ForConstructionPros.com and its affiliate brands, Equipment Today; Asphalt Contractor; Rental; Concrete Contractor; and Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction, announced the winners of this year’s new PACER award, which recognizes construction pros on the jobsite and in the office for their accomplishments in shaping the construction industry.
The PACER (Pavement, Asphalt, Concrete, Equipment, Rental) award, managed by ForConstructionPros.com and its affiliate brands, Equipment Today; Asphalt Contractor; Rental; Concrete Contractor; and Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction, is the first award specific to the ForConstructionPros brand and the first industry executive-focused award for the Construction Network.
This year's winners exemplify passion and dedication to their employees, co-workers, customers and organizations. They boast the drive and resilience to improve worker safety, enhance workforce development and be a positive role model in the industry. They exhibit leadership, mentorship, professionalism and integrity. And, they do so while leading projects and becoming indispensable members of their team.
About the award
This award is broken down into four categories by brand:
· Women in Construction: Honors females in the construction and rental industries, whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s network.
· Rising Professionals in Construction: Recognizes outstanding young or newer construction professionals whose achievements, hard work and vision have shaped the construction network. Rising/emerging professionals must maintain 1-9 years of experience in the construction industry.
· Lifetime Achievement: Honors contractors, workers and owner/operators who’ve made outstanding contributions to the construction and rental industry. Must have at least 10 years of documented accomplishments in construction.
· Jobsite Excellence: Recognizes outstanding workers on the job site whose leadership and work ethic set a strong example companywide.
Thirty-nine percent of the submissions came from general contractors, followed by 32% in the asphalt industry, 13% in concrete, 11% in pavement and 5% in earthmoving.
Forty-seven percent of the applications were for the Women in Construction category.
“So much of the day-to-day work in construction is laser-focused on the minutia behind executing projects, delivering on deadlines, and exceeding client and project expectations. But behind all these successes are the industry professionals who make it all happen,” said Kathy Wells, Editor-in-Chief of Equipment Today. “With the launch of the PACER award, we aim to recognize those individuals and bring to light their achievements and milestones with the goal of showcasing industry excellence and giving credit where credit is due.”
“What’s exciting about the new PACER award is the way it highlights the working men and women of the trades in an individual way," adds Brandon Noel, Editor of Asphalt Contractor and Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction. "There’s nothing more satisfying and rewarding than being recognized for labor you put your life into day in and day out.”
“All too often the dedication professional contractors for the job remains unnoticed. It’s an honor to be a part of the team behind the ForConstructionPros.com PACER award to recognize the hard work, diligence, and creativity to solving today’s challenges in construction both on the jobsite and in the office,” says Jonathan Kozlowski, Editor of Rental and Concrete Contractor.
Congratulations to this year's winners. Here's a breakdown of the Top 4 overall winners by brand.
EQUIPMENT TODAY
Laurie Bryan, Allan Myers
Laurie Bryan, Construction Manager
Allan Myers
www.allanmyers.com
Category: Women in Construction
One of Laurie’ Bryan's biggest accomplishments over the last 12 months was becoming the first female construction manager in the history of Allan Meyers. Bryan has also pursued and landed a new workgroup for the Virginia area working on wastewater, and she's completed two projects in the past year. Currently, she is working on six new projects starting with a new owner, and is responsible for five other projects with a value of over $100 million. Bryan works to recruit young individuals right out of college and works one-on-one with these individuals to create a specific growth plan for development. She is also a project engineer academy champion, influencing all company engineers, is the founder of Women at Allan Myers Focus Group, is a chartering member of the Northern Virginia National Association of Women in Construction, and has led and completed six projects for Habitat for Humanity.
Ryan Bryson, Bryson Grading & Paving
Ryan Bryson, Vice President
Bryson Grading & Paving
www.brysongrading.com
Category: Rising Professionals in Construction
Since taking over the helm of a third-generation contracting business, Ryan Bryson continues to double revenue year-over-year. He has introduced multiple new technology/communication tools to keep the employees and office staff in constant communication, further improving the bottom line of the company and the safety of every team member. Bryson expands into new markets and takes on new and innovative projects. He breathes the core values (integrity, innovation, teamwork, and quality), and invests in his employees by paying for school, certifications, and trainings. Through his leadership, the company continues to recruit the best employees with some employees being with the company over 5 years. What's more, 80% of the staff is under the age of 30.
