Members of ������’s  recently partnered with the  to place flags for the annual September 11 tribute at the organization’s office in Vestal, N.Y. Together, the team arranged 2,977 flags – one honoring each person who lost their life on 9/11.

On August 11 and 12, two dozen ������ project managers and superintendents gathered in the Rochester office for the first session of the 2026 Field Excellence Program. The program – hosted in partnership with – is designed to strengthen leadership capability, deepen construction knowledge and build connections across the organization.

Since the program began in 2019, Field Excellence has become an important part of ������’s professional development for field teams. Past participants continue to contribute across the company, with many growing their careers and taking on new opportunities within ������ after completing the program.

The program consists of three, two-day sessions over the next three months. The next session will be held in September at the JB Duke Hotel in Durham, NC.

������ has long been recognized for its innovation and commitment to safety, which has now advanced through the development of its state-of-the-art safety dashboard. This tool not only serves as a central hub for tracking key safety metrics and incidents across job sites, but it also incorporates specific information and trends that can help prevent incidents before they occur. It reflects ������’s belief that every incident is preventable, allowing the company to respond swiftly to potential issues while ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Tracking observations to enhance safety performance

������ designed the dashboard to reflect the many complexities of construction safety, with a user-friendly interface that allows operations teams and safety personnel to access critical data quickly.

While the technology being utilized is not new, ������ is applying it in a way that is. Instead of simply analyzing historical data, ������ is leveraging available tools and technology to track real-time safety observations as leading indicators, versus just tracking past incidents. This helps identify emerging patterns and drive immediate action. As Vice President Fred Thompson, who oversees Environmental, Health and ������, explains, “You can’t predict an injury, but you can identify trends and address them proactively.”

Field teams and subcontractors are encouraged to enter observations of their site. The observations can be positive – for example, noting that appropriate railings are in place or that equipment inspections are up to date; they can also be negative, indicating situations that warrant action or attention. Because the dashboard integrates into existing workflows, individuals can enter real-time data using their normal processes and without disrupting regular duties.  

Since the program has been in place, ������ has already seen improved outcomes on job sites that actively engage in safety observations. Identifying, tracking, and sorting safe behaviors as well as hazards allows teams to make meaningful adjustments at a job, project type or regional level rather than implementing companywide changes that might not fit every situation. As Thompson notes, “A corporate-level change based on one region’s incidents may not be right for the entire company. The dashboard empowers teams to address issues locally, ensuring more effective solutions.”

The dashboard also measures key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, evolving with areas of concern. These include recordable incident rates, severity levels, insurance costs, and year-over-year changes in safety observations and inspections.

Additionally, it tracks safety training – helping leadership identify gaps and proactively schedule additional training to ensure all workers are prepared to safely perform their tasks.

Fostering transparency and accountability

������ prioritizes transparency in its operations, extending this approach by openly sharing safety metrics. This fosters a culture of accountability, ensuring that all team members – from project teams to executive leaders – have the data to make informed decisions. It also makes performance lags clearly visible, driving leaders to not only improve their own teams but also support and challenge their peers. This shift from less structured discussions to data-driven, actionable insights strengthens safety outcomes.

From 2024 to 2025, safety observations entered into the system increased by 146% in quantity, but they also increased in quality. This shift indicates a workforce that is proactively identifying risks rather than just entering observations to comply with expectations.

Driving engagement and trust – with employees and clients

Observations are assigned a risk rating and distributed, based on the severity, to regional and executive leadership as a way to impact proactive safety engagement.

������ also works to recognize success. The dashboard highlights positive safety trends and best practices, reinforcing a culture where engagement is encouraged and rewarded.

To reinforce that commitment, recognition initiatives are tailored to each region. This may involve highlighting standout performance in meetings or offering rewards for high-quality observations. 

The dashboard strengthens the relationships with clients as well. The observations data within the dashboard is now used in sales meetings, demonstrating to potential clients how ������ differentiates itself through real-time safety monitoring.

“When stakeholders see that we’re proactively identifying risks, addressing challenges, and celebrating safety successes, it builds trust,” says Thompson. “They know we’re not just talking about safety – we’re proving it every day through data-driven action.”

Looking ahead at predictive analytics

Looking ahead, ������ has already implemented  processes to further enhance the dashboard’s capabilities with predictive analytics and artificial intelligence.

