ForConstructionPros.com and its affiliate brands, Equipment Today; Asphalt Contractor; Rental; Concrete Contractor; and Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction, announced the winners of this year’s PACER award, which recognizes construction pros on the jobsite and in the office for their accomplishments in shaping the construction industry.
The PACER (Pavement, Asphalt, Concrete, Equipment, Rental) award, managed by ForConstructionPros.com and its affiliate brands, Equipment Today; Asphalt Contractor; Rental; Concrete Contractor; and Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction, is the first award specific to the ForConstructionPros brand and the first industry executive-focused award for the Construction Network.
This year's winners exemplify operational excellence, champions of mentorship and workplace safety, and pioneers of construction technology. They exhibit leadership, mentorship, professionalism and integrity. And, they do so while leading projects and becoming indispensable members of their team.
About the Award
This award is broken down into four categories by brand:
- Women in Construction: Honors females in the construction and rental industries, whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s network.
- Rising Professionals in Construction: Recognizes outstanding young or newer construction professionals whose achievements, hard work and vision have shaped the construction network. Rising/emerging professionals must maintain 1-9 years of experience in the construction industry.
- Lifetime Achievement: Honors contractors, workers and owner/operators who’ve made outstanding contributions to the construction and rental industry. Must have at least 10 years of documented accomplishments in construction.
- Jobsite Excellence: Recognizes outstanding workers on the jobsite whose leadership and work ethic set a strong example companywide.
Thirty-three percent of the submissions came from general contractors, followed by 27% in the pavement industry, 15% in asphalt, 12% in earthmoving, 9% in concrete and 3% in rental.
“The ForConstructionPros.com editorial team is excited to bring back the PACER Award for its second year and celebrate the construction industry’s most valuable asset: its people,” said Kathy Wells, editor-in-chief of Equipment Today and OEM Off-Highway. “Construction projects can’t operate without the dedicated professionals, both in the office and in the field, working to contribute to the success of their jobs, their teams, their companies, and ultimately, the industry as a whole. We look forward to honoring this year’s class of high-achieving PACER Award winners."
"Congratulations to the 2025 PACER Award winners! Your outstanding performance and commitment exemplify the best of your respective industries. Thank you for raising the bar; your work and stories are a truly an inspiration," said Jonathan Kozlowski, Editor-in-Chief of Rental and Concrete Contractor.
“What’s exciting about the PACER award is the way it highlights the working men and women of the trades in an individual way," adds Brandon Noel, Editor-in-Chief of Asphalt Contractor and Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction. "There’s nothing more satisfying and rewarding than being recognized for labor you put your life into day in and day out.”
Congratulations to this year's winners. Here's a breakdown of the Top 4 overall winners by brand.
ASPHALT CONTRACTOR
Tracy Richard, Amrize Northeast
Tracy Richard, Quality Control Inspector, Level 2
Amrize Northeast
www.holcim.com
Category: Women in Construction
Tracy Richard serves as Quality Control Inspector, Level 2, for Amrize Northeast, where she's mastered the application of a difficult waterproof mix, trained others on the task and presented her abilities to several high-level leaders in the industry. Richard remains an advocate for women in asphalt, is safety-focused, and believes passionately in teamwork and succession planning for the future of the industry. Richard started as a construction laboror 15 years ago, and since then, has adapted flawlessly to every situation and challenges that's come her way.
Demetrius Firman, Jim Reynolds Asphalt Contractor, Inc.
Demetrius Firman, Foreman
Jim Reynolds Asphalt Contractor, Inc.
www.jimreynoldsasphalt.com
Category: Rising Professionals
Demetrius Firman has played a critical role in growing Jim Reynolds Asphalt Contractor's Major Repair Department, taking on leadership responsibilities in project management, fleet oversight, and team training. Over the last year, he’s led all commercial projects from beginning to end, ensuring smooth execution and customer satisfaction. His ability to manage logistics, lead crews, and maintain strong communication has allowed company ownership to focus on strategic goals while trusting that operations are in good hands. His oversight of equipment and vendor relations has strengthened the company’s reputation for professionalism and integrity. Known for always bringing a positive attitude to the job, Firman consistently turns challenges into learning moments for his team and embraces accountability in every project.
