The 2026 Excellence in Construction Awards Ohio Valley program delivered what the name promises: a room full of builders, a record-setting field of project submissions, and a clear look at the contractors shaping commercial construction across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. For ABC Ohio Valley, the Gathering of Eagles is more than an awards gala. It is a public scorecard for merit shop performance, project execution, safety, innovation, and leadership.
2026 Excellence in Construction Awards Gala Overview
The 2026 Excellence in Construction Awards Gala program opened with a clear signal: competition for Eagle and Pyramid recognition is getting tougher. ABC Ohio Valley received a record number of submissions, reflecting the strength of member work across Cincinnati, Dayton, Springfield, Lima, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana.
For ABC Ohio Valley members, the gala is the highest regional stage for Excellence in Construction. The program recognizes merit shop contractors based on project execution, quality, safety, and innovation. Projects submitted for the EIC Awards must showcase outstanding results in exceptional quality, innovative craftsmanship, budget performance, and timely completion.
The ABC Ohio Valley EIC program also connects directly to national standards. The timeline for the National ABC Excellence in Construction competition extends beyond the regional gala, with specific deadlines for submission and judging.
Signature Moments of the Gathering of Eagles
The Gathering of Eagles lived up to its name. Before dinner, the room was already abuzz with conversations among contractors, owners, architects, field leaders, project managers, and prospective members, learning what it takes to compete in the Excellence in Construction Awards.
The networking reception gave members a practical reason to gather before the awards program began. Owners reconnected with project teams. Specialty contractors compared notes with general contractors. Emerging leaders saw what top-tier project documentation, safety performance, and presentation look like at the regional level.
One of the night’s strongest visual moments was the Eagle display competition. Member project boards filled the room, giving attendees a close look at the work behind the awards. These displays helped firms tell the story behind safety, schedule, quality, craftsmanship, and innovation.
The keynote address came from Thomas “Murph” Murphy, Chairman of the Associated Builders and Contractors National Board of Directors. His message centered on open competition, workforce pressure, the importance of safety, and the strength of the Ohio Valley merit shop market.
This year’s Excellence in Construction Awards featured a record number of submissions and honored a leading craftsperson and woman in construction, as well as a company recognized for its commitment to community. That mix of project awards and people-focused honors is what makes the awards gala more than a banquet. It is a business development, workforce pride, and leadership event for builders across the region.
In Memoriam: Honoring Mick Given, Ferguson Construction (1957–2026)
ABC Ohio Valley also paused during the program to honor the memory of Mick Given of Ferguson Construction, 1957 to 2026. Given was a past Legacy Award recipient and a 2015 Hall of Fame inductee whose impact reached across generations of merit shop construction leaders.
His career reflected a sustained commitment to safety, workforce development, mentorship, and field leadership. For many in the room, the moment of silence connected the evening’s current honorees to the people who built the chapter’s foundation.
That is an important part of the 2026 excellence program. These awards not only recognize finished projects. They recognize the builders, mentors, and leaders who make the next generation possible.
Personal Honors: Legacy, Craft, Woman of the Year, and Community Impact
Before the project awards began, ABC Ohio Valley recognized individual and company leadership. These honors are central to the excellence in construction program because the best projects are always backed by people who lead well.
The 2026 Legacy Award winner was Scott Teepe Sr., recognized for his lifetime contribution to the chapter and to merit shop construction. The annual legacy award honors leaders whose work has shaped the Ohio Valley Chapter through governance, advocacy, workforce development, and long-term service to the merit shop philosophy.
The 2026 Craft Professional of the Year was Tony Robbins, Electrical Foreman at Garber Electrical Contractors. Robbins was recognized for field leadership, jobsite execution, safety focus, and mentoring. The runners up were Chris Hall, Superintendent at Ferguson Construction, and Christopher Hall, Senior Company Foreman and Carpenter at Messer Construction Co.
The 2026 Woman of the Year was Stephanie Hall, CEO of J and D Rack Co., Inc. Hall’s leadership in a specialty trade environment reflects the business ownership, operational discipline, and advocacy that continue to expand opportunities for women in construction. The runner-up was Jessica Phlipot, CEO of Command Roofing.
The 2026 Community Service and Outreach award produced co-winners: Complete Mechanical and Marker Inc. Both companies were recognized for the way their teams give back beyond the jobsite through community projects, education partnerships, charitable support, and service-minded leadership.
