Ardell “Victor” Ross Sworn–In as National Black Contractors Association President

Na tional Black Contractors Association of U.S.A. held its Black Contractors Unity Luncheon and historic Inaugural swearing in ceremony for Mr. Ardell “Victor” Ross to serve as President of the local Black Contractors Association of San Diego on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at their headquarters on Imperial Avenue. The National Black Contractor’s Association of U.S.A., Inc. mission is to build Black Contractors’ Association (BCA) Chapters, throughout the United States, where its headquarters is based here in Southern California, in the City of San Diego.

Mr. Victor Ross’ leadership in the construction industry has exemplified the best of what our contractors can become, if they work hard with an unyielding attitude.

Victor Ross is a man of action and lives by the rule of “Get it done.” He is a pioneer, trailblazer and a living legend, who has built some of San Diego’s most renowned projects. His most recent and highest visible project is his Block Work on the new San Diego County Southeastern San Diego Live Well Center. Whereas today’s construction industry is going through a shift of power in the public works industry.

The San Diego Chapter of BCA was founded 40 years ago by a group of Black union contractors during the Reaganomics era of “trickle down economics” theory, that resulted in union busting, leaving many BCA member contractors, who came out of unions as skilled and trained workers, the only option, which was to turn to the private sector construction industry.

Although some of BCA’s long time board members like Mr. Victor Ross managed to survive and stay as a union contractor, BCA’s founders, Abdur-Rahim Hameed and the late Mr. Charles A. Black, began to look at the option of building a united Black Contractors Association to support workforce development and a skills training workers program. This gave birth to the idea of having their own Federal and State Approved Apprenticeship program. In the meantime, 25-plus years ago, many of the startup contractors such as Cats Excavation and Grading gained momentum and growth in the private sector industry, becoming successful public works contractors today.

The local Black Contractors Association of San Diego is looking to its long time Union Board Member, contractor Mr. Victor Ross, who understands unions and how to navigate with them. He is being called on to help lead the San Diego Black Contractors Association, to the next chapter, which is made up of union and nonunion contractors who are united.

Mr. Ross, who is a man of action and few words, told the members that he will “work to build unity between the unions and the BCA and that the Carpenters Union needs to sit down with the BCA and sign an agreement on a job-by-job bases to allow the BCA apprentice to work and get trained on PLA projects, which they can do as a Union. This division has left hard feelings on both sides, and it’s time to build unity in our construc tion industry, where there is more work than we can do and everyone is needed,” stated the newly minted BCA President Mr. Victor Ross.

At this historic event Mr. Ross was greeted and congratulated by incoming National Vice President of the National Black Contractors Association of U.S.A, Inc., Mr. John Proctor, who is also the President of the Regional Black Contractors Association of Dallas Texas (RBCA). Ross was also welcomed by Mr. Wendell Stemley, National President of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) based in Washington D.C., and a host of state and local leaders among BCA contractor members at the meeting.

Mr. Abdur-Rahim Hameed, the President and Founder of National Black Contractors Association of U.S.A. Inc. stood alongside of attorney Mr. Douglas Oden, who officiated the oath of office swearing in ceremony to Mr. Ardell.

“Victor” Ross who will serve as President of the local Black Contractors Association of San Diego, where National President Mr. Hameed, vowed that he will continue to promote education on local and national issues of the construction industry division, to support equity!