In the coming year, his goals are to enhance his knowledge in asphalt techniques, improve safety protocols, and elevate project planning and completion. He is committed to training others in the industry while also educating clients on how to extend the life of their surfaces.
Rusty McDonald, AMI Construction, Inc.
Rusty McDonald, President, CEO and Owner
AMI Construction, Inc.
www.amiconstructioninc.com
Category: Lifetime Achievement
Rusty McDonald, President, CEO and Owner of AMI Construction Inc., is dubbed the "Debt-Free Maverick," delivering exceptional measurable results across all facets of the business. One of his most significant achievements is orchestrating AMI's explosive growth while maintaining complete financial independence. By optimizing operational efficiency and maximizing resource utilization, he enabled the company to self-fund its expansion. He manages 60-plus employees across eight divisions and serves as the operational backbone for six additional divisions. His consolidated leadership approach has reduced overhead costs while maintaining operational excellence across all business units. Under McDonald's operational stewardship, AMI achieved 170% growth over three years, with projections indicating another record-breaking year ahead. And, his elevation of quality standards and safety protocols protects workers and enhances project outcomes. McDonald's strategic vision for the coming year centers on pursuing every viable growth opportunity that aligns with AMI's core capabilities.
Larry Hall, Jim Reynolds Asphalt Contractor, Inc.
Larry Hall, Foreman
Jim Reynolds Asphalt Contractor, Inc.
www.jimreynoldsasphalt.com
Category: Jobsite Excellence
Larry Hall has shown exemplary performance in the field, recently taking over the role of Foreman at Jim Reynolds Asphalt Contractor, Inc., improving communication with clients and increasing on-site accountability. Over the past 12 months, Hall has helped boost in-field sales and contributed to customer education on the value and affordability of asphalt maintenance. He implemented new technologies for tracking expenses and profits per project and often represents the company at community events to promote their services and impact. He supports training for new team members and plays a key role in project closeouts, utilizing the company’s checklist to ensure no detail is overlooked. He's has adapted well to industry changes, developing a broad skillset that allows him to switch roles, whether it’s performing labor, maintaining equipment, or training staff. As a five-year veteran of the company, he exemplifies consistency, adaptability, and leadership that makes a lasting impact in construction. Looking ahead, Hall plans to increase residential and commercial in-field sales, expand client education, and improve service efficiency. His ongoing goals include embracing innovative products, improving time management, and contributing to enhanced construction safety.
Devin Durbin, Anderson Commercial Concrete, Inc.
Devin Durbin, Foreman Finisher
Anderson Commercial Concrete, Inc.
www.accinc.biz
Category: Rising Professionals
Over the past 12 months, Devin Durbin, a foreman finisher at Anderson Commercial Concrete, has taught himself the inner workings of the company's paving system. A positive influence on the jobsite, Durbin serves as both a teacher and mentor to younger professionals on the jobsite, encouraging them to try new things and incorporate new steps. His goal over the next year is to continue to grow into a leader and learn new technology.
Michael Campbell, Trademark Concrete Systems, Inc.
Michael Campbell, Vice President
Trademark Concrete Systems, Inc.
www.trademarkconcrete.com
Category: Lifetime Achievement
Over the past 12 months, Michael Campbell, Vice President at Trademark Concrete Systems Inc., has made significant contributions to the concrete construction industry. As a representative of Build California Summer Camp, he played a key role in mentoring high school students and introducing them to careers in the skilled trades. Through hands-on activities, site visits, and industry panels, he helped bridge the gap between education and the construction workforce, giving students real exposure to fieldwork, project management, and decorative concrete techniques. In 2025, Campbell was elected President of the Decorative Concrete Council (DCC) within the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC), where he's guided strategic initiatives aimed at elevating best practices, safety, and education within the decorative concrete community. He also serves as a voting member of the ACI Committee E703, focused on educational materials for concrete construction. He is currently contributing to the development of new guidelines for placing and finishing decorative hardscape, ensuring that industry standards reflect the latest techniques, materials, and sustainability considerations. Through these initiatives, he's advanced workforce development, raised the profile of decorative concrete, and strengthened technical education across the industry. Over the next 12 months, Campbell is focused on continuing to foster the decorative concrete community in Northern California, while expanding his role as a mentor and leader both within his company and the industry at large. Having helped establish and grow Trademark Concrete’s footprint in the region, he is committed to deepening connections with architects, landscape architects, and builders to promote quality craftsmanship and elevate the role of decorative concrete in public and private spaces.
