Top Notch Holds 8th Annual Standards of Excellence Awards

560 celebrants, including dozens of state and local officials feasted on a traditional meal of fried chicken and biscuits smothered in apple butter. Waistbands may have expanded during lunch but pride in their efforts to better their communities and jobsites swelled afterwards as four prestigious awards were presented.

Judging for the event were six distinguished panelists:

• Jarod Klaas, Indianapolis Airport Authority
• Deb Kunce, Core Planning Strategies
• Doug Morris, Butler University
• Tom Morrision, Indiana University
• Greg Napier, Accompany, LLC
• Janelle Smagala, Synthesis Architecture

IBEW Local 481 Wins Union of the Year

IBEW Local 481 was selected Union of the Year, presented to the union that exhibits innovation and strong leadership for their members.

The union focused on the development of an online store front designed to increase access to membership services, a social media campaign designed to communicate with members and community leaders and a recruitment initiative designed around an online application.

In short, this union improved its use of technology to improve the needs of its members and its users.

481 also evaluated its approach to education among its apprentices. Instead of setting the goal of graduation as the bar for all to attain, the union offered any apprentice achieving a 90% or higher grade in the classroom and positive job site work reports a reimbursement for their book costs. This program encouraged apprentices to not simply get through school, but to perform at their highest level.

Finally, the jury was reportedly impressed by this union’s continuous focus on community engagement. This year, the union expanded its commitment to community leadership by becoming involved in a wide variety of initiatives designed to support the communities where they work. For example, they donated sports scoreboards in North Vernon and supported a recycling initiative in Franklin Township.

In addition, the union sponsored an Athlete of the Month award provided to a high performing high school student committed to hard work. The jury recognized the value of connecting with youth organizations as it relates to workforce development. Ryan Fireprotection Wins Contractor of the Year

The corresponding Contractor of the Year was Ryan Fireprotection.

Ryan was praised for their performance in three areas:

• Commitment to Workforce Development
• Elite Operations
• Commitment to Community Engagement

Ryan showcased a commitment to education internally among new and seasoned staff, as well as a commitment to education among the many partners in their community.

They also showcased a unique operations style designed to see a project through coordination, scheduling, fabrication and installation. The operations style included a commitment to technology, elimination of waste and a consistent line of communication with customers.

Finally, Ryan was praised for having joined forces with their signatory union to donate their services for the renovation of the So Big Mountain House in Whitestown, a home where unexpected pregnant mothers can find shelter, food and support. The project has offered this small community a critical resource designed to lift up families in need. Ironworkers Local 22 Joint Apprenticeship Training Program Wins Training Excellence Award

The Training Excellence Award was presented to the Ironworkers Local 22 Joint Apprenticeship raining Program deemed by the judges to have exhibited excellence and innovation in the past year.

The jury noted the apprenticeship program’s commitment to training a team of professionals instead of an individual. This unique approach to training encourages apprentices to consider what type of value they are offering the overall construction project – not simply their own job assignment.

In addition, the jury was impressed by the program’s commitment to partnership with their contractors. The program leaderships work closely with contractors to understand the workforce training necessary to meet owner needs. The program boasts a strong relationship with a variety of contractor types across a regional footprint.

The apprenticeship program implemented a program called the “I-care initiative,” a peer-to-peer informal observation process that encourages tradesmen to maintain a self-directed work place. When a safe act is completed, the observed worker is recognized with positive recognition. Darrell Gossett Honored

Longtime industry leader Darrell Gossett, who was the Chairman of the Board for ERMCO and who passed away earlier this year was honored with the Labor Management Foundation Award that will be renamed the Darrell Gossett Labor Management Foundation Award.

Michelle Boyd said that, “we knew Darrell was the right recipient. Darrell embodied what we all hoped for in an industry partner. And, yet, he spent every day asking how he could do “just a little bit more.”