West Virginia's construction industry is thriving, but there's a gap in our professional resources that needs to be filled. While we have excellent organizations like the Contractors Association of West Virginia and Associated Builders and Contractors serving field personnel and company owners, we lack a dedicated resource for the back-office professionals – the CFOs, controllers, and accounting teams who keep our industry financially sound.
Right now, West Virginia is surrounded by active CFMA chapters. Ohio has chapters in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton. There's a Blue Ridge chapter around Harrisonburg, Virginia, and another in the Louisville, Kentucky area. For West Virginia construction financial professionals to participate in CFMA activities, we have to travel to neighboring states – a barrier that prevents many from accessing these valuable resources.
Our state has a robust construction industry with contractors working on infrastructure projects throughout the region. Drive up I-79 and you'll see bridge deck replacements and paving contracts in progress – clear evidence of the active construction market we serve. These companies need and deserve access to specialized financial management resources right here at home.
The vision is to create a network where back-office professionals can:
Imagine having a colleague in West Virginia who's encountered the same accounting challenge you're facing. Instead of struggling alone or traveling out of state for guidance, you could reach out locally for support and solutions.
Eight months ago, I began the process of establishing a West Virginia CFMA chapter. I've assembled a steering committee of three to five dedicated individuals who share the vision of bringing this resource to our state. But a successful chapter requires more than just leadership – it needs strong membership support from the ground up.
Under CFMA guidelines, chapters must maintain a specific percentage of general members (contractors, heavy highway companies, vertical builders) versus associate members (banks, sureties, insurance companies, and other referral sources). This requirement ensures the organization remains focused on serving construction companies directly.
Our current focus is gauging interest throughout West Virginia. While we're eager to launch this chapter, we're committed to doing it right. Success means creating something that will thrive not just in its first term, but for the next 30, 40, or 50 years. That kind of longevity requires careful planning and genuine commitment from the construction financial community.
We're looking for construction companies and financial professionals who recognize the value of specialized education and peer networking. Whether you're a seasoned CFO looking to connect with peers or a controller seeking to expand your construction accounting knowledge, this chapter can serve your professional development needs.
If you're a construction financial professional in West Virginia interested in being part of this initiative, I encourage you to reach out. We need to understand the level of interest and commitment before moving forward with formal chapter establishment.
The steering committee and I are committed to making this a successful, long-lasting resource for our state's construction industry. But we can't do it alone – we need dedicated professionals who share our vision of enhanced financial management resources for West Virginia's construction community.
Building a CFMA chapter is like constructing any major project – it requires careful planning, strong foundations, and committed participants. We have the leadership structure in place and the vision clear. Now we need to know: Is West Virginia's construction financial community ready to build this resource together?
If you're interested in learning more about the West Virginia CFMA chapter initiative or would like to get involved, please reach out through the form below. Let's work together to bring this valuable resource to our state's construction professionals.