Press Release
Senator Declan O’Scanlon
April 2025
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-N.J., District 13) was invited to Builders’ General Supply (BGS) for a yard tour of the company’s corporate headquarters. Builders’ General, founded in 1931 in Cranford, N.J. (Union County), is a fourth-generation, family-owned and -operated LBM retailer with seven locations spanning over four counties in New Jersey. The company employs 170 families and has provided premium home building products and services to New Jersey’s builders, remodelers, general contractors, and homeowners for more than 90 years.
L to R: Steve Gerard, Reeb Millwork; Sen. Declan O’Scanlon; T.J. Shaheen, Builders’ General Supply/NJBMDA
T.J. Shaheen, Builders’ General’s executive vice president, coordinated the tour and was joined by Steve Gerard, market support manager for Reeb Millwork. Both Gerard and Shaheen chair the New Jersey Building Materials Dealers Association (NJBMDA) Legislative Committee. Additionally, Shaheen currently serves as president of NJBMDA, a protective cooperative representing New Jersey lumber and building supply retail dealers, founded in 1884.
Shaheen and Gerard accompanied Senator O’Scanlon on the grounds of BGS to show how the company’s logistics function to serve its market. A discussion was held post-tour about the ongoing struggle for small businesses in New Jersey to survive the “death by a thousand cuts” scenario, as the company has consistently worked to mitigate mandates from federal, state, and local entities to keep the business moving forward.
The CARB/ACT (Advanced Clean Trucks Act) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection REAL Act are front and center, along with the electrification of assets being pushed downstream by the current state administration. The reality and fantasy of these mandates are crossing streams while handcuffing small businesses.
“To have that one-on-one time with the senator was impactful,” Shaheen said. “Yes, we have our times during advocacy events in Trenton and D.C., but to invite and welcome our locally elected officials to witness firsthand, with a ‘boots-on-the-ground’ approach, the logistics of our operation and the impact of various federal, state, and local mandates is very powerful. Anytime we can have a New Jersey elected official take the time to get off campus and onto our turf, you gain a forum of intimacy that fosters an environment for witnessing, listening, and understanding from both sides.”
“We were excited to have the visit and optimistic about our individual takeaways,” Shaheen summarized. “It isn’t often that you have moments like this, yet it is so important to do so. Logic guides the strategy, and proper planning allows for improvisation in real-time situations to support that logic and strategy.”
We hope this visit allowed for more insight into what small retail businesses do on a daily basis to keep their companies moving forward, families employed, and decisions made in the best interests of local, family-owned and -operated businesses that help keep New Jersey’s economy strong with a growth mindset.