The gala presents dedicated awards for leadership and workforce diversity, including categories like Craft Professional of the Year and Woman of the Year. Those categories matter because they make field excellence, executive leadership, and community impact visible to the entire organization.
Membership Milestones and 2026 Top Performers
The awards gala also recognized companies whose long-term membership has helped build the chapter’s strength across multiple market cycles.
Buschur Electric was honored for 45 years of membership with ABC Ohio Valley. Century Construction, Milligan Construction Co., and Perfection Group were each honored for 50 years of membership.
That longevity matters. It represents sustained commitment to training, safety programs, workforce development, advocacy, networking, and the merit shop principles that keep competition open across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
ABC Ohio Valley also recognized the 2026 Top Performers cohort:
- Complete Mechanical
- Conger Construction Group
- EnviroControl Systems
- Ferguson Construction
- ISC
- Lithko Contracting
- Marker
- Messer
- Miller Valentine Construction
- Sollmann Electric
- TP Mechanical
- United Group Services
Top Performer recognition reflects more than size or visibility. It points to measurable performance in safety, quality, business practices, and leadership. Many of these companies also appeared later in Eagle and Pyramid categories, showing how operational discipline translates into award-winning projects.
Specialty Contractor Excellence: 2026 Eagle and Pyramid Award Winners
The Specialty Contractor awards showed the depth of technical expertise across electrical, mechanical, interiors, specialty construction, and remediation work. The EIC Awards include two high-level honors: the Award of Merit and the Award of Excellence, symbolized by the American Eagle trophy. At the regional gala, Eagle and Pyramid recognition made that excellence visible across the room.
| Company | Award | Category | Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Valley Electrical Services | Eagle | Electrical Commercial $2–10 million | The Boardwalk Residences and Garage at Ovation in Newport, Kentucky |
| Garber Electrical Contractors | Eagle | Electrical Industrial $2–10 million | Westrafo North America facility in Trotwood, Ohio |
| Feldkamp Mechanical | Pyramid | Mechanical – All | Warabeya |
| CINFAB LLC | Eagle | Mechanical – All | Purina Batavia HVAC project |
| National TAB Intelligence | Pyramid | Mechanical Commercial $2 million | Cincinnati Open Tennis Facility |
| Complete Mechanical Services | Eagle | Mechanical Commercial $2 million | Dorothy Lane Market plumbing scope |
| Area Energy and Electric | Pyramid | Mechanical Commercial $2–10 million | Kenton City Schools |
| CINFAB LLC | Eagle | Mechanical Commercial $2–10 million | Cincinnati Convention Center |
| CINFAB LLC | Eagle | Mechanical Industrial less than $10 million | PPD Global Central Labs |
| Huseman Group | Eagle | Interiors – All | Cincinnati Open Lindner Family Tennis Center millwork delivered through Stanton Millworks |
| Huseman Group | Eagle | Specialty Construction Commercial less than $1 million | SparkHaus Restoration |
| MCD Concrete Enterprises | Pyramid | Specialty Construction Commercial more than $1 million | Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Asian Elephant House |
| O’Rourke Wrecking Company | Eagle | Specialty Construction Commercial more than $1 million | Remediation and Demolition of the Former Forest Fair Mall |
| Complete Mechanical Services | Eagle | Specialty Construction Industrial less than $1 million | Aussie Tube Bundle project |
Ohio Valley Electrical Services earned the Eagle for Electrical Commercial $2–10 million on The Boardwalk Residences and Garage at Ovation in Newport, Kentucky. Garber Electrical Contractors earned the Eagle for Electrical Industrial $2–10 million on the Westrafo North America facility in Trotwood, Ohio.
Feldkamp Mechanical received the Pyramid for Mechanical – All on Warabeya, while CINFAB LLC earned the Eagle for Mechanical – All on the Purina Batavia HVAC project. National TAB Intelligence received the Pyramid for Mechanical Commercial $2 million on the Cincinnati Open Tennis Facility, and Complete Mechanical Services earned the Eagle for its Dorothy Lane Market plumbing scope.
Area Energy and Electric received the Pyramid for Mechanical Commercial $2–10 million on Kenton City Schools. CINFAB LLC earned the Eagle in the same category for the Cincinnati Convention Center and also earned the Eagle for Mechanical Industrial less than $10 million on PPD Global Central Labs.
