Oct 03, 2023

GCCA

Photo from GCCA [enlarge]

Last year’s top photo was taken by Ferdz Bedana of a skatepark in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Got a really cool photo of a project that used concrete? Here’s your chance to win $10,000. The Global Cement and Concrete Association has opened this year’s Concrete in Life competition, which seeks photos highlighting the beauty, sustainability and essential role of concrete throughout world. The contest is open to all — professionals, amateurs or anyone with a smart phone. In addition to the top prize, there will also be a $5,000 people’s choice winner, and winners of $2,500 in four categories: urban design, concrete infrastructure, concrete in daily life, and beauty and design. Last year, the contest attracted more than 14,000 entries from every continent. The top 2022 winner was an image of a skateboard park in the United Arab Emirates. People can enter as many photos as they wish over X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram. Submit using the hashtag #ConcreteInLife2023 and one of the category hashtags: #UrbanConcrete, #ConcreteInfrastructure, #ConcreteInDailyLife?or #ConcreteBeautyAndDesign. Each category has an amateur and professional prize. The deadline is Nov. 15. Winners will be announced in early 2024.

Sep 26, 2023

Trico Companies

Fresch

Burlington-based Trico Companies hired Nicholas Fresch as a senior project engineer in the Service Division. Fresch has over eight years of experience in the construction industry, beginning as a carpentry apprentice and moving into drafting, CNC programming and millwork fabrication/design. Subsequently, he transitioned into project management and engineering as a specialty subcontractor. Fresch spent 10 years in the Navy, and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and IT systems management from the University of Washington.

Clark Construction

Bainbridge Island-based Clark Construction won two honors in the 2023 Groundbreaker Awards by Procore Technologies. The first was in the Project Excellence: General/Main/Head Contractor category for Clark's reHOME project. This project repurposed many items from a medical clinic renovation into a series of tiny homes for local farm workers. Those items, over 26,000 pounds worth, were also diverted from the landfill. The second award, Groundbreaker of the Year, went to Clark CEO Casey French. Procore reports that French is passionate about building the culture of Clark, made up of nearly 50% women, minorities and underrepresented groups.

ABC of Western Washington

Two more firms have joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington: Insulation 4 Less of Tacoma; and Straight Up Electrical of Buckley. Insulation 4 Less is a commercial and residential insulation contractor. Straight Up Electrical provides service work, generator installs, electrical service gear, tenant improvements and more.

National Skills Coalition

Local philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $6 million to the National Skills Coalition. The one-time gift was made through her charitable organization called Yield Giving. NSC is a nonprofit that aims to raise skills of American workers across industries.