The Spirit of ECC Award

The annual Spirit of ECC Award honors candidates who display an exemplary demonstration of a wide array of talents, skills, and passions that encapsulate ECC's mission to engage and improve the industry. The recipient of the Spirit of ECC Award will have shown the following:

• A strategic response to a fundamental challenge or opportunity,
• A solid application of "thought leadership," and
• A certain stewardship towards the betterment of the industry, its participants, and the people it serves.

​2025 RECIPIENT: Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP)

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) was born out of necessity in response to statistics released in a CDC study [preventconstructionsuicide.starchapter.com] ranking construction as the #1 industry for deaths by suicide. Established by the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) in 2016 to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health issues, CIASP became a stand-alone 501(c)(3) organization in 2018 to raise awareness about suicide prevention and provide resources and tools to create a zero-suicide industry by uniting and supporting the construction community. 
 
With a suicide rate that is four times greater than the national average, the construction industry is facing a crisis. Construction workers are at a heightened risk for suicide for a variety of reasons[preventconstructionsuicide.com] that can all be addressed – starting with changing the culture in the workplace.
 
CIASP is dedicated to changing the statistics by educating and equipping organizations, industry service providers and construction professionals to STAND Up for suicide prevention and address it as a health and safety priority.
 
CIASP is raising awareness about the risk of suicide within the construction industry and providing suicide prevention resources and tools to create a zero-suicide industry. The alliance consists of both union and Open shop groups, contractors, trade associations, and construction users coming together to put an end to the tragedy that is suicide in our industry.
 
If you are thinking about suicide or are in need of help, there are free resources that provide confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are concerned that a friend, family member or co-worker is at risk for suicide, you can also reach out to these resources for help.

Call 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline. 988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress.

Crisis Text Line. Text HELLO to 741741. Every person is connected with a crisis counselor, who is trained to listen and offer sound advice. 

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Past recipients

• 2024 | Boomnation
• 2023 | Refined Technologies (RTI) and their partnership with Crosswalk Center
• 2022 | Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) National Craft Championships
• 2021 | Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Industrial Craft Competition
• 2019 | University of Houston Process and Industrial Construction Management Program
• 2018 | Sadara Project Team 
• 2017 | "Dream Big: Engineering Our World"
• 2016 | Go Build Alabama
• 2015 | US First
• 2014 | Engineers Without Borders
• 2013 | Mitchell Energy Barnett Shale Team
• 2012 | Team Rabbit 
• 2011 | Chevron Projects Resource Group

The ECC Achievement Award

The ECC Achievement Award was originally introduced to the industry in 1988 as the ECC Division Award, and has been honoring recipients who exhibited the most well-rounded aspects of a true industry leader. This prestigious award honors industry professionals who are:

• Bold risk-takers,
• True visionaries,
• Leaders with integrity,
• Professionals who have had a lasting and positive impact on the competitive face of business, and
• Candidates who possess stature among their industry peers.

​Recipients of this award vary from high-office executives to doctorate-level engineers. Dating all the way back to the 80s, these amazing examples of industry pioneers are:

2025 RECIPIENT: Ralph A. Hargrove, President, CEO, and Founder of Hargrove Engineers & Constructors

Hargrove, founded in 1995, has grown from a startup in Ralph’s attic to a 100% employee-owned enterprise with 19 offices and three subsidiaries, including Hargrove Controls & Automation, Hargrove Life Sciences, and Tormod, to provide operations support. With over 2700 Teammates focused on building relationships and serving clients in the refining, industrial process, controls & automation, life sciences, manufacturing, plant operations, and power industries, Ralph’s legacy is apparent.
 
Ralph spent his early career as a design professional and project coordinator in plant engineering groups, primarily in the paper and chemical industries. His reputation for quality work and his dedication to building relationships led several potential clients to encourage Ralph to start a technical services business. This relationship-based approach to growth led Hargrove to dozens of new clients, from small projects into large and over a decade on Inc. 5000’s list of Fastest Growing Companies without a single acquisition. Many of his original clients are still Hargrove clients today, 30 years on.
 
By continually allowing client relationships to shape the company’s landscape, and going where they’re needed, offices have opened across the southeast, extending to the Midwest and West Coast, and partnerships have been foraged that bring their footprint to Mexico. In addition to nationwide onsite collaborations, the organization was a pioneer in virtual teaming with their commitment to be the Right People...Right Place…Right Time…, leading the industry. Now, with over 30 years of experience in engineering and construction, and having made significant strides in capital projects, Ralph has made it his personal mission to ensure that leadership is developed, and relationships are paramount at every level of the company.
 
