CCCIA praises local businesses for contributions
The overriding theme of this year’s Cape Coral Construction Industry Association Awards of Excellence is one of celebration.
While the ceremony celebrates the very best of the city’s construction industry, the 2009 recognition is truly special because of the adversity businesses have faced over the last few years.
CCCIA Executive Director Patti Schnell said that she debated with herself whether to even have the awards this year, but overwhelming encouragement from association members insured the awards would go on.
“We felt it was more important than ever to do it,” she said. “We’re all in this together, so we decided we should celebrate what we’re all about. Sometimes, when you’re dealing with challenges, it’s always nice to be able to get an audience with others going through the same thing.”
The 2009 CCCIA Awards of Excellence program will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Resort at Marina Village.
Nominees were selected by CCCIA members for their contributions to the industry, the community and the CCCIA.
They include:
— Builder of the Year: Balfour Beatty Construction, Paul Homes and Wright Construction Group
— Subcontractor of the Year: Home Team Pest Defense, King Landscaping, and Sod and Storm Smart Industries
— Affiliate of the Year: Innovative Printing and Signs, Kevin M. Burns and Associates, and Pavese Law Firm
Entering its 12th year, the awards have had no trouble in the past being flush with nominees. Schnell said she often had difficulty whittling the field down to nine potential winners.
Now, as the Cape is experiencing life on the other side of the construction boom, Schnell said this year’s awards probably focus more heavily on community involvement than in years past.
“This organization has a history of giving back, but what’s really floored me is what’s being given back today in tough economic times,” she said. “As always, this industry gets it.”
Whether it is raising funds, helping nonprofits or simply grabbing a paint brush and some paint, association members have been crucial to the Cape throughout the years.
The CCCIA, in a watchdog capacity, studies impact fees, ordinances, road projects and long-term growth issues, working to keep members educated on changes in local, state and national regulations such as pool safety requirements, FEMA issues and the new International Building Code.
At the heart of its efforts, though, is the community itself, which is still trying to re-establish itself following the growth boom.
Schnell said that if there is any silver lining to the Cape’s recent struggles, it is the way association members have banded together, reaching out to one another and the community, waiting for the wave of near calamity to break and roll back.
“I see it firsthand in this association,” she said. “They understand the difficulty of staying involved in an economy like this. It would be so easy to make an excuse not to stay involved, but they’re always there when we need them.”
For more information, call 772-0027.