T
he Associated Builders and
Contractors was founded in
1950 by a group of contractors in
and around Baltimore who believed that
construction projects should be awarded on
merit to the most qualified and responsible
low bidder. That belief produced the merit
shop philosophy which is based on free
enterprise and fairmarket principles.
ABC | BusinessWorld-
Magazine
| 1
A conversation with Michael Bellaman,
President/CEO of Associated Builders
and Contractors
The association evolved and changed through
the years, but remains connected to its
foundations by the same push for a level
playing field.
“Our bylaws and our policies are all around
producing and advocating for a philosophy
that allows companies to compete based upon
merit, based upon their point of difference,
