With ABC MA's Excellence in Construction Awards, now in its 16th year, we help spotlight some of the outstanding construction work that helps enrich our lives, our communities and our society. We believe an important part of our mission at ABC is to draw attention to the many important contributions of an industry and talented trade workers whose contributions can easily be taken for granted. This year, the 14 projects which received Excellence in Construction Awards are a great representation of the caliber of work that ABC's merit shop contractors and their thousands of craft workers deliver to the public and private marketplace on a daily basis.
These award-winning projects leave no doubt that ABC contractors are continuing to raise the standards of craftsmanship, safety and quality in our industry. In these challenging times, these projects show the value ABC contractors deliver. They are able to capitalize on the talents of their merit shop workers and the built-in efficiency of merit shop construction. They take a collaborative approach with all members of the project team, including both merit shop and union builders, to deliver the best possible results.
These winning contractors demonstrated their achievements in important areas such as quality, craftsmanship, personnel management and scheduling. They were committed to jobsite safety. They showed an ability to innovate. They were not thrown by challenges and unforeseen conditions. In other words, they can deliver excellence and make it seem easy. It is not...and their accomplishments are the result of commitment and determination, and, for sure, talent.
ABC's award-winning contractors and project teams show us how leading by example raises the standards for us all. We are proud to showcase their work as representative of what the construction industry contributes to our lives each and every day.
Our award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges, each a leader in our industry.
It is not an understatement to say that this program would not have been possible without the contributions of these talented individuals. They are: Michael Hicks, AIA, Domenech Hicks & Krockmalnic Architects; Eric Stoothoff, PE, Jacobs Engineering Group; Charles Sacre, PE, S E A Consultants Inc.; John Nunnari, AIA, HMFH Architects; David Moffatt, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Robert Jefferies, AIA, TBA Architects.
We also thank our sponsors, especially Volvo Rents of Haverhill, Mass. and owners Matt Carretero and Todd Micelli.
On behalf of ABC, we thank everyone who helps support the construction industry and look forward to continuing to showcase the outstanding work of our local contractors and workers.

Greg Beeman is president of ABC Mass. Chapter, Boston, Mass.