Dan BakerIndustrial Constructors/Managers, Inc.
Dan Baker, Superintendent
Industrial Constructors/Managers, Inc. (ICM)
www.icminc.net
Category: Jobsite Excellence
Dan Baker began his career at ICM roughly a decade ago as a foreman, bringing a strong foundation in carpentry and concrete. From the start, his exceptional work ethic, leadership, and commitment to high standards set him apart, as he was always ready to step in wherever needed and went the extra mile to ensure the job was done right the first time. That dedication propelled him to his current role as trade superintendent, where he now oversees many of ICM’s most complex and high-profile projects, including leading the installation of a Fike explosion suppression system on four grain handling bucket elevators at Molson Coors’ malting facility in Golden, Colo. The project involved a nine-day, around-the-clock outage, requiring meticulous pre-planning, stringent safety measures for flammable grain dust, and seamless coordination across multiple trades. Baker managed the project with exceptional care and precision, enabling the team to complete it two days ahead of schedule. Another example is a month-long, 24/7 pharmaceutical project, where Baker voluntarily stepped in to support a project manager who was stretched thin. Going far beyond his role, he not only managed his carpenter crews but also assisted ironworkers and demolition teams, working 16- to 18-hour days to ensure the success of the shutdown. Baker also led a critical concrete capital improvement project at Meadow Gold Dairy in Englewood, Colo. During the shutdown, he played a pivotal role in ensuring that the concrete demolition and pouring of new foundations proceeded flawlessly. On-site and hands-on throughout the project, he coordinated pump trucks and inspectors and worked alongside his crew to finish the concrete, earning “stellar reviews” from the client’s executive team. Over the past year alone, he has completed more than 30 projects, with contract values ranging from $100,000 to $2 million, totaling approximately $4 million in carpentry work. Looking ahead, Baker is committed to growth—not just for himself, but for his entire team. He is currently enrolled in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ 18-month Superintendent Career Training program, where he’s working to expand his expertise and gain fresh perspectives on project supervision. His goal is to multiply the capabilities of ICM’s Commerce City office, positioning it to take on larger, more complex contracts.
Superior Construction
www.superiorconstruction.com
Category: Women in Construction
Amy Henningfield's guiding principle for helping women advance in construction is simple: "You can't be what you don't see." Motivated by the importance of providing mentorship and visibility for women in construction, she has led workforce development initiatives over the past 12 months designed to advance women's participation while addressing industry-wide talent shortages. For example, she organized and executed the first-ever all-girls construction camp in Indianapolis, a two-day program featuring female speakers and safety representatives from heavy civil and asphalt sectors. The program exposed high school girls to construction careers through hands-on experiences while showcasing female role models. Henningfield played an instrumental role in launching ICI Women in Roads in Indianapolis, creating new networking and development opportunities for women in heavy civil construction across the region. Through her work with the Construction Advancement Foundation, she helped establish comprehensive women in construction programming that invites external industry perspectives to address workplace challenges. Her involvement with the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board has enhanced partnerships between educational institutions and construction companies, focusing on economic development and creating pathways for underprivileged students to access construction careers through collaboration with leaders from education, labor and construction sectors. Building on Henningfield's insights, Superior Construction created its Superior Women in Construction (SWiC) program to systematically support women's advancement. The program has achieved strong results: 100% of the first SWiC leadership class received promotions within one year, and participation has grown to more than 20 active members. Henningfield is also developing Superior Construction's virtual reality workforce development program in collaboration with the company's VP of Technology Services. Scheduled to launch in 2026, the program will deploy a mobile trailer equipped with VR headsets to visit schools and career fairs, allowing students to safely experience various construction trades through immersive technology that connects with them in ways that are familiar and engaging.
