ASCC annual conference award winners announced

Member Owner Safety Award: The Safety and Risk Management Council (SRMC) of the ASCC  is pleased to announce that Chris Plue, senior vice president, Webcor Concrete Division, San Francisco, CA, received its ASCC Member Owner Safety Award for 2019, presented September 19 at the association’s Annual Conference in Chicago. The purpose is to annually recognize one owner/executive of a contractor member company who displays a clear focus and passion for safety, and provides the leadership that creates a best-in-class safety culture. 

Plue is a past president of ASCC and a past council director SRMC. 

The judges had this to say: “We can’t name a person we feel is more sincere in their decision to manage the people for which they’re responsible in such a way to assume their absolute best chance of working without injury or incident. 

“He personally has led the change to move his company’s safety culture from good to great. Great leaders make it personal and create positive change. Webcor’s EMR has been trending down to a .58 with almost 3.5 million manhours worked. That takes a lot of effort and focus.” 

Gaining Strength Award: The Emerging Leaders Committee of the ASCC presented its second Gaining Strength Award to Jordan Berens, director of project management and estimating for Kent Companies, Grand Rapids, MI. The award was established to acknowledge up and coming individuals aged 40 and under, from member companies, who go above and beyond to promote and professionally represent the concrete industry, through their actions in their company and industry organizations. 

Candidates are judged based on letters of recommendations and letters of acknowledgement from industry organizations with emphasis on participation, commitment, safety awareness, role modeling, and personal skills and knowledge. 

Berens began his career in 2014 as a laborer performing placing, finishing and forming. He joined Kent Co. in 2015 as a field intern. He was promoted to project engineer, project manager, senior project manager, then to his current position. He is a respected project management expert among all seasoned field leaders and general superintendents, and, is widely recognized by customers and field leadership for developing detailed safety plans. From Kent EVP Matt Fennema, “His deep experience in concrete has positioned him as an expert to our customers. He can have tough conversations with clients while maintaining a positive working relationship.” 

The president of the West Michigan Chapter of ACT had this to say: “Jordan is recognized within our chapter and the industry as an advisor and mentor to those who are beginning a career in concrete. I’ve observed senior lead construction managers seek his opinion.” 

Candidates for the 2020 Gaining Strength Award will be accepted after the first of the year. 

 Lifetime Achievement Award: D. Thomas Ruttura, owner of Ruttura & Sons Construction Co., Inc., West Babylon, NY, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the ASCC, St. Louis, MO on September 19 at the organization’s Annual Conference in Chicago. 

Ruttura is a past president of ASCC (2003-2004) and of the organization’s Education, Research & Development Foundation. He also chaired and served on numerous ASCC committees. 

“Tommy has always been extremely generous with his time, talents and financial contributions to this organization,” says ASCC executive director, Bev Garnant. “He has truly ‘enhanced the capabilities of those who build with concrete’ by showing his experience and expertise in concrete construction and business management with so many of his fellow ASCC members.” 

Ruttura has also been active in the America Concrete Institute (ACI) and with local and regional concrete and construction organizations. 

The Lifetime Achievement Award is ASCC’s highest honor, acknowledging recipients for their body of work within the industry and their service to ASCC. 

For more information, visit www.ascconline.org or call the ASCC office at (866) 788-2722.