PMC’s Fifth Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) Credential Caps a Period of Steady Growth
Paradigm Mechanical Marks Five Consecutive Years as an ABC Accredited Quality Contractor
SANTEE, Calif., Nov. 17, 2026—Paradigm Mechanical Corp. has been named an Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) by Associated Builders and Contractors for the fifth consecutive year. The national credential recognizes construction firms that document their commitment to quality, safety, talent management, education and community relations, and companies must earn it again through a full review every year.
“Five years in a row tells us this isn’t a one-time effort. It’s how we work,” said Melinda Dicharry, founder and owner of Paradigm Mechanical. “Our crews earn this credential every day, on military installations, in occupied buildings and on late-night service calls. It reflects the safety culture, training and pride they bring to every job, and it’s our promise to clients that we’ll keep raising the bar.”
Paradigm Mechanical’s fifth AQC credential caps a period of steady growth. Over the past two years, the company has:
• Received ABC’s STEP Diamond Award, the highest level of ABC’s safety management program
• Acquired San Diego Refrigeration, adding more than 35 years of commercial refrigeration expertise and 24/7/365 service
• Secured a Multiple Award Construction Contract (MACC), expanding its work on government facilities
• Seen founder Melinda Dicharry named a 2025 Woman of Influence in Construction
• Continued investing in the next generation of tradespeople, including sponsoring mechanical trades programming at the FCL Teen Girls Camp
ABC reports that only 832 of the nation’s merit shop contractors earned the AQC credential in 2025. To qualify, firms document their commitment in five areas:
• Quality
• Health and safety performance
• Talent management
• Craft and management education
• Community relations
“This industry-leading construction company is among an elite group of contractors, proving they are an employer of choice, provide immense value in the marketplace, prioritize health and safety, and curate an outstanding company culture,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO. “Congratulations to Paradigm Mechanical for earning this prestigious credential and thank you for being a trusted, respected and transformational leader in the construction industry.”
Every AQC member must achieve Gold, Platinum or Diamond status in ABC’s STEP® Health and Safety Management System. Paradigm Mechanical holds STEP Diamond, the program’s highest level. According to ABC, STEP’s top performers achieve incident rates nearly seven times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average.
The AQC credential is backed by client and third-party references, and members renew their commitment to clients, employees and communities each year. AQC is recognized by the Construction Users Roundtable, an organization founded by leading construction project owners, and AQC members are eligible for ABC’s Top Performers lists.
To learn more about AQC and see the full list of Accredited Quality Contractors, visit abc.org/aqc.
About Paradigm Mechanical: Founded in 2010, Paradigm Mechanical Corp. is a woman-owned mechanical contractor headquartered in Santee, California. The company serves commercial, industrial and government clients across San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties and Yuma, Arizona, with HVAC installation and retrofit, government mechanical construction, and 24/7 service and maintenance. Through San Diego Refrigeration, Paradigm also provides commercial refrigeration sales, service and installation. Learn more at pmccontracting.com. California License #947497.
About ABC: Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 with 67 chapters and 24,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC helps members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. Visit us at abc.org.