AGC Announces Winners of First Education Excellence Awards

Seven construction professionals, companies and Chapters were recognized with the first-ever AGC Education Excellence Awards for developing successful training programs. The Education Excellence Awards are the only national program recognizing construction industry training for all levels of the profession, from executives to craft workers. “Having all the construction expertise in the world doesn’t matter unless you have an effective way to share it with colleagues and co-workers,” said AGC Senior Vice President Ted Aadland, who announced the winners during the 2009 HR Professionals and Training & Development Conference, held Oct. 27-29 in Atlanta. “There are no better examples of how to educate and improve construction professionals than these programs.” The winners, who all attended the conference to receive their award during a luncheon ceremony and present at an afternoon breakout session, are: • Grand Award: Turner Construction, based in New York City, won for its company-wide training program. Last year alone, the company delivered nearly 250,000 hours of training to thousands of employees, subcontractors, relevant associations, minority- and women-owned businesses, as well as colleges and universities with construction programs. • Instructor of the Year: Paul Stout for his work for the AGC of San Diego Chapter. Mr. Stout provides a range of professional development classes, including project management, ethics and LEED instruction to the Chapter's members. • Project & Executive Management Award – Member: Sundt Construction, based in Tempe, Arizona, received the award for its Leadership Excellence Accelerates Performance program, which develops and trains the company’s middle managers. • Project & Executive Management Award – Chapter: The AGC of Wisconsin won for its Leadership AGC program, which helps individuals from member firms develop an effective leadership role in their company, community and the industry. • Supervisory Award – Member: Mascaro Construction of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, received the award for its Feedback for Performance Workshops, which trains employees to successfully work together. • Craft Award– Chapter: Kansas Contractors Association won for its Construction Industry Training Program, which focuses on improving employee skills through targeted training. • Craft Award – Member: Pizzagalli Construction of South Burlington, Vermont. The company developed a craftworker training program that offers courses in blueprint reading and machinery and tool operations, among others. The winners were chosen by an anonymous 12-person judging panel made up of industry professionals. The judges evaluated nearly 40 different training programs that were nominated for the awards. AGC is currently accepting applications for the 2010 Education Excellence Awards; a brochure about the awards and downloadable PDF application forms are available online. (Please note: the applications for 2010 have been revised and there are separate applications for each of the five categories – Grand, Instructor of the Year, Project & Executive Management, Supervisory, and Craft.)