Gulf Coast Builders Inc

What Gulf Coast Builders Inc does

Gulf Coast Builders Exchange (GCBX) is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade organization founded in 1952 and reorganized in its current corporate form in 1998. Headquartered in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, GCBX represents a cross-section of the commercial building industry in Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties, serving over 400 member businesses—including contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and affiliated industries such as insurance, legal, and engineering firms—representing a constituency of more than 50,000 employees.

The organization operates a membership-based platform built on Wild Apricot membership management software, offering member tiers including standard Membership, premium Keystone Sponsorship, and YPBX (Young Professionals of Builders Exchange). Core service lines include an online job board, advocacy and government affairs representation, and over 20 annual events spanning golf tournaments, networking mixers, a reverse trade show, the Construction Rodeo career-awareness program, and educational Lunch & Learn sessions. A new website is in development as of 2025.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues (undisclosed), tiered event sponsorships (ranging from $200 to $1,950), event registration fees ($35-$65 per attendee), and donations to its Political Affairs Committee. The organization is wholly member-owned and governed by a volunteer board of directors composed of executives from leading local construction firms. Mary Dougherty retired as Executive Director at the end of 2024 after 16 years, during which she doubled membership to over 400 contractors; Elizabeth Shore succeeded her in 2025.

Name

Gulf Coast Builders Inc

Legal name

Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, Inc.

Website

https://gcbx.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gulf Coast Builders Exchange (GCBX) is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association serving over 400 commercial construction member businesses across Florida's Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties through membership dues, advocacy, networking events, and workforce development programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

River Ranch

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: GCBX operates as a 501(c)6 non-profit trade organization wholly owned by its membership. Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues from contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and firms from connected industries.
2. Event Sponsorships and Registrations: The organization generates revenue through event sponsorships at various tiers (Presenting Sponsor, Food Sponsor, Drink Sponsor, etc.) and event registration fees. Events include golf tournaments, networking socials, trade shows, and the annual dinner.
3. Political Affairs Committee Donations: Organization accepts donations through its Political Affairs Committee for advocacy efforts on behalf of the building industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gulf Coast Builders Exchange is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association that provides membership services, legislative advocacy, networking events, professional development, and a job board to the commercial building industry in Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties, Florida. Founded in 1952, the organization represents over 400 member businesses and more than 50,000 employees in the regional construction sector.

