In this episode, Anthony Abrantes, assistant executive secretary-treasurer of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, and Cyndie Williams, executive director of the Carpenter Contractor Trust, sit down with Jack Kocsis Jr., CEO of the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey (ACCNJ).
With more than 35 years leading the organization, Kocsis brings a rare depth of experience from both the construction site and the negotiation table. He reflects on the evolution of labor management partnerships, the origins of the Carpenter Contractor Trust, and how listening yes really listening has been the most powerful leadership tool in his career.
Kocsis also shares his perspective on workforce development, public policy, apprenticeship, and the industry’s responsibility to adapt and grow. From enforcing laws on wage theft to building bridges between contractors and unions, this conversation lays out what real collaboration in construction looks like and what still needs to change.