Tim Boulds, Kubota Tractor Corporation
Tim Boulds, Director Construction Equipment Product Marketing
Kubota Tractor Corporation
www.kubotausa.com
Category: Lifetime Achievement
For nearly 30 years, Tim Boulds has helped identify contractor needs and worked with Kubota engineers to fill market gaps in the construction equipment industry, expanding solutions and helping Kubota enter new markets. For instance, in the last 12 months, Boulds and his team helped Kubota enter a new market segment with the introduction of a new small track loader. When most of Kubota’s competitors were going big, this new segment meant “going small.” Boulds and his team saw the opportunity, conducted field and dealer surveys to validate their strategy, and then engineered a track loader that meets the specific needs of the 2,000-pound and under ROC track loader market. Boulds started working for Kubota as a field service representative in 1998, and over the years, has served in various roles within the construction equipment division. Today, Boulds serves as director of product marketing for the company’s construction equipment division, and has been instrumental in the strategic growth of Kubota’s CE product portfolio over the last quarter of a century.
Tom Dusher, Hulstein Excavating and Concrete
Tom Dusher, Paving Superintendent
Hulstein Excavating and Concrete
www.hulsteinexcavatinginc.com
Category: Jobsite Excellence
Tom Dusher has been an instrumental part in the development and success of the paving division at Hulstein Excavating and Concrete. Partnering with The Wirtgen Group and having one of the first Wirtgen Concrete Pavers in the United States put Hulstein Excavating and Concrete on the cutting edge of the paving industry. Dusher's efforts, knowledge, and abilities in both the field and office has created a lasting impact in the concrete industry. His skills and abilities partnered with his teams' can-do attitude and “let’s figure out a way” mentality drive the business while achieving excellence on a daily basis.
ASPHALT CONTRACTOR
Beth Conley, Sales Manager
Superior Asphalt Materials
www.genevaconstruction.net
Category: Women in Construction
Beth Conley serves as sales manager of Superior Asphalt Materials, but she's also the founder of the Women Road Builders Association, where every month, she brings together about 50-plus women to network. Her goal remains to make more of a presence for women in construction or women working to get into construction. She remains a leader and mentor to hundreds of women in construction.
Kristofer Love, Owner
Love's Asphalt Solutions LLC
www.lovesasphaltsolutions.com
Category: Rising Professionals in Construction
Kristofer Love isn't a sit-on-the-sidelines kind of boss; he's setting his business up to be self sufficient. This means hiring key positions to ensure the company can run like a well-oiled machine whether he is present or not. There was a period of time when finding labor employees was few and far between. Love stepped in as a laborer, doing the work alongside his crew members to get the work done. It was during this hands-on approach that he also learned how to place certain employees in certain roles that appeal to their strengths. For example, a former labor employee was recently rehired as a project manager because he was great at laying out jobs and getting things scheduled. He also sponsors youth organizations and community organizations around the area and donates to local small businesses.
James Langley, CPE, Inc.
James Langley, Executive VP/Co-Owner
CPE, Inc.
www.getcpe.com
Category: Lifetime Achievement
Jim Langley started in this business when he was 18 years old learning from Navy Seabees and true innovators. He worked his way up and through the ranks to become EVP and co-owner of CPE, Inc. In this role, he's grown the company from $3 million to a true industry player doing $30 million a year. He maintains a vast knowledge of all types of work commercial, public, private and governmental, and was awarded the new Howard County mill and resurfacing contract for the next six years, totaling over $68 million and securing a keystone project ensuring the livelihood of CPE employees. This project along with a steady stream of workload has given CPE, Inc. a competitive advantage over the past 13 years.
