ABA’s new board president. Four new directors were also elected: Steve Grauer, vice president and district manager of the Western District at Hensel Phelps Construction Co. in Phoenix; Todd Klimas, vice president of Tempe-based Wilson Electric; Brad Lloyd, vice president and project executive of Tucson-based Lloyd Construction; and Dan Puente, president and founder of Tempe-based D.P. Electric.
Now in its 22nd year, ABA is an alliance of the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The ABA serves Arizona’s construction industry through advocacy, education, and networking opportunities.
Epstein is one of ABA’s original members and he is proud to have maintained his membership for 22 years. A former chairman of ABA’s southern Arizona chapter, he is excited about the year ahead, especially since ABA’s membership is beginning to grow after several years of flat growth.
“Our industry is facing severe shortages of qualified trade skilled workers, and one of my priorities will be to improve our outreach to high school students who are looking for an exciting and rewarding career,” Epstein said.
He is also looking forward to helping ABA with two new groups, the Young Builders Council and the Leadership Development Forum (LDF) Alumni group. The LDF Alumni group was launched in March and the Young Builders Council will launch in August.
“These groups are going to be instrumental in developing future leaders of the ABA,” he said. “We encourage industry professionals 40 and under to learn how our Young Builders Council can support ongoing education and networking. And, our LDF Alumni group is working to keep graduates of our year-long intensive leadership training class active within our association and connected with opportunities.”
Increasing ABA membership statewide is also a priority for Epstein, who has been involved in the commercial construction industry since 1983.
“I have gained a profound appreciation for the passion and desire our membership has to make our industry better,” he said. “The ABA has been instrumental in my own professional growth, and it is a model organization that provides multi-faceted opportunities for small business and large businesses to work together. All of us are busy with our businesses, but our members can attest that being involved on some level with ABA helps to advance our industry.”
Returning officers to ABA’s board include 1st Vice President Ken Kortman of Kortman Electric, 2nd Vice President Martin Hedlund, of Sundt Construction, Treasurer Ken Kellaney, of National Bank of Arizona, and Legal Advisor Mike Holden, of Holden, Willits, PLC. Newly elected Steve Grauer, Todd Klimas, Brad Lloyd and Dan Puente join a roster of 12 other industry professionals who serve as ABA’s directors. Rob Lafferty of RML Electric, Wes McClure of Wilson Electric and Rob Caylor of Caylor Construction were also designated as Life Directors.
About Mike Epstein, 2016 ABA President and Owner of Epstein Construction
Mike Epstein has been involved in the commercial construction industry since 1983. It was at the suggestion of two architecture professors at the University of Arizona in 1983, that he sought a summer job as a laborer on a commercial construction project. It was during this time that he decided to make construction his career and pursue owning his own construction company.
In 1990, having passed the exam two years prior, the dream became a reality. The original business plan was to build custom homes and work from home. In 1993 Epstein Construction built out their first tenant improvement and the rest is history. The company has logged more than 2,500 various projects ranging from small office tenant improvement to new government facilities.
In 2013 Epstein Construction began performing work in the State of California. Throughout the many changes to the economy and the construction industry, the company has maintained its original mission; to provide high quality construction and unprecedented customer service. Throughout the last 25+ years, Epstein Construction has seen dramatic changes in the market and has managed to retain a majority of their original clients.
Epstein has been an ABA member since its inception in 1994. He has been on the State Board of Directors for the past four years and served as chairman of Southern Arizona in 2004. He is a 2013 graduate of the ABA’s Senior Executive Program (SEP).
