All of the Best, Together in Celebration
Sixty Northwest Indiana construction companies were recently honored for their outstanding performances in safety and project excellence at the Construction Awards Banquet held in Merrillville by the Northwest Indiana Business RoundTable (NWIBRT) and the Construction Advancement Foundation (CAF).
The banquet is a celebration of the most outstanding achievements in construction and safety over the past year. NWIBRT’s awards focus specifically on safety and CAF’s awards focus on multiple areas of construction performance and project outcomes.
Awards were given to a variety of firms based on topics like safety performance figures, jobsite innovation, collaborative efforts to improve construction, professional development, and more. Representatives from NIPSCO, Cleveland-Cliffs, Cargill, Franciscan Health, and many other leading companies were in attendance.
“One of the things that’s often overlooked about NWI construction is how much work companies do regarding safety. It’s a task that never stops. Not even for a moment. Companies here in our region make a dedicated effort to refine their safety practices across some of the most challenging projects. That’s why NWIBRT is proud to honor these companies. They adhere to a standard well above what’s expected, and that elevates our entire regional construction profile,” said NWIBRT Safety Committee Chair and Cargill Health & Safety Manager Rick A. Foor.
“We’re always impressed by the ingenuity and quality found throughout projects in our region. There are many truly amazing craftspeople and contractors here and we’re proud to honor their achievements,” said Dewey Pearman, executive director of CAF. “Every day, these award-winning firms are laying the foundation for the future of our communities and they’re leading the way for other firms in the construction industry.”
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.
Each year’s event is held the 2nd Thursday in May at Avalon Manor in Merrillville