In the construction and pavement maintenance world, success doesn’t depend only on craftsmanship or equipment. It hinges on relationships, scalability, and being smart with procurement. For DRYCO, joining the Contractor’s National Buyer’s Alliance (CNBA) became a strategic lever—not just for cost savings, but for operational strength and industry insight.
A Founding Role, a Lasting Commitment
From the earliest days of CNBA, DRYCO’s leadership was intimately involved. The concept itself was the brainchild of DRYCO Owner and Founder Daren Young, who envisioned a way for Pavement Network members to pool their collective purchasing power for greater efficiency and savings. Daren went on to serve as the CNBA’s first president and remains deeply involved today as a board member. That continuity matters: it aligns DRYCO’s vision with the CNBA’s evolution as it expands beyond paving into broader commercial contracting.
That alignment is no accident. CNBA’s mission is to bring together high-integrity commercial contractors and pair them with trusted national vendors so that the whole group can “leverage combined buying power to secure the best programs, pricing, and partnerships.”
More Than Discounts: The Value of Collective Intelligence
DRYCO’s membership in CNBA isn’t about checking a box. It’s about telescoping opportunities that would be harder to access independently.
As Daren observes:
“The Contractor’s National Buyer’s Alliance presents an opportunity for us to secure better negotiated pricing and take advantage of rebate opportunities that become available. It’s also a group of like-minded people working together to constantly improve in every aspect, from vendor relationships to products and supplies.”
In practice, that means DRYCO taps into preferred-vendor relationships negotiated through CNBA. These relationships serve as examples of the kind of partnerships that amplify value, whether with equipment suppliers, building materials, professional services, coatings, software, or tools. While DRYCO still vets vendors for reliability and technical fit, being part of the CNBA provides a head start in access, pricing, and credibility.
Membership also serves as a built-in peer network. Daren puts it succinctly:
“It creates this mastermind group, if you will. People you can call if you have questions. It’s a good group of people all trying to do the same thing – trying to get the best price, win the jobs, and keep our guys working.”
This kind of network is especially valuable in times of supply chain disruptions, shifting material costs, or when launching new divisions. For DRYCO, which offers asphalt, sealcoating, striping, custom concrete, and fencing across the Northern California region, having access to best-in-class vendors and peer insight helps maintain agility and resilience. Membership means access to preferred vendors across categories such as:
- Construction materials and coatings (asphalt products, paint, sealants, propane)
- Safety and workwear (boots, uniforms, PPE)
- Equipment and tools (heavy duty truck parts, repair supplies, blades, hardware)
- Technology and business services (construction management software, office supplies, fuel)
- Professional services (marketing and design, legal, insurance)
These categories reflect the breadth of opportunities available to CNBA members, supporting not just field operations, but the office, brand, and business infrastructure that keep a company competitive.
How CNBA’s Structure Supports Members
To understand how DRYCO benefits, it helps to look at how the CNBA is built and operates:
- Vendor partnerships: The CNBA maintains a roster of preferred national vendors across construction-related categories (tools, coatings, parts, logistics, software, and more). Those pre-negotiated arrangements deliver better terms to members.
- Collective scale: By aggregating demand, the CNBA can negotiate pricing packages, rebate programs, and volume-based incentives that might be out of reach for individual contractors.
- Standards & integrity: The CNBA emphasizes matching “high-integrity commercial contractors with industry-leading national vendors.” This maintains quality, minimizes risk, and ensures the group culture remains cohesive.
- Evolving scope: While the CNBA traces its roots to pavement and maintenance, its rebranding reflects a broader ambition to serve contractors in earthwork, trucking, utilities, public works, milling, and other commercial lines of business. For DRYCO, that means future relevance beyond traditional paving.
- Leadership & growth: Under the direction of current CNBA President Christopher Seger, the organization continues to level up its operational and strategic sophistication. Before taking the helm, Seger managed fleet and procurement for a $110M+ Texas-based construction company, where he oversaw large-scale vendor negotiations, logistics optimization, and equipment lifecycle management. His experience brings a national perspective to CNBA operations, ensuring that the alliance continues to evolve with the same spirit of innovation that inspired its founding.
- Member obligations: To participate fully, members typically must meet performance thresholds such as minimum spend with CNBA-approved vendors and payment of dues. This framework helps the CNBA retain buying leverage while ensuring members are actively contributing.
What DRYCO Gains — and What Others Can Learn
From DRYCO’s experience, here are key outcomes and lessons:
- Better bids, healthier margins
Even marginal cost improvements matter when competing on price. Because DRYCO can access CNBA-negotiated vendor deals, it can bid more aggressively while protecting margin.
- Vendor credibility + vetting support
In many markets, contractors waste time qualifying new vendors or chasing multiple quotes. With the CNBA, DRYCO gains a vetted “short list” of partners — a faster route to sourcing.
- Peer network for problem-solving
Whether facing supply constraints, material substitutions, tool procurement, or technology adoption, DRYCO can consult with peers in the CNBA network, accelerating learning and reducing risk.
- Strategic voice in alliance governance
Having Daren on the Board gives DRYCO not only a voice in vendor selection and alliance direction, but also early visibility into new programs, priorities, or membership trends.
- Future-proofing into adjacent segments
As the CNBA expands beyond paving, DRYCO is positioned to benefit when new vendor categories or contracting segments are introduced, preserving relevance even if the core market shifts.
Looking Forward: CNBA & DRYCO Growing Together
The story of DRYCO and CNBA is not one of passive membership. It’s a narrative of collaboration, influence, and mutual ambition. As the CNBA continues to grow its vendor ecosystem and membership base, DRYCO remains more than a user. It’s part of the driving force shaping the CNBA’s trajectory.
For contractors considering becoming members in the CNBA, the takeaway is clear: the value lies not just in the discounts or rebates, but in the combination of scale, shared insight, vendor access, and governance influence. Seen through DRYCO’s lens, CNBA becomes a long-term amplifier, enabling smarter procurement, stronger bids, and more stable operations.
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