Johnny Coleman, Crown Paving, LLC
Johnny Coleman, Superintendent
Crown Paving, LLC
www.crownpave.com
Category: Jobsite Excellence
Over the past year, Johnny Coleman has played a pivotal role as the lead superintendent on the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Improvements and CSO Reduction project, totaling $4.6 million in contract value. Coleman managed the project timeline, ensuring that all phases were completed on schedule while keeping the WWTP active for the Metro Nashville area. His proactive planning and resource allocation minimized delays and kept the project on track. Under his guidance, the job site maintained an exemplary safety record, with zero lost-time incidents over a 2-year period. He established a culture of accountability, leading to heightened awareness and adherence to safety protocols among all team members. During this project, Coleman made two promotions, highlighting his ability to recognize and nurture talent within the team. He also helped create a proprietary record-keeping document that was shared daily to show clear performance indicators to the prime contractor in Nashville. He established a clear communication strategy that kept all stakeholders informed and engaged. Over the next 12 months, Coleman aims to implement advanced safety training programs to further reduce incidents on the job site, ensuring a safer working environment for all team members. He was a champion of the heat safety umbrellas that were leveraged throughout the company. He also aims to use 3D paving and milling as well as the latest technology offered by Trimble and Caterpillar; plans to pursue additional OSHA training and equipment demonstrations to enhance his professional development; and looks to train his foreman on stricter quality.
CONCRETE CONTRACTOR
Lizabeth Howard, Superior Construction
Lizabeth Howard, Senior Project Manager
Superior Construction
www.superiorconstruction.com
Category: Women in Construction
In September 2022, Hurricane Ian hit Florida’s Gulf Coast, washing away portions of Sanibel Causeway, a three-mile series of bridges. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) set an accelerated schedule to rebuild the causeway so first responders could perform search and rescue, assess the storm’s damage and provide aid. Superior Construction and The de Moya Group were selected to complete the emergency-repair job. Liz Howard served as project manager of the Sanibel Causeway Reconstruction in 2004 with Boh Bros. Construction, so her knowledge was invaluable. That's why she was appointed to the Sanibel emergency repairs project team. Her prior work on the bridge and familiarity with the area was instrumental in helping the team work around the clock to rebuild three roadway sections and five washed-out approaches. They restored access to Sanibel Island in just 15 days — weeks ahead of schedule. While executing that job, Howard continued to act as interim director of the concrete division, managing multiple projects across the region. Since then, Howard has seamlessly transitioned into changing roles with different teams in Fort Myers, Tampa, and Jacksonville, Fla., to complete projects critical to the company. Howard’s career began in the early 2000s when she started in the heavy civil industry. She was the only woman engineer at her workplace, and has spent most of those early years on construction sites, striving for constant interaction with the field, owners, subcontractors, and vendors to develop the knowledge required for each role. Howard is also a member of the steering committee of the Superior Women in Construction (SWiC) professional women’s group, designed to support, empower, and advance women in construction.
Josh Boswell, Phillips Paving Company, Inc.
Josh and Danyelle Boswell
Phillips Paving Company, Inc.
https://phillipspaving.com
Category: Rising Professionals in Construction
Over the past 12 months, Josh and Danyelle Boswell have made significant strides by fully transitioning to in-house concrete production using Cemen Tech volumetric mixers. They capitalized on an underserved niche within the concrete industry and created a solution for an industry-wide problem—small concrete pours. This shift allowed them to stop relying on external suppliers, dramatically improving their efficiency and ability to meet project deadlines. They have successfully grown their fleet of volumetric mixers from one to four units to keep up with high demand. Additionally, their ability to adapt quickly to changes in the market, such as supply chain delays and workforce challenges, has positioned them as a trusted provider of smaller concrete jobs, filling a gap that larger ready-mix companies can't.
Danyelle Boswell, Phillips Paving Company, Inc.
Ryan Klacking, SlurryMonster
Ryan Klacking, Founder & CEO
SlurryMonster
www.slurrymonster.com
Category: Lifetime Achievement
Ryan Klacking, founder of SlurryMonster, has made a notable amount of accomplishments throughout the last five years. But, just in the last 12 months, he has received patents on a few key pieces of industry changing equipment that have made processes for contractors easier, reducing labor hours, men on site, and creating a safer environment all around for teams. For example, the HYDRA, is an upgraded system to an already existing ride on trowel, generally the MultiQuip LD6, or MultiQuip 10' STXDF. Having been a contractor (and still a contractor) for almost 25 years in the polishing space, Klacking saw a need for a slurry management systems that wasn't just about chemicals, but instilled real practices to help change the behavior and get the burden of remediation off contractor's backs. This included chemicals to treat slurry, including a pH-reducing and flocculating chemical, and also provided products that aid in filtering water for re-use on site. Klacking is also the director of the Concrete Polishing Council (CPC), and is working on another piece of equipment that will help to shape the industry for the better.
