Leadership Development Forum (LDF)

LDF Class of 2023

What is Leadership Development Forum?

The ABA’s Leadership Development Forum (LDF) is a year-long intensive management education program that requires significant commitment on behalf of each candidate and employer. The program is limited to 30 students. It has been sold out annually since being introduced in 1993. The one-year, in-depth course focuses on management skills, leadership and public speaking. The program has received both state and national awards and has graduated over 900 constructors over the past 30 years.

Purpose of the Program:

Develop construction professionals into informed, knowledgeable and active members of the industry while preparing them for future leadership roles within their companies, the industry and the Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA).

Classes Meet One Friday of Every month for a year.

Class Topics:

• The Role of Leaders
• Public Speaking
• Common Pitfalls of Construction
• Finance in Construction
• Construction Legislation and the Political Process
• Increasing the Power of Memory
• Market Sector Research
• Personality Inventory and Leadership Styles
• Mastering Construction Contracts
• Work/Life Balance
• Team Building
• Managing People
• Leading and Planning
• The Significance of Construction Company Benchmarks
• How to Write an Effective A3
• The Essence of Leadership
• Final Case Study Formal Presentation

Qualifications:

LDF is specifically designed for individuals in your organization with prior management experience and who are leading other managers, within your company or within companies that you contract to.

Selection:

• Limited to 30 qualified registrants
• Maximum one candidate per firm, unless applicants are based in two different regions
• Non-ABA members may be approved dependent on space availability 
• Participation selection will be made by the ABA Education Committee
• The linked application covers both the Emerging Leaders Forum (ELF) and the Leadership Development Forum (LDF).  Placement will be determined by the selection committee, which will assign applicants to the program that best aligns with their leadership experience and professional development goals.

2026 Class Schedule

• Jan. 9, 2026
• Feb. 13, 2026
• Mar. 13, 2026
• Apr. 17, 2026
• May 8, 2026
• June 12, 2026
• Aug. 14, 2026
• Sept. 11, 2026
• Oct. 9, 2026
• Nov. 13, 2026
• Graduation: Dec. 10, 2026 (Tentatively)

For more information, please contact Jason Ammary at jammary@azbuilders.org. 

Click Here To Apply For 2026 Classes