Wisconsin Subcontractors Honor Findorff, Zimmerman

The American Subcontractors Association of Greater Milwaukee named Madison-based J.H. Findorff & Son its General Contractor of the Year.

The ASA said Findorff was recognized because of its well-coordinated jobs, use of fair contracts in agreements with subcontractors, record for prompt progress and final payments, effective management practices and cooperativeness in dealing with necessary change orders.

In addition, Milwaukee-based Zimmerman Design Group was named to receive the group's Architect of the Year.

The firm was honored because of its quality designs, cooperation with technical problems and fair and open-minded ways in interpreting, explaining and-or amending drawings and specifications, the ASA said.

In other news, the ASA recently elected its new officers and directors.

They comprise President Steve Garrison of Menomonee Falls-based Duwe Metal Products; Vice President Linda Lucas of New Berlin-based Hess Sweitzer Painting; Secretary Larry Michael of Butler-based The Brehmer Agency; and Treasurer John Knier of Green Bay-based LaForce Inc.

Elected directors were John Faust of Milwaukee-based Faust Co. and Kevin Heinrichs of Menomonee Falls-based Lippert Tile Co.

Daley Gets Landscape Kudo

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley will receive the Olmsted Metal from the Washington, D.C.-based American Society of Landscape Architects.

The honor comes for Daley's "environmental leadership, vision and stewardship," the ASLA said.

In announcing the award, the ASLA noted that Chicago has added more than 120 new acres of parkland and new recreation facilities.

Daley's initiatives include the Chicago Landscape Ordinance, reforming the Chicago zoning code and incorporating green space throughout the neighborhoods. He has created award-winning streetscapes and medians and enacted environmental, urban forestry and green-roof initiatives.

The Olmsted Medal was instituted in 1990 to recognize individuals, organizations, agencies or programs outside the profession of landscape architecture for environmental leadership, vision, and stewardship. The Medal honors Frederick Law Olmsted, who is considered the founder of the American landscape architecture profession.

The award will be given Oct. 9 in Minneapolis during the ASLA annual meeting.

Indiana's BCA Gives Four Student Awards

The Fort Wayne-based Building Contractors Association graduated 49 students from 17 area high schools for its 2005-06 Construction Career Academy.
For three days the students were educated about 16 commercial construction industry trades and professions.

CCA graduates had the opportunity to apply for a $750 scholarship or achievement award. The scholarships are the traditional award used for tuition in a post-secondary educational institution, and the achievement awards are given to students entering into an accredited construction apprenticeship program.

The scholarship winner was Jose Flores, a graduating senior at West Noble High School in Ligonier, Ind. He will use the award in the Construction Technology Program at Ivy Tech Community College.

The achievement awards went to Tyler Clark, also of West Noble High, for an electrical apprentice program; Jacob Noyes, a graduating senior at Angola High School in Angola, Ind., for a plumbing apprenticeship program; and Christopher Wilcox, a graduating senior at Wayne Trace Jr./Sr. High School in Van Wert, Ohio, also for a plumbing apprenticeship.