News from associated
builders and contractors

In May, it was my honor to bestow the inaugural ABC Legacy Medallion for Advocacy on Lane Grigsby, chair emeritus of Cajun Industries in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a dedicated member of our Pelican Chapter. The ABC Legacy Medallion for Advocacy distinguishes Lane’s transformational leadership in creating the conditions for ABC to achieve its primary purpose: to serve as the voice of the merit shop.

Lane’s authentic leadership and uncompromising commitment to sustaining a culture of giving have helped propel our Free Enterprise Alliance and ABC PAC to new heights and establish ABC as the premier advocate for merit-based principles and fair and open competition. These ideas are the key to innovation, achievement and opportunity for everyone who works in the construction industry—employees and employers alike.

We created the Legacy Medallion for Advocacy to recognize transformational leadership by a volunteer leader directly related to living ABC’s purpose and objectives, as documented in Articles I and III of our bylaws. This type of leadership results in long-lasting, positive change for “the betterment of the individual, the industry and the nation,” and deserves recognition that preserves the volunteer leader’s actions.

I can think of no one better to receive our first-ever Legacy Medallion. Lane is a U.S. Army veteran and graduate of the United States Military Academy who founded Cajun Industries in 1973 and grew it into a nationally recognized commercial and industrial powerhouse. A former ABC state and chapter president, he embodies our beliefs that “the destiny of all Americans can best be served by cooperation and following the tenets of free enterprise and democratic government,” and that “leaders in our industry best preserve these tenets by being active in politics and civic affairs.”

Please join me in congratulating Lane on this well-deserved honor—and join Lane in proudly advocating on behalf of the merit shop.