The firm expects to continue evolving its systems as the challenges of maintaining a safe workplace also evolve. The efforts demonstrate that safety is not just a priority – it’s a core value. By combining real-time data, regional accountability, and AI-driven insights, ������ continues to set a standard that will move the company further on its journey to zero incidents.

������ recently participated in the 2026 summer conference in Lake Placid. The three-day event brings together hundreds of representatives from rural school districts across the state for presentations, breakout sessions and networking opportunities.

������ team members Dylan Gifford and Ken Osmun attended the event, connecting with teams from numerous school districts and sharing information about ������ and our K-12 project experience.

������ project administrators from all regions recently came together in Rochester for a two-day summit focused on collaboration, professional development and best practices.

The summit featured presentations and discussions about legal, insurance, risk management and different technologies and programs, as well as opportunities for regional teams to share how they approach their work. The event also included a guest presenter from who talked about adaptability.

The annual Raymond F. ������ Memorial Golf Outing was held on a sunny Saturday, June 20, at the Eagle Vale Golf Course in Rochester.

With more than 100 employees participating from across ������ regions, this year’s event was full of familiar faces and fun all day long. Thank you to everyone who golfed and helped make the outing a success!

To celebrate  – held annually during the first week of May – ������ project teams across all regions hosted safety stand downs, trainings and other events focused on promoting safe work practices.

• ������Rochester,  teams holding stand downs included those working on the CUP Eastman Quad Tunnel, CABIN Research and Occupational Therapy projects.
• ������Buffalo, the team working on the Northland Corridor Redevelopment project held a stand down and team lunch, with a guest presentation from
• ������Central NY, several projects held stand downs throughout the week, including the Upstate Pathology Institute, Rice and Wing Halls, and Hotel projects.
• �ճ����Southeast team held a stand down focused on fall protection at the Reuben-Cooke project. On the Charlottle-Mecklenburg Schools projects, more than 600 workers celebrated ������ Week by asking “What’s your why?” and sharing why they work safely.
• In Corning, the team working in the New Gymnasium project celebrated with a safety stand down.
• �ճ���� team held stand downs and team lunches at the Three Bridges at Redington, James L. Simmons Apartments and North Gate Landing projects.
• In the NY Capital Region, teams led stand downs on several projects throughout the week, including the , Bleecker Hall, ECSI, Parking Garage, The Spa Little Theater, Pavilions, and Sage Hall.

These activities reinforced ������’s ongoing commitment to safety – ensuring all workers return home safely at the end of each day from every jobsite.

Director of Environmental, Health and ������ Jerrod Garrett and Vice President Fred Thompson

Every serious injury or fatality starts somewhere. More often than not, the warning signs are there – and someone sees them.

Each year, Construction ������ Week is an opportunity to reflect and recommit to our safety efforts. This year’s theme – “All in Together. Recognize, Respond, Respect” – draws attention to high-hazard work and preventing serious incidents, which resonates with what we’re focusing on as a company.

At ������, Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs) and Potential Serious Injuries and Fatalities (PSIFs) prevention is not a trend or a talking point. It’s a responsibility we carry every day. The conditions our teams face – falls, struck-by hazards, stored energy, caught-in situations – are real, and the margin for error is small.

One of the most powerful tools we have is also one of the simplest: safety observations.

When someone takes a moment to stop, look and document a hazard before it leads to an incident, that is SIF prevention in action. That is “Recognize, Respond, Respect,” not as a slogan, but as a behavior.

We have seen this play out on our jobsites in many different ways. A worker flags improper fall protection before a crew returns to the scaffold. A superintendent documents a near miss and shares it at the next morning’s safety huddle. These actions may seem small, but their impact is significant.

Being “All in Together means safety doesn’t begin and end with our safety team. It requires every superintendent, every project manager, every trade partner and every worker to own it. Submit the observation. Respond to it. Learn from it. Share it.

During Construction ������ Week, and every week, our goal remains the same: ensure everyone goes home the same way they came to work. That does not happen by accident. That outcome is made possible when everyone takes ownership of safety, one decision, one observation and one action at a time.

Each March, we celebrate Women in Construction Week – recognizing the impact of women across the industry. This year’s theme, “Level Up: Build Strong Communities, Careers and Futures,” highlights growth, leadership and lasting impact.

������ Chairman and CEO Bill Goodrich was among local business leaders recognized by the as a 2025 Icon Honors award recipient.

These awards recognize Rochester-area business leaders for their success and leadership both within and outside of their industry. Bill accepted the award at a ceremony on December 14.