Aaron Hilger is the Executive Director of the Association of Wall Ceiling & Carpentry Industries of New York Inc (WC&C New York). He took on his current role in 2026. Prior to joining WC&C New York he was the CEO of SMACNA, representing 3500 union contractors in the United States and Canada. He has extensive experience in New York State, gained while serving as the President & CEO of the Builders Exchange of Rochester. At the Builders Exchange, he directed 13 local and statewide trade associations, among them the Construction Industry Association of Rochester, SMACNA Rochester, the Roofers Industry Fund and SMACNA New York State.
Aaron has extensive labor relations experience and has cultivated a strong partnership with labor throughout his career. He believes that labor and management are stronger together and should focus on the issues where we can gain market share and work for our members.
Aaron is an active advocate for contractors and the building trades at the state and national level. He founded Building a Better Rochester and the government relations program at Builders Exchange. He pushed SMACNA into federal regulatory work and partnered extensively with SMART.
Aaron holds a BA in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Rochester, an MA in Political Management from The George Washington University, and an MBA from the University at Buffalo. He and his wife Nikki, are the proud parents of triplets who are all experiencing their college adventures.
