It was 1945 and World War II had just ended. A group of entrepreneurs in the construction industry had been meeting for a couple of years to capitalize on the burgeoning demand for construction and development in the Lake County area. They met at the Karcher Hotel, and set aside their competitive natures, and talked about ways they could help the industry be more successful.

At first they held informal picnics and monthly dinner meetings to work on union issues and to get better organized. There was always a social aspect to their meetings and they became friends as well as competitors. As the group meetings grew in size new members were quickly added. Their goal was to build an organization representing the commercial construction industry and to make the community in which they lived stronger.

In 1947 they formally created the Lake County Contractors Association, (LCCA), and were granted a 501 (C) 6 Not-for-Profit industrial trade association status from the State of Illinois. In doing so they started a tradition of service, cooperation and volunteerism to respond to the ever-changing commercial construction industry.

Since that time Lake County Contractors Association members have built a majority of the commercial and governmental buildings in Lake and surrounding counties. Our membership cover the commercial construction industry in Lake County Illinois, the northern Chicagoland area with members in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Almost everywhere you look, LCCA members have made lasting contributions to the fabric of our community. From schools, government buildings to office buildings and factories, the LCCA members have contributed their talents and skills to serve the community in which they live.

The original Board according to the incorporation documents included:  Mortimer & Esther Singer, T.M. Notari, Joseph Cabonargi, Ray Boller, Louie Pickus, Axel Nord.  Other founding members were: John Preston, Arnold Benson, Earl Sackman, Dick Chankis, Willard Shields, Anglin Aimes, P.W. Peterson, Dick Jenkins 

Land, labor and materials were donated to build our first office on Benny Street in Waukegan, Illinois