Huseman Group earned the Eagle for Interiors – All on the Cincinnati Open Lindner Family Tennis Center millwork delivered through Stanton Millworks. Huseman Group also earned the Eagle for Specialty Construction Commercial less than $1 million on the SparkHaus Restoration.
MCD Concrete Enterprises received the Pyramid for Specialty Construction Commercial more than $1 million on the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Asian Elephant House. O’Rourke Wrecking Company earned the Eagle for the Remediation and Demolition of the Former Forest Fair Mall. Complete Mechanical Services earned the Eagle for Specialty Construction Industrial less than $1 million on the Aussie Tube Bundle project.
General Contractor Excellence: 2026 Eagle and Pyramid Award Winners
The General Contractor awards covered commercial, industrial, pre-engineered, health care, institutional, renovation, historical renovation, and special projects. These categories showed the range of work shaping the built environment across the Ohio Valley.
| Company | Award | Category | Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.A. Dorsten | Pyramid | Commercial less than $5 million | First Federal New Branch |
| Ferguson Construction | Eagle | Commercial less than $5 million | Crown Equipment Law Office Addition |
| Paul Hemmer Company | Eagle | Commercial $10–25 million | OneNKY Center in Covington, Kentucky |
| H.A. Dorsten | Pyramid | Industrial $5–15 million | Joyce-Dayton Corp. Office and Warehouse Expansion |
| Marker Construction | Eagle | Industrial $5–15 million | 305 Prosperity Parkway |
| Ferguson Construction | Eagle | Industrial $15–25 million | Westrafo facility |
| H.A. Dorsten | Pyramid | Pre-Engineered Building – All | Parkway LSD Athletic Building |
| Marker Construction | Eagle | Pre-Engineered Building – All | Frann’s Fieldhouse at Heidelberg University |
| Danis Building Construction | Pyramid | Health Care $25–100 million | Dayton Children’s Hospital Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness |
| Danis Building Construction | Eagle | Health Care $25–100 million | Cincinnati Children’s Applied Gene and Cell Therapy Center |
| Oheil Site Solutions | Pyramid | Institutional less than $5 million | West Carrollton Baseball Field and Tennis Courts |
| Complete Mechanical Services | Eagle | Institutional less than $5 million | Lyons Magnus Big Boiler Tight Space |
| Conger Construction Group | Pyramid | Institutional $5–10 million | CHCA Lacrosse–Soccer Stadium and Fields |
| Ferguson Construction | Eagle | Institutional $5–10 million | Miami Valley Child Development Center – Lincoln Hill in East Dayton |
| Marker Construction | Eagle | Institutional $10–25 million | Global Impact STEM Academy Upper Academy |
| Danis Building Construction | Eagle | Institutional $25–100 million | Cedarville University School of Business Administration |
| Messer Construction | Eagle | Institutional $100–250 million | University of Cincinnati Indoor Practice Facility and Athletic Performance Center |
| Messer Construction | Pyramid | Renovation $10–100 million | Miami University Bachelor Hall Renovation |
| Huseman Group | Eagle | Renovation $10–100 million | 7 W 7th Apartments adaptive reuse of the former Macy’s headquarters in downtown Cincinnati |
| Kapp Construction | Eagle | Historical Renovation less than $25 million | The Springfield Country Club |
| Marker Construction | Eagle | Special – All | South Charleston Fire Station |
H.A. Dorsten received the Pyramid for Commercial less than $5 million on the First Federal New Branch. Ferguson Construction earned the Eagle in that category for the Crown Equipment Law Office Addition.
Paul Hemmer Company earned the Eagle for Commercial $10–25 million on the OneNKY Center in Covington, Kentucky. H.A. Dorsten received the Pyramid for Industrial $5–15 million on the Joyce-Dayton Corp. Office and Warehouse Expansion, while Marker Construction earned the Eagle for 305 Prosperity Parkway.
Ferguson Construction earned the Eagle for Industrial $15–25 million on the Westrafo facility. H.A. Dorsten received the Pyramid for Pre-Engineered Building – All on the Parkway LSD Athletic Building, while Marker Construction earned the Eagle for Frann’s Fieldhouse at Heidelberg University.
