A new podcast, produced in partnership with ABC North Florida and Florida Construction News, is delivering content Florida’s commercial real estate community should be paying attention to. Beyond the Build, hosted by Kelvin Enfinger Jr., Vice President of Greenhut Construction and immediate past chair of ABC Florida, explores the policy battles, workforce challenges, and economic development strategies directly impacting construction timelines, costs, and feasibility across the state.
The Host’s Credentials
Enfinger brings a unique perspective to the host role. His career trajectory from tradesman to vice president at one of Northwest Florida’s prominent construction firms provides credibility on workforce issues. His role as immediate past chair of ABC Florida, the state’s largest commercial construction association, grants access to policymakers and industry leaders shaping Florida’s construction landscape.
Early Episodes Set the Tone
Episode two featured Carol Bowen, ABC Florida’s lobbyist, discussing the organization’s 2026 legislative priorities. The conversation covered statute of repose reform to create uniform liability frameworks across commercial projects and permitting reform legislation to streamline inconsistent application processes across Florida’s 67 counties. These policy battles directly impact commercial real estate by reducing soft costs and accelerating project starts.
Episode three brought ABC National’s government affairs leaders to discuss federal policy battles, including project labor agreement mandates affecting federal construction over $35 million and merit-based visa legislation addressing the industry’s 349,000-worker shortage.
Episode four explored regional economic development with Jennifer Conoley, CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest, revealing competitive advantages like Northwest Florida’s military talent pipeline (5,200 annual separations, 47% wanting to stay if job opportunities exist) and the $1.5 billion Triumph Gulf Coast fund providing leverage for industrial projects.
Who Benefits From Listening
The target audience extends beyond contractors. Developers evaluating Florida markets need to understand workforce availability, permitting efficiency, and economic development incentives. The Florida’s Great Northwest episode revealed site selection factors, incentive structures, and regional workforce pipelines affecting project feasibility.
Investors assessing construction risk should understand policy battles over project labor agreements that can eliminate merit-shop contractor competition on federal work or add significant costs. Commercial brokers representing industrial clients benefit from understanding regional competitive advantages like military talent pipelines or patient capital sources like Triumph Gulf Coast.
The Workforce Development Focus
Multiple episodes address Florida’s construction workforce challenges because they represent the industry’s primary constraint. Enfinger advocates for cultural shifts around skilled trades, noting that society’s push toward four-year degrees created today’s shortage.
ABC Florida operates as the state’s largest private apprenticeship provider, with the North Florida chapter maintaining a dedicated classroom at Lively Technical College and expanding partnerships with technical schools across the region. These workforce development initiatives directly affect labor availability for commercial projects.
Why Florida’s Commercial Real Estate Community Should Listen
Construction industry constraints directly impact commercial real estate values, project feasibility, and investment returns. Workforce shortages extend timelines and increase costs. Permitting inefficiency adds soft costs and delays project starts. Policy battles over project labor agreements determine contractor competition on federal work.
Beyond the Build addresses these systemic factors through conversations with policymakers, economic developers, and industry leaders shaping Florida’s construction landscape. For commercial real estate professionals, these discussions provide context for evaluating markets, assessing project risk, and understanding forces shaping commercial construction’s future across the state. Listen on major podcast platforms or watch on YouTube – here.
Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.