Calendar

Meeting Itinerary

The ASA Think Tank committee is open to all members and meets twice per year to discuss pertinent industry issues and Association business. Besides the superior networking opportunity for business leaders to connect, the Think Tank helps guide the direction of ASA the education/awareness that is brought to the membership. Conversations from the Think Tank can be brought to ASA’s Board of Directors to take action on, commission research on, educate around, etc.  This is your chance to participate in a peer-to-peer forum with fellow ASA members and leaders.

Maximizing tax savings is a critical challenge for contractors and subcontractors operating under the OBBBA. Overlooked opportunities such as R&D tax credits and the 179D energy-efficient commercial building deduction can have a substantial impact on profitability and competitiveness. Many construction professionals, including design-build MEP contractors and specialty trades, may not realize how much of their daily work qualifies for these incentives. 

This session will demystify the IRS’s broad definition of “research” and clarify how activities like custom design, process improvement, and material testing can qualify for R&D credits. We’ll also break down the essentials of 179D, showing how energy-efficient building projects can unlock additional tax benefits. 

After this webinar, you will be able to: 

•Identify which construction activities may qualify for R&D tax credits and 179D deductions. 

•Understand the financial impact of leveraging these tax incentives on your projects and business performance. 

•Communicate the value of these opportunities to internal and external stakeholders. 

•Outline practical steps to document and claim R&D and 179D benefits within your organization.

Presented By: Wesley Veigle, CPA — Director, Boyer & Ritter

Wes Veigle is a Director at Boyer & Ritter and a key member of the firm’s Construction and Real Estate practice group. He supervises and conducts audits for construction companies and closely held businesses, oversees day‑to‑day engagement operations, and develops effective work plans to deliver clear outcomes. Wes also advises clients on tax‑saving strategies and compliance—bringing practical, field‑tested insights that help contractors improve financial performance and capture available incentives.

Management Leadership Structure Preparation Vs Ownership. 

Peer to Peer exchange discussing what Management Leadership Structure Preparation Vs Ownership every business needs to go to in preparation for succession and/or sale.

Getting the business ready.

Participants: Must be an ASA member company in good-standing and the forum is open to owners, senior executive level employees and other family members engaged in the business.

Description:

This session will walk through a standard workers’ compensation insurance Supplemental Application: - Operations and Benefits: Driver safety, Early Return to Work - Hiring Practices, Employee Selection and Claims: - Hiring and applicant screening practices, Is job-specific training provided? Subcontractors used? Workers’ compensation claims and what you have done to minimize recurrence. Safety Program and Organization: -Are owners involved in daily operations, how, and how much? -Active Injury and Illness Prevention Program? -Has OSHA visited or cited your business in the past year? -Do you have a Safety Officer, Safety Director or Risk Manager? What does that person do and how much time does she/he spend on safety in the course of a day or week? -Do employees receive safety training/orientation? -Any lifting exposures? -Forklift training/retraining provided? -Written Lockout/Tagout/Block out procedures in place? -Respiratory Protection Program in place? -Maximum height at which you will work? -Personal Protective Equipment provided? -Contractors- use of cranes, booms or similar heavy construction equipment? -Any work below grade? -Any Confined Space exposure? Closing and a note about what to do if you have an unfavorable claim history.

Who Should Attend:

Members’ owners and/or employees and insurance advisors- i.e. owners and officers, CFO’s who participate or may participate in the annual workers’ compensation insurance renewal process, their insurance agents and advisors, designated safety officers, General Superintendents and Foremen who are tasked with enforcing field safety practices, Human Resource personnel who manage insurance claims and who might participate in the workers’ compensation insurance renewal process, and whomever members perceive will benefit from this webinar

Presented By: Robert Tuman

2012 to present - President, CCR Safety Consulting.  CCR Safety Consulting provides an array of risk management and safety and accident prevention and training services to construction, manufacturing, and general industry companies. 

1984-2012. President and Founder, Compensation Claims Review Corp., 89 North Main St., Andover, MA 01810. CCR Corporation provided a wide array of risk management and safety and accident prevention services to construction and general industry corporate clients.

1984-2024. Loss Control Consultant and Quality Assurance Reviewer. Loss Control Surveys and jobsite inspections for major workers’ compensation insurance companies and helping policyholders develop, incorporate, execute and sustain safety programs and practices. As a Quality Assurance Reviewer, I reviewed Loss Control Consultants’ reports, findings, and recommendations.

EDUCATION

M.B.A. Boston University Graduate School of Management.

