ARTICLE
Eastern Contractors Association, Inc.'s Annual Reception was held earlier this week at Franklin Plaza in Troy, New York. The cocktail and buffet reception gave us an excellent opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones. Everyone seemed to enjoy the atmosphere. Our thanks to the staff of Franklin Plaza for their hospitality. A good time was had by all! During the Annual Meeting portion of the evening, ECA's President and CEO Todd Helfrich reported that the association is performing in a positive manner financially and meeting its income and budgeted expense goals. He went on to highlight the numerous programs and benefits that the membership enjoyed in 2023. Chairman Lew Houghtaling also thanked out-going Board members Mike Lucey (Mid-State Industries and Bobbie Young (RBM Guardian Fire Protection) for their years of service to the organization. The highlight of the evening featured the presentation of this year's Special Recognition Award honoring Joel M. Howard III (Couch White, LLP), a highly respected attorney who has provided legal services to the construction industry for more than 50 years. Joel was in law school when he began his construction industry career in the late 1960s as a member of the General Building Contractors’ (GBC) staff. Following law school and time in the Army, he returned to GBC for several years (focusing primarily on lobbying the New York State Legislature) before going into private practice working almost exclusively on construction industry matters. His legal practice has covered the full gamut of topics, including labor issues, construction contracts, competitive building construction disputes, arbitration, trials, and appeals. Over the past five decades, Joel has advised many of the management trade associations in Upstate New York in labor and other legal matters, along with representing a very long list of contractors and subcontractors in the construction industry on a wide variety of legal issues that contractors typically confront. He has successfully tried and arbitrated cases throughout New York and other states. Joel is admitted to practice in New York, Vermont, Florida, and the District of Columbia, a number of federal district courts, and the U.S. claims court. Along with providing counsel to ECA and its members, Joel has also served four terms on ECA’s Board of Directors. His membership with ECA extends back to 1983 with his then-firm, Couch & Howard, which has since evolved into Couch White, LLP, where he remains as a Partner.