Danis Building Construction received the Pyramid for Health Care $25–100 million on the Dayton Children’s Hospital Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness. Danis Building Construction also earned the Eagle for the Cincinnati Children’s Applied Gene and Cell Therapy Center.
Oheil Site Solutions received the Pyramid for Institutional less than $5 million on the West Carrollton Baseball Field and Tennis Courts. Complete Mechanical Services earned the Eagle in that category for Lyons Magnus Big Boiler Tight Space.
Conger Construction Group received the Pyramid for Institutional $5–10 million on the CHCA Lacrosse–Soccer Stadium and Fields. Ferguson Construction earned the Eagle for the Miami Valley Child Development Center – Lincoln Hill in East Dayton.
Marker Construction earned the Eagle for Institutional $10–25 million on the Global Impact STEM Academy Upper Academy. Danis Building Construction earned the Eagle for Institutional $25–100 million on the Cedarville University School of Business Administration.
Messer Construction earned the Eagle for Institutional $100–250 million on the University of Cincinnati Indoor Practice Facility and Athletic Performance Center. Messer Construction also received the Pyramid for Renovation $10–100 million on the Miami University Bachelor Hall Renovation.
Huseman Group earned the Eagle for Renovation $10–100 million on the 7 W 7th Apartments adaptive reuse of the former Macy’s headquarters in downtown Cincinnati. Kapp Construction earned the Eagle for Historical Renovation less than $25 million on The Springfield Country Club. Marker Construction earned the Eagle for Special – All on the South Charleston Fire Station.
Marquee Projects that Defined the 2026 Excellence in Construction Program
Every Eagle and Pyramid project represented high-level execution. Still, a few projects helped visually define the 2026 excellence in construction awards ohio valley program because of their scale, mission, complexity, or regional impact.
University of Cincinnati Indoor Practice Facility and Athletic Performance Center
Messer Construction’s Eagle-winning University of Cincinnati Indoor Practice Facility and Athletic Performance Center stood at the top of the dollar-value range in the Institutional $100–250 million category.
The project brought together a large indoor practice environment, athlete performance spaces, and complex campus logistics. Work of this scale requires careful coordination around student life, athletic schedules, tight urban access, deliveries, safety planning, and sequencing.
For owners and higher education partners, this project showed what merit shop builders can deliver when planning, communication, workforce depth, and field execution align.
Cincinnati Children’s Applied Gene and Cell Therapy Center
Danis Building Construction’s Eagle-winning Cincinnati Children’s Applied Gene and Cell Therapy Center represented another kind of impact. This health care project was not only technically demanding; it was mission-driven.
Advanced lab and clinical environments require precision. Clean room considerations, mechanical reliability, specialized systems, and quality control all affect the long-term performance of the facility.
The result is a project that supports Cincinnati Children’s ability to expand cutting-edge therapies. That is why health care construction belongs in the broader community conversation. The work behind the walls can shape patient outcomes for years.
Forest Fair Mall Remediation and Demolition
O’Rourke Wrecking Company’s Eagle-winning remediation and demolition of the former Forest Fair Mall was one of the most visually significant projects of the year.
The scope involved approximately 2,000,000 square feet, environmental remediation requirements, careful sequencing, and coordination around adjacent conditions. Just as important, the project achieved zero incidents.
That combination of scale and safety made the project a defining “before-and-after” moment for the region’s built environment. It also showed why specialty construction belongs on the same stage as new vertical construction.
Digital Program Book, Photo Gallery, and Resources
The 2026 program also marked a forward-looking shift in how ABC Ohio Valley shares the celebration. For the first time, the chapter launched its annual program book in digital flip-book format.
Members can view and share the official 2026 Excellence in Construction digital program book. In the related links attendees can also access the event photo gallery to find team photos, project moments, table groups, and images from the night.
These resources help the awards live longer active lives after the dinner ends. Companies can use photos and program content in proposals, websites, recruiting materials, internal newsletters, owner presentations, and social media posts.
Why the Excellence in Construction Awards Matter for Merit Shop Construction
The ABC Ohio Valley EIC program is built around a simple idea: the best work should win. That is the foundation of merit shop construction, where contractors compete based on safety, quality, value, innovation, and performance regardless of union affiliation.