Aubrey Lanier, GCM Contracting Solutions, Inc.
Aubrey Lanier, Estimator
GCM Contracting Solutions, Inc.
https://gcmcontracting.com
Category: Rising Professionals
Over the past 12 months, Aubrey Lanier has proven herself to be a key asset to the GCM Contracting team by improving how projects are organized, bids are managed, and subcontractors are sourced. She has been instrumental in identifying client needs early in the process, helping projects start on the right track and reducing delays down the line. One of her most notable achievements is leading the rollout of Monday.com for preconstruction and project management, enhancing visibility, accountability, and communication across the company. In just the past three months, Lanier also set up and launched Procore Bid Campaigns for six projects and played a lead role in improving RFP submissions, introducing standardized templates and streamlined review workflows that improved accuracy and turnaround times. Her ability to quickly master tools has helped GCM strengthen coordination between estimating, operations, and client communication. Lanier also holds OSHA-30 certification, underscoring her commitment to safety and professionalism in every phase of the construction process. In the next 12 months, she's focused on expanding her expertise in design-build delivery, predictive preconstruction, and leadership development. Her primary goal is to earn her Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) certification, a credential that will formalize her experience integrating design, estimating, and construction into a unified process. She also plans to deepen her technical proficiency in AI-supported estimating tools, cost forecasting, and data-driven project planning.
Robert Brown, GCM Contracting Solutions, Inc.
Robert Brown, Founder and CEO
GCM Contracting Solutions, Inc.
https://gcmcontracting.com
Category: Lifetime Achievement
Over the past 12 months, Robert Brown’s leadership has driven key initiatives that distinguish GCM Contracting Solutions as a leader and innovator. One of Brown’s most notable accomplishments was establishing a strategic partnership with Blue Harbor Capital, a collaboration that gave GCM the capital and market reach to expand more aggressively into lifestyle-oriented storage and automated marina solutions. As a result, Brown unlocked larger-scale, mixed-use, and international opportunities for the company that were previously out of reach. Brown also made strategic investments in lifestyle-driven storage. Under his leadership, GCM celebrated the grand opening of Excalibur Motor Condominiums in Fort Myers, Fla., a flagship project combining hurricane-rated, customizable garage ownership with lifestyle amenities. Building on this success, Brown acquired land and personally committed $2 million to launch a new car condominium development in Naples, Fla., currently in the permitting phase. In addition, Brown has overseen the delivery of multiple large-scale tilt-wall and design-build projects, adding to a career portfolio that now exceeds 1,000 projects and billions of dollars in construction value. In the next 12 months, Brown’s primary focus will be advancing automated innovation across multiple sectors, expanding GCM’s role as a leader in automation with an emphasis on warehouse solutions, automated parking systems, and lifestyle-driven mixed-use developments. He will continue championing ASAR automated dry stack technology in the marina sector, exploring new applications that enhance ROI for owners and operators. He will continue to advocate for a new industry standard in the United States: solid concrete dry stack facilities designed for Category 5 hurricane resiliency and paired with advanced automation. He's also focused on international expansion, working to strengthen GCM’s presence in the Middle East through partnerships and pioneering projects, while strengthening both community ties and team culture.
Derric Rossy, Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc.
Derric Rossy, Site Safety Manager
Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc.
www.yonkerscontractingco.com
Category: Jobsite Excellence
Derric Rossy is recognized by his peers and frontline workers as an individual who shows compassion in keeping the workforce safe on the job each and every day. Rossy, serving as the Site Safety Manager for Yonkers Contracting Company, is fully engaged, maintains open communication, and ensures work-related risk are minimized to a manageable level. He's always on site keeping a watchful eye on all work activity, talking to workers and encouraging feedback. Moving forward, he's looking to further his professional accolades and pursue his CHST Certification and Safety Professional credentials. His personal goal is to ensure every worker goes home each and every day injury free.
PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION
Amy Chevalier, Rainier Asphalt & Concrete
Amy Chevalier, CDL Driver
Rainier Asphalt & Concrete
www.rainierasphalt.com
Category: Women in Construction
Anne Chevalier serves as an exemplary CDL driver for Ranier Asphalt & Concrete, with no DOT violations over the course of 4,124 days and counting. She also serves as the trainer and mentor of all new CDL drivers, imparting best practices, expectations and company culture. Chevalier came into the industry after a career driving a school bus. The transition from kids to construction brought with a significant learning curve. But, she adapted her driving style to the growing fleet of equipment, most notably, the company's asphalt milling machine, and became part of the company's first-ever all-female crew. Looking ahead, she seeks to continue her stellar safety record and be a positive conduit for the company culture; she is truly the "glue of the crew."
Maxwell Putman, Cape Curb Appeal, Inc.
Maxwell Putman, Operations Manager/Site Superintendent
Cape Curb Appeal, Inc.
www.capecurbappeal.com
Category: Rising Professionals
Maxwell Putman, Operations Manager/Site Superintendent of Cape Curb Appeal, Inc., has doubled the business in size. Running a tight ship, he sometimes works from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., all while upholding all of the positive aspects of business needs such as greeting customers, performing job estimates and running the crew. Looking ahead, he aims to grow the $1 million business to $2 million, buy newer equipment, and expand its employee size.
James Lyons, Pink Painter Striping Company
James Lyons, Owner
Pink Painter Striping Company
www.thatcrazybeeguy.com
Category: Lifetime Achievement
Since gracing the cover of Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction in 1993, James Lyons, Owner of Pink Painter Striping Company, has donated over 30 playground kits, where schools design their own playgrounds. He's also spent the last 10 years traveling the world on USDA Trade missions to work on the Honeybees, all while writing his book, Games & Courts Layouts & Designs. The goal is to get the educational painted playgrounds going again and implemented in schools nationwide.
Sam Kingsfield, AMI Construction, Inc.
Sam Kingsfield, Operations Manager
AMI Construction, Inc.
www.amiconstructioninc.com
Category: Jobsite Excellence
Sam Kingsfield has driven transformational improvements across AMI's operations, elevating the company's standards in quality, safety, and production output. As Operations Manager, he oversees a workforce of more than 60 employees spanning eight divisions. He's demonstrated exceptional leadership capacity by directly managing six divisions without dedicated superintendents, effectively serving in dual roles while maintaining his core Operations Manager responsibilities. He's spearheaded the implementation of industry best practices, significantly enhancing both operational efficiency and overall productivity, streamlining workflows and improving performance metrics across multiple divisions. Under Kingsfield's operational leadership, AMI has expanded with 170% growth over the past three years. His goals over the next 12 months are to continue AMI's growth trajectory before transitioning into semi-retirement.
Amber Gobert, Regional Sales Manager
Sunbelt Rentals
www.sunbeltrentals.com
Category: Women in Construction
As Regional Sales Director for Sunbelt Rentals, Amber Gobert has focused on and excelled at developing customer relationships and a true go-to-market strategy that represents the company in all the communities it serves, all while leading a team of 20 strategic sellers within Sunbelt Rentals. Since joining Sunbelt Rentals in 2005, she has made it a priority to help her team position Sunbelt Rentals as more than a rental company, but rather as a true trade partner with customers. Gobert leads by a principle of “organize to impact” while supporting the strategic sellers covering Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and St. Louis. In the last 12 months, she has successfully structured her approach to leadership in a manner that allows her to guide and mentor her team, as well as help them grow into future leaders based on their individual career goals. That structure includes bi-weekly, 1:1 meetings with each strategic seller and their district managers to strategize opportunities with the roughly 40 customers each works with and determine ways to best connect with those customers. From June 2022 to November 2024, she served as the president of the first employee resource group (ERG) at Sunbelt Rentals: WISE, which stands for Women: Inspired. Supported. Empowered, and focuses on building inclusivity and providing equitable opportunities for women within the company. Going forward, she sees fostering both external and internal partnerships as a way to support the company’s growth within the industry, while also driving growth for its customers in the construction, data center and other markets. She also aims to grow revenue by 6% within the strategic customer program and connect all Sunbelt Rentals lines of business to its trade partners.
