Local Companies Receive National Awards
Three Hawaii industry companies were honored recently at the annual National Small Business Week ceremonies in Washington, D.C.
Since 1963, U.S. presidents have proclaimed National Small Business Week “to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. They also create 60 to 80 percent of new jobs in the country.”
This year, winners included:
• Healy Tibbitts Builders, Inc. — Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Construction
• Makai Ocean Engineering — Region IX Prime Contractor of the Year
• Baldridge & Associates Structural Engineering — State of Hawaii
Richard A. (Rick) Heltzel, president of Healy Tibbitts Builders, Inc., receives his award from Karen Mills, Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator, appointed in 2009 by President Barack Obama.
This “Shave Ice” structure earned the InSynergy Engineering team an honorable mention in last year’s competition.
Canstruction
Showcases Keiki
With the theme “Kids CAN!”, the fifth annual Canstruction® competition is scheduled for Sept. 18 at Pearlridge Center, Uptown Center Court.
Between 9 a.m. and approximately 2 p.m. on that Saturday, teams of local architects and allied design and engineering professionals will “canstruct” giant structures made entirely of thousands of cans of food.
Besides industry participation, the public also is encouraged to get involved by visiting Canstruction and voting for their favorite with canned food donations (one can of donated food equals one vote – but only cans count!) The structure that receives the most votes during the two-week exhibition will be named People’s Choice Award winner.
“Decanstruction” of the structures will take place on Oct. 3, after which the canned food will be donated to the Hawaii Foodbank.
Over the past four years, the Canstruction competition has raised 165,000 pounds of canned food for the Hawaii Foodbank.
Canstruction® is a national community service program created by the Society for Design Administration on behalf of the design and construction industry.
