ABC Names Joel Thames Vice President of Safety and Workforce Development

Joel Thames will be the association’s new vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development

Associated Builders and Contractors has named Joel Thames as its new Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment and Workforce Development, reinforcing the association’s national focus on construction workforce development, apprenticeship education, jobsite safety, and long-term talent pipeline solutions.

The announcement comes as the construction industry continues facing significant skilled labor shortages and increasing demand for workforce training programs capable of developing the next generation of construction professionals.

In his new executive leadership role, Thames will oversee ABC’s national initiatives in health, safety, workforce development, and professional education programs that support the association’s 67 chapters and more than 24,000 member companies across the country. According to ABC, Thames will also help guide the development of education, safety, and workforce strategies designed to strengthen the merit shop construction industry and improve workforce readiness nationwide.

Thames brings more than two decades of construction industry experience to the position and has been deeply involved in ABC leadership at both the chapter and national levels. His previous roles include serving as past chair of the Trimmer Construction Education Fund Board of Trustees, past board chair of the New Orleans Bayou chapter, and former chair of the chapter’s education and training committees.

Before joining ABC National, Thames served as Corporate Director of Human Resources, Workforce Development, Risk Management, and Security for Performance Contractors Inc. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During his tenure, he developed and led workforce training and career advancement programs that supported thousands of construction professionals and helped build sustainable workforce pipelines for the industry.

ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman said Thames’ leadership experience and long-standing involvement in workforce education and safety initiatives make him a strong addition to the association’s executive team. ABC emphasized that Thames will play a key role in advancing programs focused on workforce readiness, human health, safety performance, and innovation in the construction industry.

For ABC members and contractors nationwide, the appointment signals ABC’s continued investment in workforce development strategies aimed at addressing labor shortages, strengthening apprenticeship education and improving safety culture across the construction industry. As workforce challenges continue affecting contractors throughout the country, ABC leaders say expanding education and training opportunities remains essential to sustaining industry growth and competitiveness.