Giving Back
1. MC Companies held its fourth annual Volunteer Day on Sept. 10, with employees across Ariz., Nev. and Texas supporting local food banks and nonprofits. Teams prepared and distributed thousands of meals and food boxes, including more than 5,000 emergency food boxes in Phoenix. The initiative is part of the company’s Sharing the Good Life Foundation.
2. The Arizona Masonry Council will host the 2025 Masonry Expo on Oct. 18 at Oldcastle’s Lone Butte Plant in Chandler. The event will feature high school, apprentice and professional competitions, including the Fastest Trowel on the Block, which also serves as a qualifier for the World of Concrete competition in Las Vegas.
Awards & Accolades
3. The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Office and Communications and Public Involvement won two top awards during the annual TransComm meeting for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. ADOT’s winners are: I-17 Improvement Project: Public Involvement Approach with a consultant, and I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project: Excel with a Consultant.
4. Clear Title Agency of Arizona has been recognized as a Top Company to Work for in Arizona by Best Companies Group. The selection process relies on employee surveys. Honorees represent a wide array of industries. This is the thirteenth consecutive year in which the agency received the award.
5. Katie Haydon, CEO and Partner of Haydon, was recognized as one of the Most Powerful Business Leaders in Arizona for 2025 by AZ Big Media.
Boards & Commissions
6. Jimmy McCain has been selected as Gov. Katie Hobbs’ next pick for the Arizona Board of Regents. Hobbs previously selected Liz Archuleta, who never received a required Senate hearing. Archuleta was required to leave the Board of Regents this past April and McCain will be taking her place.
Promotions
7. Big-D Heavy Industrial has expanded its leadership team with the following promotions:
- Bryan Allinson was promoted to President. He joined the division more than three years ago and previously led construction operations for a Southwest-based industrial contractor;
- David Zimmerman was promoted to Senior VP. He has more than 25 years of construction experience and a legal background;
- Eugene Welker was promoted to VP of Operations. He brings more than 35 years of experience and has managed capital projects totaling more than $600M and
- Kelly Salvione was promoted to VP of Business Operations. She has more than a decade of field and project management experience.
New Hires
8. Compass, Inc. announced the hiring of Frank Aazami. Aazami has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years.
Retirements/In Memoriam/Departures
9. Jerome “Jerry” Banicki, founder of J. Banicki Construction, has passed away. Banicki established the firm in 1991 and remained active in operations, estimating and client service until his retirement in 2011. He was also active in the AGC and other industry efforts.