The excellence in construction awards form a public scorecard of that performance across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. They also spotlight the nine-out-of-ten non-union workers who drive the region’s commercial construction economy.
The judging expectations are rigorous. Applications for the EIC Awards require documentation including safety records, project completion within a specific timeframe, and high-quality project photographs. ABC contractor members must be directly involved in the construction activities of the submitted project to apply for the EIC Awards.
Finalist projects for the EIC Awards may undergo on-site judging or a comprehensive review by industry experts. Any company experiencing a safety-related fatality of a direct employee during the program year is strictly disqualified from the EIC Awards.
That standard matters. It reinforces that excellence is not just appearance. It is safety performance, quality control, schedule discipline, project complexity, innovation, client satisfaction, and documentation.
For a deeper look at the philosophy behind open competition, read ABC Ohio Valley’s cornerstone post on merit shop construction across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Connecting the Gala to Workforce, Merit Shop Strategy, and Market Outlook
The Gathering of Eagles is more than a one-night celebration. It supports workforce development, business planning, marketing, and advocacy.
For apprentices and craft professionals, Eagle and Pyramid projects show what career progression can look like. A person can start in the field, grow through training, lead crews, manage complex work, and eventually stand on stage as a Craft Professional of the Year candidate.
That is why construction workforce development must be treated as a strategic business function, not a side program. ABC Ohio Valley members can explore that connection in our post on Construction Workforce Development as a strategic business function.
The 2026 awards roster also reflects broader market realities: industrial expansion, higher education investment, health care construction, adaptive reuse, sports and recreation facilities, and community-critical infrastructure. Those trends connect directly to the regional outlook covered in the 2026 Construction Industry Outlook.
For members, the practical takeaway is clear. Use the 2026 excellence results to benchmark performance, support recruiting, strengthen proposals, recognize teams, and demonstrate third-party validation to owners.
Advocacy, PAC Support, and Preparing for the 2027 Excellence in Construction Program
The success of the Gathering of Eagles depends on more than one evening. It depends on the advocacy infrastructure that protects open competition, free enterprise, and jobsite choice across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Members can support that work by contributing to the ABC Ohio Valley Political Action Committee through the secure ABC Ohio Valley PAC contribution link. PAC support helps protect the policy environment that allows merit shop contractors to compete, grow, hire, train, and deliver award-winning work.
The same advocacy that influences legislation and regulatory policy is what makes nights like the Gathering of Eagles possible year after year.
Now is also the time to prepare for 2027. Member firms should begin organizing project data, safety records, photography, owner testimonials, budget performance, schedule documentation, and narrative details while project information is still fresh.
The 2026 winners set the standard. The 2027 competition will be even tougher as new work comes online across the Ohio Valley. ABC Ohio Valley stands ready to recognize the next generation of Eagle and Pyramid achievers.
Join us in celebrating the best of merit shop construction, and start building the story your team will submit next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to submit projects for the ABC Ohio Valley Excellence in Construction Awards?
Project submissions are open to ABC Ohio Valley contractor members in good standing, including general contractors, specialty contractors, and design-build firms. ABC contractor members must be directly involved in the construction activities of the submitted project to apply for the EIC Awards.
How are Eagle and Pyramid winners selected in the 2026 Excellence in Construction program?
Projects are evaluated on factors such as safety performance, quality of workmanship, project complexity, schedule performance, innovation, budget performance, and owner satisfaction. Finalist projects may undergo on-site judging or a comprehensive review by industry experts.
Can owners, architects, and engineers attend the construction awards gala?
Yes. Owners, architects, engineers, and key project partners are strongly encouraged to attend as guests of submitting contractors. Many honorees bring full project teams because the awards recognize collaboration as much as individual company performance.
Where can my company access photos and official documentation of our 2026 award?
Members can use the official digital program book at https://heyzine.com/flip-book/3eed1ab2bc.html for award listings and project information. The event photo gallery is available at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCTW29 for images suitable for internal communication, recruiting, proposals, and marketing.
How can our firm get involved with ABC Ohio Valley beyond submitting for awards?
Companies can join ABC Ohio Valley, participate in workforce development and apprenticeship programs, attend safety and leadership training, engage in networking events, support advocacy, and contribute to the ABC Ohio Valley PAC. The chapter exists to help contractors win work, improve productivity, strengthen teams, and advance merit shop construction across the region.
