Henry G. Kelly, president and chief operating officer of Austin Industrial, Inc., Houston, has been elected to serve as president for Associated Builders and Contractors effective Jan. 1.

"Henry Kelly’s extensive experience in the construction industry coupled with his passionate advocacy of the construction craftsperson, make him the ideal individual to lead Associated Builders and Contractors," said Kirk Pickerel, ABC Executive Vice President. "Henry Kelly leads one of the most successful construction companies in the nation, and we at ABC are pleased that he will bring that same dynamic vision and dedication to the nation’s

leading merit shop construction association."

ABC is a national construction association representing more than 22,000 member firms in more than 80 chapters. ABC is the only organization in the United States devoted exclusively to representing the interests of merit shop contractors.

"My first priority as national president is making ABC the national leader in honoring the construction craftsperson," Henry Kelly said. "Also, we must continue advancing the merit shop philosophy in Washington, D.C., and in the state and local legislatures."

Kelly’s career at Austin began in 1969 shortly after he received his undergraduate degree, and he has advanced through a succession of positions of increasing responsibility.

In 1980, he was named vice president of Austin Power and assumed the same position when Austin Power and Austin Industrial were merged. In 1987, he became executive vice president, operations, for Austin Industrial; and in 1988, he was named president and chief operating officer of Austin Industrial and a member of Austin Industries’ board of directors.

Kelly has served in various chapter leadership positions and was president of ABC’s Greater Houston Chapter in 1993. He has served on ABC’s national board of directors and on the board for the Houston Area Contractors Safety Council. He also has served as a regional vice president on ABC’s Executive Committee.

Kelly graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1969 with a B.B.A. degree and received an M.B.A. degree from Southern Methodist University in 1985.

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