ABC RI chapter presents Annual Excellence in Construction Awards

The Rhode Island Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors held its 20th Annual Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards Dinner on October 8, at Bravo Brasserie. Sponsored since its inception twenty years ago by Byrne Bonding, a Division of Starkweather & Shepley Insurance of East Providence; the EIC dinner is the summit event of each year for the ABC Rhode Island chapter. Every ABC member contractor and subcontractor is eligible to enter the competition for the EIC Awards. Each entry is judged by a panel including architects and other construction industry professionals on a number of criteria: Emphasis on construction quality (not design); special challenges that were faced such as difficult site or unusual construction conditions, innovations, response to unexpected conditions and value; project operations including safety, personnel management, and quality control; and project administration including scheduling, general administration and cooperation with owners designers and other contractors. Each entrant submitted a entry form including a detailed description of the project, a narrative, safety record, photographs, endorsements, press and promotion, and involvement by other ABC members. Based on those criteria, four winners were awarded handsome Bald Eagle trophies as a testament to their Excellence in Construction on the projects they submitted. This year's winning entries were from American Tele-Connect (low voltage electrical) from Cranston; Contractors Networking, Inc. (general contractor) from East Providence; The RELCO Companies (electrical) from South Easton, Mass.; and Wu & Associates, Inc. (general contractor) from Cherry Hill, N.J. Dave Byrne, principal at Byrne Bonding & Insurance said, "Every year, we seem to receive entries that are more complex and more impressive than in past years. This year's group of EIC Award recipients epitomize the professionalism, attention to detail and safety records that make the construction industry a great place to work." Byrne Bonding, a Division of Starkweather & Shepley Insurance has been an active member of ABC since the Rhode Island Chapter was incorporated in 1990. "With participation on a number of committees, support of the Chapter's events, and their continued support of these Awards of Excellence, Dave Byrne and his team have proven their commitment to Merit Shop Construction in Rhode Island," said Steven Benfeito, the chapter's 2014 chairman of the board and owner of New England Drywall Co., Inc. "In fact, Dave's son, Charlie, who is carrying on the family business, currently sits on the ABC/RI Board of Directors," Benfeito added. Winning companies who choose may submit their entries to the ABC National Excellence in Construction Awards program, and those awards will be handed out at ABC's Annual Workforce Development Conference, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. in March.