Felix Carlone of F.A. Carlone & Sons and Edgar Ladouceur of the Stormtite Co., Inc., have been honored with the General Roberts Award for Consumer Protection for their service on the Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB).
Both longtime members of the Rhode Island Builders Association, the two men serve as chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the CRLB.
The awards were presented by Attorney General Patrick Lynch at his Providence office on February 19th. The recipients were nominated by CRLB executive director George Whalen.
Carlone, RIBA's secretary, has served as CRLB chairman for more than 19 years. Ladouceur, a past RIBA president, has been CRLB vice chairman for 15 years.
"Both Felix and Ed are outstanding and dedicated...in resolving consumer complaints, and immensely deserving of the honor they receive tonight," Lynch said at the award ceremony.
Along with heading his family company, based in Warwick, Carlone is associate professor and chairman of the Building Construction/Cabinetmaking Technology Dept. at New England Institute of Technology. He co-hosts RIBA's popular radio show, You're Home with the Rhode Island Builders Association, on WPRO radio each Saturday, solving homeowners' dilemmas. He also is a popular presence at the Rhode Island Home Show, where he lectures annually on the topic "How to Hire a Contractor."
Ladouceur, president and CEO of Warwick-based Stormtite, has been involved in the shelter industry for more than 40 years. He has amassed national accolades and awards, and has been featured in several industry magazines. A past director of the Better Business Bureau, he still finds time to serve on the boards of the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, OSHA Safety Awareness, and the Elizabeth Buffum Chace House.
"Most contractors are honest. But the rogues can, and do, damage the reputation of the industry. Tonight we pay tribute to two men who are on the front lines of holding contractors accountable, protecting homeowners from being victimized, and working to ensure that homeowners who do fall prey to scams are financially restored," Lynch said.
"Felix and Ed share an extraordinary commitment to justice, serving diligently, without compensation, to help Rhode Island consumers. They have performed exemplary work over the years without recognition. That changes tonight. We are honored to recognize Felix Carlone and Ed Ladouceur with a 2008 Justice Award."