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By the early spring of 1952, just two years after its founding, ABC had recruited 210 contractor members and hired its first executive vice president, John P. Trimmer. A native of York, Pennsylvania, Trimmer studied organizational management at Yale and Michigan State Universities. While serving in his first job as editor of the York Gazette and Daily News, his talent was noticed by the Associated Press, which eventually recruited him to cover Maryland legislative activities. A short time later, he became the first director of the Maryland State Department of Information. When approached with an offer to serve as ABC’s first executive vice president, Trimmer stated that he “admired the contractors’” entrepreneurial spirit; and at the age of 38, he jumped on board and began to build the brand and organization of ABC.

Trimmer affirmed ABC was organized “to support the open shop” and its chief purpose was “to gain a business climate where union and non-union firms can work together in harmony.” Over time he, concluded: “I found that ‘open shop’ connotated ‘anti-union’ and so I coined the phrase ‘merit shop.’” The objective, he explained, “was to emphasize that these new words would denote a fair and economical way of workplace life.”

He added: “[These words] mean that construction projects are awarded on the competitive basis of meritorious performance rather than an employer’s union or non-union status, and employees are rewarded on the basis of their individual merit. It’s a way of life worth clinging to and fighting for in an era when special interests threaten to engulf the free enterprise system.”

Trimmer captured these thoughts in an original draft of the four principals which became the foundation for ABC’s purpose and objectives: a philosophy that would transform the U.S. construction industry.

“First, it is in the public’s best interest that all construction contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder through open and fair competition, regardless of union or non-union affiliation. This practice assures the consumer of the best possible job for the dollars paid.

Second, management has the right to direct the activities of its business according to the policies and goals established by its own leaders, searching for efficiency and productivity in every step of the way.

Third, each employee in a merit shop company should have the voluntary choice to belong or refrain from belonging to a labor organization and should be paid and promoted based on his or her skills, initiative and responsibility for individual accomplishment rather than employment seniority alone.

Fourth, discrimination based on race, color, nationality, sex, religion or creed is contrary to the spirit of the Republic of the United States and harmful to our nation morally and economically.”