Our chapter has established an award program to acknowledge the efforts of company members and individuals who serve as role models and provide outstanding leadership to our association.  People in our line of work generally don’t do what they do to win awards.  That said, we all know that it’s gratifying and affirming to be recognized for a job well done. 

NUCA devotes its energies and resources to three core competencies, each of which describes a fundamental aspect of who we are and what we do.  They are legislative/regulatory advocacy, jobsite safety promotion and professional education.  We are recognizing the impressive achievements of individuals and companies who excel at aiding NUCA in these goals.  The scope and breadth of this volunteerism is not only inspiring, but also a source of great pride for our industry.  We honor those members that have demonstrated exceptional leadership.

The following awards were given out at Saturday’s Holiday Auction…

The Contractor of the Year award is given to the person or company that has gone over and above for the industry in the past year.  The 2010 award for Contractor of the Year, is awarded to Emery & Sons Construction.  Bill Martinak, President of Emery & Sons, not only serves on our board of directors; but he and his company do much more for our association and our membership.

• Bill represents our ownership interests with College Properties LLC, which owns the NW College of Construction building

• Bill chairs the Legislative committee and the City of Salem Public Works committee

• Emery & Sons provided equipment, manpower, materials, and a site for the recent OSU Pipe Ramming Study, in which our chapter participated

• Bill was just nominated and approved to serve a 3-year term as a Director on the National NUCA board starting in 2011

• Bill is finishing up his 4th year on the East Side Combined Sewer Overflow (ESCSO) Tunnel, Shafts, and Pipelines Project Citizens Oversight Committee.  This committee, which reports to the city council, is charged with maximizing cost efficiencies; maintaining a safe working environment; minimizing impacts to the affected businesses and residents; creating opportunities for minority, women, and emerging small businesses, and of course, the subcommittee that Bill chaired, was charged with maximizing the use of local contractors and vendors which are critical to our membership.  The commitment to serve in this role disqualified Emery & Sons from bidding on any of this work, so this was indeed a significant sacrifice on the part of Emery & Sons. 

• Emery & Sons allows Jennifer Carter to represent us, the excavation contractors, on the Oregon Utility Notification Center Board, where she also serves as chair of this critical state board.  This position requires significant use of Jennifer’s time, including travels outside Oregon to attend regional events. 

For these reasons, Emery & Sons Construction earns our Contractor of the Year award.

The Associate of the Year award is given to the associate, or the associate’s representative that has gone over and above for the industry in the past year.  The 2010 award for Associate of the Year is Dawn Morse with D.P. Nicoli.  Dawn not only sits on our board as the Associate Committee chair, she also participates on several other committees, including Safety, Membership, City of Gresham, BES, Portland Water, Publicity, Golf and the Auction committee.  In addition, Dawn has a habit of arriving early for our general membership meetings to assist Melinda at the registration table.  For these reasons, Dawn Morse earns our Associate of the Year award.

The Committee Person of the Year award is given to the member that really separates themselves from the pack on the committee level.  The 2010 Committee Person of the Year is John Kalkhoven with Titan Utilities.  John chairs the BES Public Works committee, the Clean Water Services Public Works committee, and the Public Works Self-Performing Works committee.  The issue of public agencies self performing public works is an escalating trend and John has spent an enormous amount of time and effort on this issue, often late at night, researching statutes and compiling supporting data.  John’s passion for our industry, and this issue, have resulted in John treating this committee as a second job.  Melinda refers to John as “her most valuable resource and an ongoing source of help and support”.  John also participates on one of our most key committees; the Budget committee.  For these reasons, John Kalkhoven truly deserves our Committee Person of the Year award.

Congratulations to all on your well deserved awards!

Lyle Schellenberg

Chapter President

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McDonald Excavating received the Daily Journal of Commerce’s DMWESB Top Projects Best Contractor Award:

http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/10/29/dmwesb-topprojects-best-contractor-mcdonald-excavating/

McDonald Excavating also received the award for DMWESB Top Projects Second Place, Private Buildings:

http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/10/29/dmwesb-topprojects-second-place-private-buildings-mcdonald-excavating/

Vancouver Paving Co. received the award for DMWSB Top Projects First Place, Private Buildings:

http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/10/29/dmwsb-topprojects-first-place-private-buildings-vancouver-paving-co

Congratulations to both member firms on their well-deserved awards…You represent NUCA of Oregon & SW Washington very well!