Branch Honored as a Top-Performing Construction Contractor by ABC

Mar 9, 2023

Branch Builds, a business unit of Branch Group, was ranked 167 on Associated Builders and Contractors’ fifth annual Top Performers publication, which lists its contractor members that build the country’s most enduring, innovative, high-quality construction projects, ranked by work hours. Branch also ranked #88 on the ABC national list of Top General Contractors.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Associated Builders and Contractors for our quality construction work. This substantiates the hard work done every day by our employee owners. It is through their efforts, that we have been able to successfully perform so well these past few years. We are happy those efforts have been recognized,” says CEO, Donald D. Graul.

As an ABC Top Performer, Branch achieved Diamond status in ABC’s STEP Safety Management System, which makes the top-performing contractors more than six times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average, according to ABC’s Safety Performance Report. The majority of the honorees also must earn ABC’s Accredited Quality Contractor credential, which recognizes commitment to corporate responsibility in quality, safety, talent management—including inclusion, diversity and equity—education and community relations.

Branch was one of the top contractors named an ABC Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) in 2022.

“Branch invests in and attributes its successes to its people, and its value proposition gives their employees purpose, delivers quality to their clients and strengthens their bottom line,” said Michael Bellaman, president and chief executive officer of ABC. “Congratulations to Branch for raising the bar in developing people, winning work and delivering that work safely, ethically and profitably.”

“This year’s ABC Top Performers agree that culture is key,” said Michael Bellaman, president and CEO of ABC. “Not only is a strong corporate culture an essential component of a thriving and vibrant workplace, but it helps retain top talent, create safe and healthy jobsites, and build better communities. We honor this top-performing contractor and all employee owners at Branch who are placing the highest importance on investing in their people, health and safety, and innovation.”
Through STEP, AQC and other robust programs, Branch demonstrates it:

  • Sustain and grow their businesses, financially and economically
  • Offer market-competitive compensation, benefit and retirement packages
  • Commit to world-class safety
  • Commit to workforce development, education and creating career opportunities
  • Commit to an inclusive and diverse work environment
  • Develop opportunities for their employees to achieve their career dreams
  • Cultivate committed leadership

The ABC Top Performers lists identify the Top 250 Performers, Top General Contractors, Top Trade Contractors, Top Electrical Contractors, Top Plumbing/HVAC Contractors, Top Specialty Contractors and Top Performers by Market, all of which have earned the elite Accredited Quality Contractor credential. The Top Performers with Special Designations hold one or more special designations. The Top Performers were ranked by the number of hours worked in 2021, as reported in their 2022 STEP applications. The rankings also include lists of top-performing companies in 18 market segments, such as government, health care, infrastructure, military, retail, religious, high tech, airport and sports complexes

View the 2023 Top Performers lists at abc.org/topperformers.

Branch Builds is recognized as one of the largest and most respected construction management firms in Virginia and North Carolina. A 100 percent employee-owned company, we deliver exceptional results on a diverse array of projects to a broad range of private and public sector clients. Driven by a commitment to foster mutually beneficial relationships with our clients and industry partners, we operate on principles of shared respect and transparency.

Functioning as a business unit of The Branch Group, we serve clients in Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Learn more at www.branchbuilds.com.

SEARCH

Branch Builds Named Accredited Quality Contractor by ABC

Branch Builds Named Accredited Quality Contractor by ABC

Branch Builds Named Accredited Quality Contractor by ABC, Achieving Premiere Status in Construction Safety, Education and Culture. Branch Builds has been recognized by Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) as a 2022 Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC). AQC...

Ribbon Cutting at Henry L. Marsh Elementary School

Ribbon Cutting at Henry L. Marsh Elementary School

Recently, we celebrated the completion of our Henry L. Marsh Elementary school project in Richmond, Virginia. The mayor of Richmond, along with other local officials, spoke and helped celebrate the completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This project was completed...

Branch Builds Names First Female President

Branch Builds Names First Female President

Branch Builds is pleased to announce the promotion of Catherine Underwood from senior vice president to president. In this role, she is responsible for defining key initiatives, identifying business growth opportunities, as well as developing and executing the...

Going Green in the Construction Industry

Going Green in the Construction Industry

By 2030, LEED-certified projects will have diverted more than 540 million tons of waste from landfills. That’s a huge accomplishment when you consider the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched the rating system to the public just 20 years ago. Now, LEED...

Variety is the Spice of Life

Variety is the Spice of Life

Heather Bowman fell in love with the construction industry in college. After her freshman year as an unhappy engineering major at Virginia Tech, she went home to California for summer break. She started working as an intern for a company that was building a Navy...