Strength in Numbers

by Matt Cosentino | Jan 14, 2025

While there are certainly some professionals who join a regional or industry association in order to simply add a fancy new entry to their résumé, it doesn’t take long to realize that the potential benefits are much more substantial. Not only do these organizations bring like-minded people together for crucial networking opportunities, but they also provide educational resources, the ability to support charitable causes and a representative to act as the voice for its membership on key issues.

That last responsibility is one that Samantha DeAlmeida Roman especially takes seriously in her role as the president of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) New Jersey Chapter, which has 1,400 members across the state in the construction industry.

“Our members are running businesses, they’re very busy in their day-to-day operations, they’re employing people and they’re working to support their families and to make New Jersey better,” she says. “I am here as their advocate.”

While DeAlmeida Roman doesn’t design projects or swing a hammer herself on job sites, she comes from a family of construction workers, recognizes the part the industry plays in the state’s economy and is proud to lobby on the behalf of ABC’s membership on legislative issues and to promote their work. Whether she’s advocating for equal opportunities for contracts or safe working conditions, members are fortunate to have her support.

It helps that she comes from a government affairs background and also serves as a political science professor.

“Being an advocate, being able to speak to legislators and lawmakers about the issues our companies face, about the things they are doing well with and the ways in which they could use some support, that is very important to me, and it’s not something the average person is typically able or readily available to do. So I’m happy to do it for them,” she says.

“It is one of the most critical pieces of my job and I take a lot of pride in it. But I also take a lot of pride in educating our members on the civic engagement part, so if they do want to speak to a legislator in the future and it is something outside of the ABC, they’ll know how to do that. This way, they have those tools moving forward.”

Typically, companies apply to ABC for membership and all of their employees are then members. The list includes contractors, suppliers and manufacturers, as well as those who provide services to the construction industry, such as attorneys and accountants.

ABC has a Young Professionals Committee that DeAlmeida Roman calls one of its most valuable, and she encourages professionals to get involved in organizations like hers as early as possible. That’s the idea behind the South Jersey Young Professionals Association (SJYPA), which accepts members as young as 21.

“So many people, when they’re young, really don’t know how to get involved or where to go to get involved,” says Charles Dennen, an attorney at Archer & Greiner who serves as president of the SJYPA. “I think SJYPA provides a great forum for young people who are interested in getting involved and meeting like-minded young professionals. It’s a very comfortable setting, it’s a very friendly group and it’s welcoming of anyone. … I think getting involved early is very important and can be beneficial to your personal and professional growth.”

Dennen was inspired to first join and then take on a leadership role at the SJYPA because of its philanthropic mission. Its signature event is the Halo Ball, held in the spring, which has raised nearly $700,000 for South Jersey nonprofits while helping to bring awareness to their causes. The organization will also be holding its annual holiday toy drive on Dec. 12 at Blue Monkey Tavern in Merchantville.

In addition, the SJYPA started a Speaker Series in September to provide education to its members on various topics, and of course the networking aspect is a constant throughout the year.

“There are business connections and business development opportunities, and there are also opportunities for friendship,” Dennen says. “I am genuinely friends with several of the people I have met through SJYPA, and they wouldn’t be part of my life otherwise. Networking is definitely a big part of it. We are seeking to connect young people who are interested in growing their networks, and at the end of the day things get done and people get helped by knowing more people.”

That is a sentiment that DeAlmeida Roman shares, and she has seen business connections happen frequently through ABC.

“We do a lot of networking events, and hearing about big projects that are going to be going on or what’s coming down the pike, and just making valuable connections with other people in the industry, that’s all really important to members,” she says. “I’ve seen [business deals get done] in real time. We have a great event called Meet the Generals that we do in North Jersey and South Jersey, and it’s basically speed dating for general contractors with subcontractors. I’ve seen deals brokered at that meeting, and then I’ve seen the outcomes because we have our Excellence in Construction Awards, where the projects are showcased. So I’ve gotten to see the fruits of that networking event firsthand.”

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Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 14, Issue 11 (November 2024).

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Author: Matt Cosentino

Strength in Numbers

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