American Subcontractors Association of Michigan

06/17/2026

Hard Hats & Hot Dogs is back on July 22 — and we’re heading to the new Amway Stadium site!

We are proud to partner with Associated Builders and Contractors, Western Michigan Chapter for one of our favorite days of the year: celebrating the crews that make projects possible.

Bring your team, grab a MadDogz hot dog, and catch up! This free lunch is open to all on-site and neighboring worksites.

Register here: https://members.abcwmc.org/calendar/Details/hard-hats-hot-dogs-1692829?sourceTypeId=Website

06/05/2026

Yesterday’s ASAM General Membership Meeting brought new connections and strengthened existing ones — all under the warm sun on the Founders patio.

Thank you to the MCOY nominees and ASAM members who joined us for an afternoon with fellow construction leaders.

With all the hard work that goes into this industry, it was good to see so many people take a breath, grab a beer, and enjoy being together.

Thanks for spending part of your busy week with us:

* CS Erickson
* West Michigan Dirtworks
* Sobie Company
* Post Construction Cleaning Company
* Brown & Brown Insurance
* EV Construction
* West Michigan Glass Coatings
* Buist Electric
* Architectural Metals and Glass
* Hilger Hammond
* Custer
* Owen-Ames-Kimball
* Erhardt Construction
* Doeren Mayhew
* BHS Insurance
* Wolverine Building Group
* Dan Vos Construction
* Christman
* Phoenix Interiors
* D&D Building
* Rockford
* Burgess Concrete
* Kent Companies
* Andy J. Egan Co.
* Ritsema Associates
* Somersault
* Bouma Corporation
* Fessler & Bowman

We’re grateful for this community!

06/02/2026

Mass timber is making a movement, and you have a chance at an inside look.

On June 25th, we’re heading to College’s new residential building project for an on-site look at the safety coordination and structural logistics behind massive timber framing.

Thanks to Owen-Ames-Kimball, ASAM members get to see how a top regional GC safely manages a unique construction method.

Join us:

Join ASAM and Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. for an exclusive, member-only safety walk-through of Kalamazoo College’s new residential building.

05/28/2026

Next Wednesday: https://asamichigan.net/event/2026-asam-membership-meeting/

05/22/2026

While everyone’s back in the field this season…

We wanted to share what happened out in a different kind of field.

Here’s how the 2025 Big Buck leaderboard landed:

1st – $600
Derek Roberts | D&D Building, Inc

2nd – $350
Hunter Kraima | Burgess Concrete Construction

3rd – $200
Joe Pitsch | Dan Vos Construction Company

Congratulations to these three — and to everyone who participated in our first Big Buck Contest.

05/15/2026

All 180+ Ritsema employees have a personal stake in the outcomes because they’re all owners. Ritsema Associates is Michigan’s only 100% ESOP interior contractor — and this week’s ASAM member highlight.

Personal ownership at the company breeds longevity, fostering the deep expertise required to tackle complex projects and novel approaches, such as the live moss walls at the Amway Treehouse.

“We’re able to take on these intricate projects because we have decades of history to pull from,” says Jason Thomas, CEO and President. “Our hands-on experience gives us the eye for quality needed to create high-functioning systems from scratch.”

Driven by a standard of precision, the team walks every project weekly with head-mounted 360-degree cameras to create a “living file” of the build. This allows them to look back "inside" the walls at any time to verify stud spacing and blocking with 1/10th-inch accuracy — eliminating future guesswork for GCs and clients.

Beyond interior construction, Ritsema offers full-service solutions for flooring, wall and ceiling finishes, fireproofing, and exterior finishing systems. They’re also committed to the future of the trade through their DOL-registered apprenticeship program and partnership with the West Michigan Construction Institute.

Ritsema’s footprint spans across the most iconic projects in West Michigan:
* The Amway Treehouse
* Kalamazoo Event Center
* Traverse City Country Club
* WMU Student Center
* Holland Rec Center

Why Ritsema loves being an ASAM member: “It’s important for subcontractors to work in alignment. ASAM opens the door for conversations and unity, and builds stronger bonds with GCs,” Jason says. “ASAM is also helping lead the movement from being subcontractors to trade partners.”

A huge shoutout to Luke Terpstra, who sits on the ASAM Board and helps plan our events, from educational sessions to networking opportunities. We appreciate you!

05/13/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome Troy Summers to the ASAM Board!

Troy helps businesses navigate complex risk environments with confidence, specializing in surety and property and casualty insurance solutions for contractors. At Brown & Brown Grand Rapids, he brings a creative, solution-oriented approach to insurance and surety, crafting tailored strategies designed to meet the unique needs of each company he partners with.

“What I enjoy most about my work is the creativity it requires. Whether helping a contractor navigate the intricacies of surety or acting as a risk advisor with their commercial insurance, every situation calls for thoughtful, tailored solutions to help their business be successful," Troy says.

When we asked him why he wanted to join the ASAM board, he said: “I want to further immerse myself in the West Michigan construction community, build great relationships, and learn from experts across safety and project management.”

Troy earned an MBA from Calvin University and a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Risk Management from Northern Michigan University, where he also competed as a member of the NMU Men’s Basketball team.

As a former power forward at Northern Michigan, Troy now trades the court for the trails: hiking, camping, golfing, and exploring the U.P. with his new wife.

05/07/2026

19 seconds. That’s how long it takes to join our email list (yes, we timed it!).

We love sharing stories and highlights here. Our free email list is the best way to get the dates and details for:

* Networking events with general contractors and other trades
* Safety briefings and exclusive walk-throughs
* Industry education

Don’t miss a thing in the West Michigan trades: https://asamichigan.net/contact/