CEA Celebrates Centennial, Unveils Guardian Award & Hall of Fame

Long-Serving Construction Industry Leaders to be Honored at Centennial Gala Oct. 1; CEA Announces $100,000 Donation to Support Mentoring Program

CLEVELAND, September 28, 2016: The Construction Employers Association (CEA) will celebrate 100 years of service to the construction industry at is gala Oct. 1 at the Cleveland Convention Center. Eleven construction industry leaders will also be inducted into CEA’s inaugural class of its Hall of Fame.

The centennial gala, themed “We Built This City,” recognizes CEA members and their contributions to building, construction and community. Over the past 100 years, CEA has strengthened and improved Ohio’s construction industry through education, training, safety and diversity services, as well as being the leading unified voice for the region’s construction industry.

“CEA members have built Cleveland’s most iconic buildings and landmarks with the support of this Association,” said Tim Linville, chief executive officer, Construction Employers Association. “With 100 years of experience and service dedicated to improving the construction industry, CEA has much to celebrate. Today, we honor CEA’s legacy and leadership and look forward to a thriving future.”

Eleven industry professionals will be honored during the centennial gala. These professionals are the first class to be inducted into CEA’s Hall of Fame. They have devoted their time and talent to the industry, our community, and CEA over a significant portion of our first 100 years. Nine contractors will receive CEA's Guardian Award, in the tradition of the Guardians of Transportation – the iconic statues standing watch on Cleveland’s Lorain-Carnegie Bridge. Two past CEA employees will receive CEA’s Distinguished Service Award. 

The 2016 CEA Hall of Fame Class

Guardian Award Recipients

Jim Conant*
Conant Crane Rental Company

Rich DiGeronimo*
Independence Excavating Co.

Terry Donley
Donley’s Construction

Lee Malloy*
Dunlop & Johnston

James Mirgliotta
Forest City Erectors

Ron Simonetti
Cleveland Cement Contractors

Leroy Ozanne
Ozanne Construction Co.

Vince Strazzo
The Great Lakes Construction Co.

Bernie Weir
Norris Brothers Co.

*Posthumous

Distinguished Service Awards

Jim Brown
Construction Employers Association

John Porada
Construction Employers Association

Each inductee has dedicated at least twenty years of service to our industry, has been active with CEA for at least 15 years, served at least 15 years on CEA committees, and been a significant contributor towards the stated goals and purposes of the Construction Employers Association.

“We created the Hall of Fame and Guardian Awards to honor leaders who have improved our industry and nurtured CEA through its first century,” said Linville. “Each of these men improved the industry and CEA through service, leadership and mentorship -- which makes each of them a true guardian of our industry.”

As a part of its centennial celebration, CEA donated $100,000 to the Cleveland Foundation to endow a mentoring program for students with an interest in construction, architecture and engineering. The donation will support the ACE Mentor Program in Cleveland, which provides scholarships to high school students. The ACE Mentor Program currently serves more than 170 high school students with project-based STEM learning. Nearly 70 currently enrolled college students are receiving ACE scholarships. In recent years, ACE has provided nearly $450,000 in scholarships.

“Our $100,000 donation is a sign of our commitment to Cleveland students and the future of our field,” said immediate past CEA Board Chairman Don Dreier. “We believe in the power of mentorship and that introducing students to professional and career opportunities will benefit both the students and the construction industry.”

About the Construction Employers Association (CEA)

The Construction Employers Association (www.ceaisp.org) was formed in 1916 with the intent for management to have a unified voice when dealing with the building and construction trade unions. Today, CEA continues to serve Northeast Ohio as an association of associations. With more than 130 regular contractor members and 30 affiliate members, but CEA serves as an umbrella for 14 affiliated associations and nearly 500 contractors in Northeast Ohio. We provide education, safety and diversity services, as well as a leading voice for the construction industry.