Earlier this month, over 200 members gathered at the Four Points by Sheraton in Norwood for the 31^st annual Excellence in Construction Awards (EICA) dinner to honor the very best in merit shop construction. Fourteen projects were honored.

As always, they demonstrated our members’ amazing ability to innovate and overcome obstacles to provide value to their clients. In addition to pandemic-related challenges, member companies dealt with weather issues, quick shifts in client priorities and the usual unexpected problems that crop up once construction gets underway. As always, the winners went above and beyond to fulfill – and sometimes help define – clients’ vision for their project.

In addition to the Eagle and Merit awards, this year’s competition included a new category. The Excellence in Leadership Award goes beyond the jobsite to honor work that demonstrates leadership that make a broader impact in our industry and our community. Congratulations to Dacon and DECCO, Inc. on being the first winners of the new award.

Our Eagle Award winners were BW Kennedy & Co., Callahan Construction Managers, Erland Construction and Metro Walls. Our Merit Award winners were AvalonBay Communities, Bald Hill Builders, Bowdoin Construction Corp., Kaplan Construction, Metro Walls, NEI General Contracting, and R & R Window Contractors. Special kudos to Metro Walls for winning two awards, and for serving as our presenting sponsor.

EICA is an example of the kind of programs ABC MA offers to help get your company and the talents of your team members recognized. I urge you to look into entering in the future, and to take advantage of other recognition opportunities our Chapter offers, such as the STEP (Safety Training Evaluation Process) Awards and Craft Championships.

Speaking of the Craft Championships, why not join us to cheer on our pipefitter and electrical contestants at this year’s Craft Championships and Vendor Fair? It will be held on Saturday, November 18^th at 10:30 am at Medford Vocational Technical High School and the winners will go in to the national championships at the ABC National Convention in Florida next March.

In addition to providing member companies with well-deserved recognition, the Excellence in Construction Awards remind us of why we believe in and advocate for the merit shop philosophy. Free and open competition among qualified contractors yields the best outcome for contractors, clients and employees alike.

Vera Vadeboncoeur is the 2023 ABC Mass. chapter chairperson and is controller at Fernandes Masonry, Inc., New Bedford, Mass.