The Building Industry Employers

of New York State

What is now the Building Industry Employers of New York State was conceived in Baltimore, Maryland on October 17, 1895.  While attending the National Association of Builders Convention there, a group of contractors from the Empire State decided to form an association of builders at home.

As a result, on December 11 of that same year a meeting was held at the Building Trades Club in New York City.  Three contractor groups were represented: The Builders Exchange, Buffalo; The Builders and Building Supply Dealers Exchange, Rochester; and the Mechanics and Trades Exchange, New York City.

At the first Annual Meeting of the New York State Association of Builders held in New York City on December 11, 1895, the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association were created and adopted based on the following remarks presented during the convention…"In all affairs of life, social and business or otherwise, we find great complication.  In our affairs as builders, and as business men, there is probably as much complication as in any other calling or profession, for we have all of the intricacies of the labor problems staring us in the face in the first place, which is one of the most difficult and dangerous problems to solve and we come closer to it than probably almost any other branch of businessmen, and we have in addition to that the serious complications arising in relations between general contractors and subcontractors, subcontractors and dealers in materials and so forth which are constantly threatening the welfare of every community of builders, and in addition to that we have the other complication arising from the improper demands and expectations of owners and their agents…the architects.  These, as you can readily see, require the attention not of immature and careless minds but of the most intelligent men we have in our midst.  There fore, we must insist that local bodies which come into our State Association must be formed upon principles that are safe and wise, else neither the local or state organization can continue to exist in an efficient and desirable form."

As time progressed, and the original reasons for forming the state association became even more complicated, it was felt that a full-time staff was needed to run the association.  It was also felt that a name change for the association be considered so that industry representatives, and the general public, didn't perceive the association to be a "builders only" organization.  In 1944, Mr. William J. Picard was retained as the first full-time paid, Executive Secretary of the Association.  Also, in 1944 at the 49^th Annual Convention of the Association held in Buffalo, the name of the association was changed to "The Building Industry Employers of New York State" (BIE).

The BIE became a driving voice throughout the construction industry in New York State over the next 40 years, displaying the commitment and devotion to the industry that the founding members formed the Association upon.

The 70' and 80's produced remarkable changes, not only in the construction industry but also in all industries throughout New York State and the Country.  Consolidation and streamlining became the trend, and that trend continues even today.  It was felt the entire BIE operation should be restructured to meet the changes and challenges of the years ahead.  In 1987 the BIE Board of Directors re-wrote the Constitution and By-Laws of the BIE allowing local affiliated associations to have more say in setting BIE policy and determining the future of its affairs.  Association Managers of BIE affiliates play a more active role in BIE affairs and are heavily relied upon by the BIE Board of Directors to develop programs and services for use by the entire BIE family.

Over one hundred years later, the BIE, its nine affiliated associations and its over 2700 member firms, remain valuable assets to the construction community in New York State.  The dedicated commitment and devotion by numerous individuals over the past 100 years for the betterment of the construction industry in New York State is the inspiration for those who follow.

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