Product overview

Gulf Coast Builders Exchange (GCBX) is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade organization representing the commercial building industry in Florida. Rather than a technology product company, GCBX offers a membership-based platform providing networking events, job board access, advocacy services, and professional development programs. The organization operates member tiers including standard Membership, premium Keystone Membership sponsorships, and YPBX (Young Professionals of Builders Exchange) for early-career professionals. GCBX hosts over 20 annual events ranging from golf tournaments and chili cook-offs to Construction Rodeo career programs, and advocates for the building industry on local government matters affecting Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trade Association Membership Annual membership program for commercial construction firms (contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, and affiliated industries) in the tri-county region, providing access to events, advocacy, resources, and networking.
• Construction Industry Job Board Online job board where member employers post construction industry positions and candidates find regional employment opportunities.
• YPBX (Young Professionals of Builders Exchange) Networking and professional development program for young professionals working at member construction firms, with targeted events and connection opportunities.
• Annual Awards of Excellence Annual awards ceremony recognizing outstanding projects, firms, and individuals in the regional commercial construction industry openings and other rigorous recognition procedures.
• Clay Shoot Event Annual sporting-clay shooting event that combines networking opportunities with fundraising for the association.
• Government Affairs and Advocacy Program Advocacy and government affairs services representing member construction firms before local and state government, including the Builders Political Action Committee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 business members with a constituency of over 50,000 employees
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Willis Smith ConstructionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Keystone member and past chairman Brett Raymaker's firm; currently serves as Immediate Past Chair on GCBX Board of Directors. Commercial construction management firm based in Sarasota since 1972, serving educational, healthcare, museum, and performing arts facility projects.
• Halfacre Construction CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Keystone member; Vice Chair Tom Rees represents this firm on GCBX Board. Privately held construction management firm based in Sarasota since 1970, serving educational, government, commercial, and private projects.
• JP Wiseman Construction Services LLCflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Chair Elect John Wiseman's firm; founded and led one of Florida's largest construction companies. John Wiseman served as President and shareholder from 1992, developing Integrated Project Delivery methods.
• Service Contracting Solutions (SCS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Current Chairman Burt Whitenight's firm; Executive Vice President leads sales team and oversees project managers, estimators, and business development. Specializes in municipal, high-rise condominiums, commercial, and industrial painting and waterproofing projects.
• Karins Engineering GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Past Chairman David Karins' firm; engineering services provider for the construction industry.
• Tandem ConstructioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Board member Brian Leaver's firm; construction services provider.
• Aqua Plumbing & AircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Board member Chuck Jacobson's firm; plumbing and air conditioning services.
• Old Republic TitlecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Ex Officio Board Member John Brown's firm; title insurance and real property services.
• Kerring, Barberio & Co (KBCO)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Treasurer Eric Troyer's firm; accounting and business services.
• Forristall EnterprisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Secretary Michael Forristall's firm.
• DSDG ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Award-winning architecture firm celebrating 25 years in 2026; 20 creative thinkers in Sarasota and Naples studios. Member of GCBX community.
• TMD Windows & DoorsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnered with DSDG Architects for Design Collaboration project in downtown Sarasota; provides luxury windows and doors with advanced estimating tools and project coordination technology.
• Neal CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Primary funder of Riverview High School Construction Academy; donated $100,000 over two years to support workforce development in construction trades. Provided internship opportunities for students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): National federation of state and local home builders' associations with a similar chapter-based advocacy and events model. While more residential-focused than GCBX's commercial building orientation, the structure and member services closely parallel.
• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): The leading national trade association for the commercial construction industry, with state and local chapters delivering networking, advocacy, training, and events to general contractors, specialty contractors, and service providers — the same member categories and services GCBX delivers regionally.
• BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) International: International trade association for commercial real estate professionals with local chapters providing advocacy, networking, and education — a comparable member-driven association model, though focused on building owners/managers rather than contractors.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National trade association representing merit-shop contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and related industry firms. Operates a chapter-based model with regional/council-level chapters that mirror GCBX's local membership, advocacy, and event-driven value proposition at a much larger scale.
• AIA (American Institute of Architects): National professional association for architects with local chapters delivering continuing education, advocacy, and networking — comparable in structure to GCBX and serving an adjacent constituency (architects such as DSDG are GCBX members).

Direct peers

• Florida Home Builders Association: State-level home builders association in Florida with affiliated local HBAs across the state, providing the same membership, advocacy, and event services to building industry firms operating in the same Florida geography as GCBX.
• American Subcontractors Association (ASA): National trade association specifically representing subcontractors in the construction industry — a primary member segment of GCBX — with a similar advocacy, networking, and education value proposition at a national scale.

Regional players

• Sarasota-Manatee Chamber of Commerce (regional chambers): Regional business membership organization serving Sarasota-Manatee with overlapping membership bases (many GCBX member firms are also chamber members), delivering networking events, advocacy, and business promotion in the same geographic territory.
• Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association (BIA): Regional building industry association operating in the same Florida Gulf Coast geography as GCBX, with an overlapping membership base of contractors, builders, and suppliers offering similar networking, advocacy, and event programming.

Emerging players

• Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA): Membership organization promoting integrated project delivery in construction, of which GCBX board member John Wiseman (JP Wiseman Construction Services) is a notable practitioner. Provides overlapping industry education, advocacy, and networking for construction firms.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gcbx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gulf Coast Builders Inc