Hargrove, thanks to Ralph’s leadership, maintains a commitment to best practices and industry partnership and innovation with connections to organizations such as the Construction Industry Institute (CII) and Engineering and Construction Contracting Association (ECC).
 
Ralph served on the national board for ECC (2010-2013) and was an officer as well as serving on the Executive Advisory Board. He is a graduate of Leadership Alabama and was recipient of the 2019 V. Gordon Moulton Distinguished Service Award at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. He has also been integral in founding the Hargrove Foundation. The foundation, currently in their 13th year, has donated nearly $4,000,000 to hundreds of charities nationwide in the areas of education, arts and culture, health and human services, and sports activities. The Hargrove Foundation allows Hargrove Teammates an avenue to give back to the communities where they live and work, which uplifts and upholds Hargrove’s One Team mindset, together with their clients, partners, and communities.
 
Ralph lives in Perdido, AL with his wife Kimberly, where he enjoys boating, fishing, and spending time with his family, including two children and seven grandchildren.

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PAST RECIPIENTS

• 2024 | Manuel Junco
• 2023 | Rickard "Dick" Westney, Director, R/MW Consulting, Inc.
• 2022 | John B. Zachry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Zachry Group 
• 2021 | Greg Garland, Chairman and CEO, Phillips 66
• 2019 | Janice L. Tuchman, Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News-Record
• 2018 | Neil Duffin
• 2017 | Jacqueline Hinman, CH2M
• 2016 | James G. Slaughter, Jr., S&B Founder (Retired)
• 2015 | John W. Dalton, Sr., Wood Group Mustang (Retired)
• 2014 | Richard Tucker, Founder, Construction Industry Institute, National Academy of Construction
• 2013 | Emmitt Nelson, Shell (Retired), Co-Founder Zero Injury Institute
• 2012 | Alan Boeckmann, Chairman, Fluor
• 2011 | Khalid Farid, Sr. Vice President, Strategic Planning, AMEC
• 2010 | Dr. Jorge Vanegas, Dean, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University
• 2009 | Don Vardeman, Vice President of Worldwide Projects, Anadarko
• 2008 | Louis J. Cabano, Chairman, Pathfinder LLC
• 2007 | Noel G. Watson, Executive Chairman, Jacobs Engineering Group
• 2006 | Bill Greehey, Chairman of the Board, Valero Energy Corporation
• 2005 | James B. Porter, Jr., Du Pont
• 2004 | Bill Higgs and Paul Redmon, Mustang Engineers
• 2003 | Larry Evans, AspenTech
• 2002 | Jeet Bindra, Chevron/Caltex
• 2001 | Ed Merrow, IPA
• 2000 | Hugh K. Coble, Fluor Corporation
• 1999 | John Mihm, Phillips Petroleum Company
• 1998 | William A. Brookshire, S&B Engineering & Constructors Ltd.
• 1997 | W. I. (Irv) Doty, Shell Oil
• 1996 | Ted C. Kennedy, BE&K Inc.
• 1995 | Shelby Pierce, Amoco Corp.
• 1994 | Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr., Bechtel Group, Inc.
• 1993 | Robert H. Miller, E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company
• 1992 | Dr. Joseph J. Jacobs, Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
• 1991 | Wallace L. Tanner, Shell Oil
• 1990 | Dave Tappan, Fluor Daniel
• 1989 | Al Crosby, Exxon
• 1988 | Albert Dib, Bubler, King & Bubler

The ECC Pinnacle Award

The ECC Pinnacle Award may be presented as recognition of an act, contribution, or service befitting excellence for to the ECC Association and its members. The recipient will have demonstrated thoughtful leadership and commitment in the highest form in representation of the ECC Association.

​This is the most prestigious award ECC can bestow upon a member, service provider, or colleague for their contributions to the association’s mission and goals.

​This award will only be awarded when an exceedingly worthy individual is identified. It is bestowed by special action of the ECC Executive Board (currently consisting of the Chair, Past Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Advisor to the Chair, and Management Team Chair). As such, there is no formal application, nor is this an annual award. However, recommendations for potential recipients may be submitted to the Board Chair during the award nominations window.

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