Marty Small, President
Fairfax Paving & Concrete
www.fepcoinc.com
Category: Jobsite Excellence
Marty Small serves as president of Fairfax Paving & Concrete. But he's not just any president; he's an owner that truly takes care of his employees. He's an owner that's out on the field and isn't afraid to work on the job site alongside his crew.
PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION
Jennifer Edgerton, Operations Manager
Driveways By Us Inc.
www.drivewaysbyus.com
Category: Women in Construction
Jennifer Edgerton is a crucial member of the Driveways By Us team, tasked with keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly. From running the office and ordering materials to getting estimates done and meeting customers, she's always available to help both customers and co-workers wherever she's needed. Most recently, she stepped in as a driver to help curb staff shortages. She's created an online presence in the community and continues to help guide the younger generation to be interested in the industry. She comes from a third-generation “asphalt family,” and continues to make a difference in a company that is now 40 years in the making.
Eli Stoehr, The Pavement Group
Eli Stoehr, Director of National Sales
The Pavement Group
www.thepavementgroup.com
Category: Rising Professionals in Construction
At just 25 years old, Eli Stoehr has become an indispensable part of the team, helping to revolutionize sales strategies and playing a pivotal role in The Pavement Group's exponential growth over the past six years. Under his leadership, the company’s revenue has surged to multiple 8 figures, doubling each year since 2021. His expertise in large commercial projects, specifically in national multi-site solutions, has been a key factor in the company's ability to expand and thrive in an increasingly competitive market. Stoehr also maintains an unwavering commitment to relationship-building in sales. His leadership goes beyond numbers—he is dedicated to "selling the truth," a philosophy that has earned him respect from colleagues and clients alike. In fact, earlier this year, Stoehr launched a podcast called Sell The Truth, where he shares his passion for ethical sales practices and leadership with the wider business community. Through this platform, he is inspiring a new generation of sales professionals to prioritize honesty, integrity, and client satisfaction.
Mark Carter, Peloton Sweeping Service
Mark Carter, President
Peloton Sweeping Service
www.pelotonsweeping.com
Category: Lifetime Achievement
Earlier this year, Mark Carter launched the Municipal Sweeping Course in SweeperSchool.com, a 10- to 14-hour online course for operators focused on safety in sweeping municipal streets. This follows the 2018 launch of the Parking Lot Sweeping course, which took over five years and 30-plus contractors and manufacturing companies to produce, and the 2022 Construction Sweeping Course. Carter developed and recorded a webinar that insurance brokers can use to help their underwriters do appropriate risk assessments for the sweeping industry. He also helps insurance underwriters understand street sweeping industry training best practices. In addition, Carter is a key member of the 2023 NAPSA committee, reviewing and updating the ANSI Power Sweeping Standard, which provides liability protection for the pavement sweeping industry. Carter also developed and launched www.SweeperAlarm.com, a program that allows residents to receive a text message on sweeper day. Carter is the founding president of the C3 Non-Profit, SweeperSchool, a separate arm under the North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA), in which he focuses on workforce enhancement. Carter grew up at Bill's Sweeping Service as a second generation of street sweepers, working from operator to operations manager to finally president, where under his leadership, the company saw extensive growth in sweeper rebuilding, municipal sweeping, construction sweeping and private community sweeping. Upon Carter's departure in 2015, the company swept over 120 community associations per month. He founded Peloton Sweeping Service In 2018.
James Leone, EcoSurface
James Leone, Senior Project Manager
EcoSurface
www.ecosurfaceusa.com
Category: Jobsite Excellence
James Leone has completed the entire asphalt installation and maintenance process in both production and sales over the last 12 months in multiple markets. In the Northeast, a complete drainage correction project in Hornell, N.Y., consisting of new drainage and catch basin alignment with a mill in-place, grade and pave. In the Southwest, concrete curb repair, cracksealing and coating work in Arizona with multi-lift paving at a high production manufacturing plant. In the Mountain Region, extensive pavement marking and all aspects of pavement maintenance in the remote areas of Vail Valley, Colo. He also maintains the ability to manage and complete projects in multiple markets and deliver successful estimating that results in new business. Leone was raised in the industry, working under the leadership of his grandfather, uncle, mother, father and a team of Latin Americans.
