Looking Ahead with Cautious Optimism

Happy 2025! Hard to believe another year has flown by. Is it just me, or as we get older, do the years really get shorter?
As we begin the year, as an Association, we want to make sure we embrace new ideas yet don’t mess with our current successes. Each year, our events fill up faster and faster and we are sorry for those that can’t attend an event once it is sold out. In 2025, we are working with our golf venue to see if we can have a morning flight and an afternoon flight – an idea they have always nixed in the past. I think new management at the course is open to the possibility - not a promise but we’re hopeful. Still, please make your reservations to all our events as soon as you get the invitations so you don’t miss out! Our annual dinner, golf event, lobster bake and holiday party are always filled to the max with terrific food and great networking … and when Todd Diorio and Matt Stoddard are both in the same room, you never know what entertainment to expect.
This year, we are adding a new event – a “Trade/Vendor Show” on May 6. Please watch for the flyers as we believe this will be a sold out event even in the first year. We are limiting participation to the first 50 Vendors that pay to sign up, so if you are interested, please reply promptly when you get the brochure.
For a while, our members and union partners enjoyed participating in large projects: the Tappan Zee Bridge (not a mistake - that’s what it really is), the casino projects in Monticello and Newburgh, a lot of work in hospitals and schools and we flourished. However, during the past couple of years we’ve survived mostly with the federal dollars targeted for infrastructure improvements but the high interest rates have hurt private development.
I am cautiously optimistic that with interest rates gradually coming down, the many projects on the shelves for the last few years will start up and we will see a return to a normal level of construction and hours.
Thank you to all our members: Those who have been supportive for so many years as well as our newest members. We truly value your support and participation and we vow to continue to champion our relationships across the board.
Best wishes for a great 2025.
Alan Seidman
Executive Director
“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur!” - Red Adair