All of the Best, Together in Celebration
60 regional construction and maintenance-related firms were celebrated at a small awards presentation held by NWIBRT. Normally, the association would hold a banquet with up to 700 guests, but in the interest of safety – which is the mission of the association – this year’s awards ceremony was kept to a minimum size.
“Companies in NWI are sharing, not keeping secrets, when they learn something new about safety,” said Don Bull, NWIBRT Executive Committee chairman and NIPSCO director of outage management and systems engineering. “They’re always improving, and the results keep everyone safer on the job. We’re proud of all of our award recipients and congratulate them.”
The event was held in partnership between the Northwest Indiana Business RoundTable (NWIBRT), which gives awards for safety performance, and the Construction Advancement Foundation (CAF), which gives awards for project and contractor excellence.
“The awards presented at tonight’s event go beyond just the most recent year’s safety performance to look at how companies have improved their programs over time. We get to see great examples of growth and refinements made to jobsite activities,” said Don Bull, NWIBRT Executive Committee chairman and NIPSCO director of outage management and systems engineering.
The CAF’s portion of the evening focused on the achievements of area builders across their unique projects and their overall performances within their individual specialties.
“The companies who are receiving awards at this year’s event have demonstrated repeatedly they’re not content with average. They’re working together as peers to be the best, safest, and strongest industry possible,” said Dewey Pearman, Executive Director of the CAF.
It’s all about safety
Every company present places an emphasis on safety adherence. These averages typically trump national averages – their biggest competition for safety performance rates is usually one another. Rather than seeing each other as competitors deriding one another across the banquet hall, what guests experience at the CAF/NWIBRT Banquet is industry comradery.
Companies are open and willing to share best practices with one another, and everyone makes a dedicated effort to try even harder next year. For customers of the construction industry, clients, and owners, this evening goes a long way toward keeping costs low and projects rolling without interruptions. It’s also a major boost to the regional economy in that fewer people are being hurt, projects are completed on time, and budgets are met.
With exception to this year, each year’s event is held the 2nd Thursday in May at Avalon Manor in Merrillville