ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, December 16, 2022—Branch Group, headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, today announced that its Branch Builds business unit has been named an Accredited Quality Contractor by Associated Builders and Contractors, the first year it has earned the prestigious credential for its commitment to corporate responsibility. Only 450 of the nation’s elite merit shop construction contractors earned the credential in 2021.
“We’re honored to be selected as an AQC member. I’m proud of our entire Branch team, who works hard to ensure our commitment to quality and safety not just for our customers and projects, but our employee owners as well,” says Cathy Underwood, President of Branch Builds.
Launched nearly 30 years ago, ABC’s AQC program provides recognition to world-class construction firms that have documented their commitment in five areas:
- Quality
- Safety performance
- Talent management, and inclusion, diversity and equity
- Craft and management education
- Community relations
“Accredited Quality Contractors set the standard in the contracting community in safety, culture, workforce development, innovation, diversity, and quality,” said 2022 ABC National Chair of the Board of Directors Stephanie Schmidt, president of Poole Anderson Construction, State College, Pennsylvania. “Congratulations to this high-performing construction company. Daily, the leaders and employees of Branch Builds commit to the highest level of corporate and community achievement, exemplifying the best about ABC membership.”
In earning the AQC credential, each member company commits to world-class safety by achieving Gold, Platinum or Diamond level in ABC’s STEP Safety Management System. Founded more than three decades ago, STEP dramatically improves safety performance among construction industry participants, with top performers achieving incident rates more than eight times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average.
AQC members also take the following pledge:
As an Accredited Quality Contractor, our company is committed to providing our clients with the highest quality construction services, and we care deeply about our employees and the communities in which we build. We are proud to be part of the construction industry and are dedicated to the principles of free enterprise. We commit ourselves to serve our communities and provide our employees with the skills they need to work safely and productively in order to meet the needs of our clients.
AQC is recognized by Construction Users Roundtable, an organization founded by leading construction project owners.
About ABC: Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 that represents more than 21,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 69 chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. Visit us at abc.org.
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About Branch Group
Headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, and serving clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, the Branch Group touches all aspects of the built environment. As a full-service construction solutions partner, we are committed to exceptional performance and to developing business relationships sustained by mutual benefit and respect.
The Branch Group has total revenues of nearly $480 million and a workforce of more than 1000 employee-owners. Through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), we ensure that every employee has a vested interest in our success. Visit www.branchgroup.com to learn more.
