Associated Builders and Contractors’ New Jersey Chapter today announced that Samantha DeAlmeida has been named the organization’s president.

DeAlmeida is a seasoned public affairs professional with 11 years of experience in issues advocacy, politics, policy, and state government. Previously, she served as second vice president and government affairs liaison of ABC NJ.

“Samantha’s leadership capabilities and political expertise will bring our members and fellow merit shop business owners a strong voice in Trenton,” said William McGrath, chairman of the ABC NJ board of directors. “She is a recognized force in the Statehouse, and we are confident she can help bring the merit shop vision of free enterprise to fruition throughout New Jersey.”

Before joining ABC, DeAlmeida served as the New Jersey government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, where she worked with stakeholders across the political spectrum to achieve legislative support for the organization’s key initiatives, resulting in several bills being signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy. She also served as deputy director of government relations and policy for the New Jersey Hospital Association, and as a policy analyst for the New Jersey State Legislature. She is a graduate of Monmouth University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degrees in homeland security and public policy.

DeAlmeida is widely recognized as one of New Jersey’s most influential young professionals. She has been named to Insider NJ’s 2019 Insider 100 Millennials, 2020 Insider 100 Millennials and Save Jersey’s “Right Women to Watch.” She was recently a nominee for the Monmouth County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious ATHENA award for women’s leadership.

DeAlmeida is also an adjunct political science professor at Brookdale Community College and serves as the director for a 501 c(3) nonprofit that provides equine-assisted therapy to veterans with PTSD.

“I am honored and thrilled to be named president of ABC NJ and thankful for the chance to advocate on behalf of the merit shop philosophy, which advocates for awarding contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation,” DeAlmeida said. “I pledge to work tirelessly in Trenton to ensure our members have equal opportunities to bid on public contracts and to provide good jobs for their employees as we begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

About Associated Builders and Contractors: ABC is a national association representing more than 21,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 69 chapters across the United States. Our membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors. ABC is the industry’s liaison to federal, state and local governments and the public at large.