Legacy of Leadership Fireside Chat

Jerry Shapiro became President of Shapiro & Duncan in 1993, after mastering the economics of the mechanical contracting business as a member of our estimating team from 1978 to 1993. As President, Jerry oversees business development activities as well as operations of the Service, Design Build and Estimating Departments. He also reviews and approves final bids and job cost budgets. In addition, he takes a lead role in communication with subcontractors, vendors, and general contractors. Jerry has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland.

Lynn Stith Bennett brings over 40 years of expertise in the construction industry, demonstrating an unparalleled commitment to excellence and leadership. Since joining Coakley & Williams Construction (CWC) in 1987, Lynn has been instrumental in shaping the company's growth and success.

As Chief Executive Officer, Lynn drives the company's strategic vision, focusing on enhancing Organizational Health, Culture, Team Building, and Change Management. Her oversight of Corporate Operations, which includes Risk Management, Finance, Marketing, IT, and Human Resources, ensures that CWC remains at the forefront of industry innovation and operational excellence.

Lynn's influence extends beyond CWC. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Breakthrough T1D (Formerly JDRF) Mid-Atlantic Chapter and on the Corporate Advisory Council for A Wider Circle, reflecting her deep commitment to community service and philanthropy. She is also a member of ULI Washington’s Prince George’s County Local Product Council, a certified LEED Accredited Professional (BD+C), and a Designated Design-Build Professional, underscoring her dedication to sustainable practices and innovative construction methods.

Lynn has held numerous prestigious leadership roles throughout her career. She was the Chair of the Board of Directors for ABC Metro Washington in 2021 and was honored as one of the Washington Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business in 2020. Her leadership within the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) DC chapter is particularly noteworthy; she served as President in 2019, and they recognized her outstanding contributions with the Corporate Leadership Award in 2016 and the Woman of Impact Award in 2021.

Lynn Stith Bennett's career is marked by her visionary leadership, her commitment to driving positive change within the construction industry, and her dedication to fostering growth, innovation, and excellence across all her professional and community endeavors.

Michael Bellaman has served as President and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors since 2011. In his role, Bellaman leverages the merit shop philosophy to help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. 

Under his leadership, ABC has deployed an association wide strategic planning framework to align all chapters and members which, since 2011, has led to results including: increasing members participation in ABC’s STEP Health and Safety Management System by over 100%; the number of fair and open competition-friendly states by 1,100%; Free Enterprise Alliance fundraising by 200%; and media by 1,400%.

Bellaman has also launched initiatives that have strengthened ABC members’ value proposition, such as a construction technology and innovation initiative, a grassroots political advocacy app and growing national recognition for the National Craft Championships and Construction Management Competition.

Bellaman is dedicated to helping ABC members and the entire construction industry achieve industry-leading health safety. He is a co-founder of the Construction Coalition for a Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace and has championed a roadmap for companies whose leaders want to transform their safety programs through ABC’s STEP Health and Safety Management System.

A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Bellaman earned a bachelor’s in architectural engineering and spent more than two decades in the construction industry before joining ABC.