Barriere is honored to once again be recognized by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) as an Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC), a distinction that reflects our continued leadership in construction safety, workforce education and company culture.
For the seventh consecutive year, Barriere has ranked among an elite group of construction companies that have earned this prestigious credential. Only 591 of the nation’s elite merit shop construction contractors received the AQC designation in 2024.
“We hold ourselves to the highest standards, and being named an Accredited Quality Contractor by ABC confirms that our focus on safety and efficiency translates into the work we deliver,” said Barriere President Justin White. “At Barriere, we all know that ‘safety begins with me,’ and our commitment to operational excellence always starts with putting safety first.”
Established more than three decades ago, ABC’s AQC credential recognizes industry-leading construction firms that have documented their commitment in five key areas:
- Quality
- Health and safety performance
- Talent management
- Craft and management education
- Community relations
Having met the standards of ABC’s AQC program for many years prior, Barriere formally joined the program in 2019 and has since continuously ranked among the top 75 AQC construction contractors nationwide.
“This industry-leading contractor has proven they not only provide immense value in the marketplace, but they also prioritize their employees’ health and safety, the company culture and their quality work processes and products,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO. “The leaders and employees of Barriere put in the work and make the decisions daily that set the standard for health and safety, culture, workforce development, innovation, market-based compensation, benefits and quality in the contracting community. This quality standard is backed and validated by clients and third-party references. Congratulations to this Accredited Quality Contractor; you are a trusted, respected and transformational leader in the construction industry.”
Reaccredited annually, AQC members also make the following pledge: As an Accredited Quality Contractor, our company is committed to providing our clients with the highest-quality construction services, and we care deeply about our employees and the communities in which we build. We are proud to be part of the construction industry and are dedicated to the principles of free enterprise. We commit ourselves to serve our communities and to provide our employees with the skills they need to work safely and productively in order to meet the needs of our clients.
In earning the AQC credential, each member company commits to industry-leading health and safety standards by achieving the Gold, Platinum or Diamond level in ABC’s STEP® Health and Safety Management System. Established in 1989, STEP provides contractors and suppliers with a robust, no-cost framework for measuring safety data and benchmarking with peers in the industry, with top performers achieving incident rates nearly seven times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average.
The AQC credential is recognized by the Construction Users Roundtable, an organization founded by leading construction project owners, which has repeatedly Barriere for excellence in safety. AQC members are eligible for ABC’s Top Performers lists which rank contractors based on work hours.
About ABC
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 with 67 chapters and more than 23,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC helps members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. Learn more at abc.org.
