About BTEA Northeast
The Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEA) Northeast is the leading voice for the union building trades contractor throughout the Northeast. Across eight states, we encompass eight different area trade associations that employ construction contractors from several different local building trades unions and have collective bargaining agreements with 85 local unions.
For the past century, BTEA Northeast has made a substantial impact on the construction industry. Our members have enjoyed a productive working relationship with the various trade unions and national associations with whom we work on a daily basis. Our goal is to maintain a collaborative environment in which contractors and unions can work together to build the Northeast’s most complex projects, all while creating rewarding careers and serving the communities in which we build.
THE NORTHEAST’S
INDUSTRY VOICE
BTEA Northeast is the industry’s voice in unionized construction, leading negotiations on collective bargaining and maintaining strong affiliation with many national contractor associations. Along with several national affiliations, we maintain close working relationships with several of the area building trades unions. The BTEA Northeast forms labor committees from each of its eight trade groups to negotiate with 14 different trades covering over 85 different local unions in the northeast region.
INDUSTRY’S LEADING EDUCATION PROGRAMMING
Our members are lifelong learners, and we are committed to providing them with the tools they need to succeed. BTEA Northeast’s education and training program has been completely reimagined, and we are introducing the BTEA Educational Trust as the umbrella organization, providing member associations and union contractors with intensive skills training and professional development.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS & PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY
We maintain strong relationships between labor and management. Through organizing and sponsoring joint safety programs, informational seminars, training programs and other networking opportunities we foster beneficial partnerships and business relationships within the union construction industry.
As trustees on several joint apprenticeship and training committees, BTEA Northeast assists our members in recruiting the most qualified and high-performing men and women needed to meet and support the safety and quality standards of our industry.
THE WELCH CORP.
PRESIDENT, BTEA NORTHEAST
Albert J. Welch III
“We are over 85 union contractors strong serving the commercial, institutional, infrastructure, energy and water projects throughout the Northeast. Today, our members are building the most complex projects and driving quality construction, the highest safety standards and continuing to contribute to developing a strong construction industry with opportunities for all.”
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Thomas J. Gunning
“Our over 100-year legacy of union construction brings incredible value to the region we serve. We continue to build strong relationships between our contractor members and the local unions that include over 300 workers. As we move forward in a changing construction industry, we know that our best practices for safety, building excellence and harmony amongst our members will serve the region well.”
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Thomas S. Gunning
“BTEA Northeast has built an outstanding reputation for ensuring that our contractors and the workforce they employ have the best working conditions and benefits needed to ensure that the construction industry is one of the Northeast’s most valuable economic development engines.”
BTEA NORTHEAST STAFF
Thomas S. Gunning
Executive Director, BTEA Northeast
Thomas J. Gunning
Executive Director Emeritus, BTEA Northeast
Warren Creamer
Director of Industry & Government Affairs
Jeanne E. Tempesta
Administrator
Melanie Franklin
Director of Finance
David P. Powell
Government Relations
LEADERSHIP OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Albert J. Welch III
The Welch Corp.
VICE PRESIDENT
Kevin R. Gill
McCusker-Gill, Inc.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Russell J. Anderson
Southeastern Metal Fabricators, Inc.
David Carter
Beacon Waterproofing & Restoration, Inc.
John S. Desmond
Cox Engineering Co.
Rodney Frias
S&F Concrete Inc.
Mark Kennedy
John M. Kennedy Company
Donald MacKinnon
Component Assembly Systems Inc.
Robert Marshall
Marshall Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. Inc.
Francis H. Norton
Bay State Air
Thomas J. Steeves
T. J. McCartney Inc.
Laurence Miller
Salem Glass Company
Councils
BTEA NORTHEAST WOMEN
BTEA Northeast Women will bring together the region’s leading women in the construction industry in this newly formed Council. To learn more and join an upcoming meeting or event, email: jtempesta@btea.com
FUTURE LEADERS
BTEA Northeast has partnered with NECA Boston and several other associations to convene special programs for the industry’s young leaders. To learn more and join upcoming events or meetings, email: jtempesta@btea.com
If you have suggestions for other programs or want more information, email: jtempesta@btea.com
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion are top agenda items for building an inclusive construction industry. BTEA Northeast offers a special series of programs on DEI topics. To learn more, see program offerings here.
