SEAA Recognizes 14 Member Companies For Outstanding Safety And Training Records

Safety Excellence Recipients: Front Row, L-R: Gardner-Watson Decking, Inc., Jason Kulvinskas (World Class); Shelby Erectors, Inc., Jennifer Nix (Premier); S&R Enterprises, Fallon Welch (Premier); Peterson Beckner Industries, Inc., David Hales (Premier); Flawless Steel Welding, LLC, Armondo Romero (Premier); Derr & Gruenewald Construction, LLC, Ed Valencia (Premier); Ropac, Inc., Emily Ray (Gold); L.R. Willson & Sons, Inc., Jon Mosebach, (Gold). Back Row, L-R: MAS Building & Bridge, Inc., Michael Quinn (World Class); GMF Steel Group, Guy Callahan (World Class); Cooper Steel, Heath McElroy (Premier); FM Steel Construction, LLC, Michael Mulsow (Gold); Not shown: Black Cat and High Plains Steel Services.

Winston-Salem, NC - The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) has announced the recipients of its 2024 Safety Excellence and Craft Training Excellence Awards. Member companies received recognition for maintaining good safety records and having a comprehensive training program aligned with long-term career paths.

“We are proud to introduce the winners of this year’s safety and training awards programs. These companies have created a culture where safety is always the number one priority on the job site. It’s reflected in their EMR ratings and OSHA 300 statistics and they deserve to be recognized for the incredible work they are doing to keep their workforce safe,” said Jason Farris, Chairman of SEAA’s Safety and Education Committee.

The Safety Excellence Award goes to 14 SEAA member companies in three categories with excellent 2023 safety records. Recipients were selected based on evaluations of their EMR ratings, OSHA 300A statistics, and safety program processes over the last three years. Scoring was based on points assigned to a multi-criteria analysis, conducted in blind review by members of SEAA’s Safety & Education Committee.

Additionally, three companies were recognized for their craft training programs. Applicants were evaluated on the portability of credentials, availability of apprenticeship programs, training, and recruitment efforts. Evaluations for the Craft Training Excellence award are made in comparison to other companies of similar size, based on the number of ironworkers employed from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2023.

Representatives of the World Class winners were invited to speak during a panel discussion at SEAA’s 2024 Convention. “These respected safety managers addressed challenges all steel erectors and rebar contractors face—hiring, onboarding, and retraining, the realities of tight schedules, using technology to more efficiently deliver training, and concerns over mental health, to name a few,” said R. Pete Gum, Executive Director.

2024 Safety Excellence Winners

World Class

• MAS Building & Bridge, Inc., Norfolk, Massachusetts 
• Gardner-Watson Decking, Inc., Oldsmar, Florida
• GMF Steel Group, Lakeland, Florida 

Premier

• Cooper Steel, Shelbyville, Tennessee
• Derr & Gruenewald Construction, LLC, Brighton, Colorado
• Flawless Steel Welding, LLC, Denver, Colorado
• High Plains Steel Services, LLC, Windsor, Colorado
• Peterson Beckner Industries, Inc., Houston, Texas
• S&R Enterprises, LLC, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Shelby Erectors, Inc.,Reddick, Florida

Gold

• Black Cat, LLC, Cheyenne, Wyoming
• L.R. Willson & Sons, Inc., Gambrills, Maryland
• FM Steel Construction, LLC, Gilbert, Arizona
• Ropac, Inc., Deatsville, Alabama

Craft Training Excellence Winners

• Category 3 / 1-60 employees: MAS Building and Bridge Inc.
• Category 2 / 61-120 employees: Shelby Erectors, Inc.
• Category 1 / 121+ employees: Derr & Gruenewald Construction, LLC

About The Steel Erectors Association Of America

Since 1972, SEAA has grown from a regional association of erectors to a national trade association representing the common interests of those engaged in building with steel. Members build arenas and airports, bridges and big box retail, high rises and hospitals, and much more. For more information, visit www.seaa.net.