2015 Hall of Fame Inductee

Jeff Merritt
Reynolds Construction, LLC

Mr. Jeffrey Merritt received his degree in Architectural Engineering from Penn State in 1985 and has more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry; 22 of which are with Reynolds. He currently serves as the President of Reynolds Construction, LLC, where he oversees the delivery of construction management services for clients such as school districts, higher education, county government, and municipal authorities across Pennsylvania. Jeff is also a shareholder of Reynolds Enterprises, Inc., which serves as the parent company for the diversified Reynolds family of companies. Other services offered by Reynolds include at-risk construction management, building commissioning, mechanical and electrical engineering, energy performance contracting, and emergency restoration services.

Over the past 15 years, Jeff has served as Reynolds’ project executive for more than 75 clients. He also leads the business development group and staff development for Reynolds’s 110 employees. He has earned two certifications awarded to construction professionals by CMAA and AIC. One of his most memorable projects during his time with Reynolds involved the complete renovation of the state capital complex in Harrisburg, PA. “If you can imagine the grandeur of the U.S. Capitol Building with its beautiful House and Senate chambers, our team managed the work at the State Capitol in Harrisburg and delivered a building of equal quality, that all Pennsylvanians can celebrate,” said Merritt.

Seeking to promote the building design and construction fields as attractive careers for today’s students, Jeff has affiliations with several construction programs in Pennsylvania. Since 1998, he has served on the Advisory Board for the Structural Design and Construction Engineering Technology program at Penn State Harrisburg. He is a past President of this Board, a position responsible for improving the program’s connection to high school students, maintaining an excellent curriculum, increasing student enrollment and increasing exposure within the business community. Jeff frequently visits to teach classes about construction topics at local colleges and high schools.

Jeff was asked to join the Board of Advisors for the Penn State Harrisburg campus in 2009. After several years of service and various other positions, he assumed the role of Chairman beginning in July 2015. In 2009, he was named a Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of York and Adams Counties. He has also served on the Diocesan Building Committee since 2007 for the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg. Finally, Jeff serves as a Board Member for York Catholic High School.

Outside of his work, some of Jeff’s hobbies include running, hiking, and being outdoors. He also likes to read and spend time with family, including his two grandchildren.2

2016 Hall of Fame Inductee

ARLINGTON, VA- Feb. 17: Michael D. Bellaman, president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors. Previously he was CEO of Americas for Bovis Lend Lease, and managing director of Grow the Pie Ventures, LLC. (Photo by Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly)

Since Feb. 1, 2011, Michael D. Bellaman has served as president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a national trade association representing 21,000 chapter members from 70 chapters. In his role, Bellaman leverages the merit shop philosophy to help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. He leads the association in delivering long-term strategic goals that include:

• Establishing ABC members as the world-class standard for health, safety and environment;
• Increasing the political influence of ABC;
• Being the leading force for workforce development and training; and
• Continuously growing and delivering value to a diverse and committed membership.

Bellaman is committed to helping ABC members and the industry achieve world class safety. He is a cofounder of the Construction Coalition for a Drug-and-Alcohol Free Workplace, an industry-wide initiative. He also has championed a roadmap for companies whose leaders want to transform their safety programs from the ground up through ABC’s industry-revolutionizing Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Plus. According to the Annual ABC Safety Performance Report, the average total recordable incidence rate (TRIR) of STEP participants is 50 percent better than the industry average, while STEP Diamond and Platinum companies’ average TRIRs are 72 percent and 86 percent better, respectively, than the industry average—a world-class level.