M.Ed. Suffolk University

B.A. University of Maine, Orono, Maine.

QUALIFICATIONS

One of first three Loss Management companies to be approved in December, 1990 as a Massachusetts Qualified Loss Management Provider; One of the two architects, with Merwyn Bagan, M.D., Chairman of Health Source (now a subsidiary of CIGNA HealthCare), of the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Program; Provided recommendations to the Massachusetts’ Governor’s office regarding salient loss control and safety programs and practices which were included in the Massachusetts workers’ compensation reform bill Presentation to the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Governor’s Advisory Council; Published on safety and workers’ compensation issues in The Standard, Associated Builders and Contractors Magazine, Independent Agent, Contractors’ Compass- of the Associated Subcontractors of America, Insurance Times, Professional Agent, Constructor Magazine- of the Associated General Contractors of America, and American Agent and Broker Magazine eBooks: “Contractors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering Your Loss Control Survey” (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY391KC9), “Contractors: What About That Questionable Claim?” (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3W5PZ6Y),
“Contractors: How to Motivate Workers Comp Insurers to Compete for Your Business” (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D92SHTKD)

OSHA Construction Outreach Trainer, 10 and 30 Hour construction safety training, 2002-2014

Guest lecturer, Construction Safety, California Polytechnic University Construction Management Department

Construction Safety Training expertise: Fall Protection, Personal Protective Equipment, Confined Space Entry, Excavation Safety, Equipment and Tool Safety, Scaffold Safety, Ladder Safety, Aerial Lift Safety, Powered Industrial Truck safety, Electrical Safety- including Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) and NFPA 70E (arc flash/arc blast protection), Respiratory Protection, Hazard Communication/Globally Harmonized Systems, Machine Guarding. Please note that this is not an all-inclusive list.

Change order work that is directed by the Owner or GC without agreement on payment amount represents a significant increase in the scope of work and risk allocated to the subcontractor. When a pay if paid clause is added, the subcontractor is at risk for not being paid on a normal billing cycle and may never get paid if the owner disputes the change order request. This combination put the subcontract at high risk and is an unfair business practice.

Presented By: James Yand, Miller Nash

Jim Yand’s practice focuses on resolving challenges involved in construction and property development. Challenges often arise from competing interests in allocating risk and responsibility in the complex supply chain for bringing new projects out of the ground. Jim has more than 30 years of experience resolving high-conflict cases that often determine the continued success of the client’s project or business. His representation experience across the construction chain allows him to craft and litigate contract terms that achieve the most effective results. This work also extends to serving as outside counsel for various trade groups and advising on a range of business questions that arise. Jim is a frequent author and speaker on various construction industry topics.

This session will provide an overview of state and local tax (SALT) issues that are particularly relevant to subcontractors, including an overview of relevant taxes. The presentation will address practical compliance strategies and highlight common audit issues. After this session, you will be able to: 

•Identify key taxes that apply to subcontractors in different states and localities 

•Recognize compliance risks and common audit triggers specific to subcontracting activities 

•Apply best practices for documentation and exemption certificate management 

•Understand recent tax trends relevant to subcontractors 

•Implement strategies to minimize exposure and ensure ongoing compliance with evolving SALT requirements

This course is designed for subcontractors, construction and service industry professionals, project managers, controllers, accountants, and anyone responsible for tax compliance or risk management in organizations that perform work across state and local jurisdictions.

Presented By:

Thomas Miller, MBA, JD, LL.M., REDW LLC

Tom Miller leads REDW LLC’s State & Local Tax (SALT) group, applying over 15 years of specialized experience to help businesses navigate the complex landscape of multistate taxation. From compliance to strategic consulting, he supports clients operating in all 50 states by identifying tax-saving opportunities and minimizing risk. Recognized for his diligence and knowledge of tax law, Tom has taken on leadership roles within the SALT practices of both global accounting firms and private industry. His broad exposure to indirect tax functions and multistate compliance issues gives him a well-rounded perspective and practical insight into the unique challenges businesses face across jurisdictions.

Thomas Boyle, JD, LL.M, REDW LLC

Tom Boyle brings over six years of experience in State & Local Tax, assisting businesses with complex multistate tax issues. He advises businesses on nexus studies, voluntary disclosure agreements, audit defense, reverse audits, and taxability analyses, helping them reduce risk and uncover savings opportunities. Tom’s expertise spans both income and indirect taxes, including sales and use tax. As an attorney, Tom combines legal insight with practical tax strategies to guide businesses through compliance and planning challenges across multiple jurisdictions.