Nominations are being accepted for the Champions of Construction Awards presented by the NEW Construction Alliance.
The Champions of Construction Awards recognize and honor the individuals who are making a lasting impact on the construction industry across Northeast Wisconsin.
The awards are:
- Youth Apprentice of the Year, presented by AGC of Wisconsin
- Rising Star, presented by Milwaukee Tool
- Excellence in Mentorship, presented by DeWalt
- Craftsman Legacy, presented by Nicolet Bank
Nominations must be submitted by Oct. 3. Learn more here:Â https://newconstructionalliance.org/champions-of-construction/
“Our goal is to recognize the profession’s best in Northeast Wisconsin, measured by dedication to the field, craftsmanship, leadership and community impact,” said Jason Mathwig, industry alliance director for New North, Inc.
To be eligible for a Champions of Construction Award, an individual must work in the 18-county New North region and be employed by a NEW Construction Alliance investor company. Those companies interested in submitting a Champions of Construction nomination who are not currently a NEWCA investor, can learn more about the benefits of being an investor at https://t.ly/newcainvestor. Nominations are open to all field crafts and construction trades (non-office positions). An investor company may submit a nomination only for an employee of its company.
A nomination, 300-500 words in length, should answer the question of, ‘Why are you nominating this person for this particular award?’ The nomination ideally will introduce the person and his or her role; highlight his or her key achievements, including skills, work ethic, leadership and impact, citing specific examples; and summarize why he or she deserves the award, along with how he or she stands out among peers.
- The Youth Apprentice of the Year award is designed to recognize a recent spring high school graduate or second-year youth apprentice starting his or her senior year, who has satisfied minimum requirements for a one-year youth apprenticeship. The winner will exemplify dedication to a trades skillset; outstanding communication skills; possess a clear interest in pursuing a long-term career in construction; maintain a high level of reliability, safety awareness and teamwork; and demonstrate eagerness to learn with continuous improvement and a mastery of technical construction skills.
- The Rising Star award is intended for an individual who has worked in the construction trades industry for five-or-less years. The winner will be someone who demonstrates outstanding craftsmanship, technical ability and rapid skills growth beyond his or her years of experience. He or she will actively seek out training, certifications and mentorship opportunities to enhance his or her expertise in the trade, along with showing creativity and resourcefulness in overcoming challenges.
- The Excellence in Mentorship award recipient will be an individual who has worked in the construction trades industry for 6-25 years, and who has mentored youth, registered apprentices and/or industry peers. He or she will possess a track record of developing successful industry professionals, along with inspiring others to pursue long-term careers in construction.
- The Craftsman Legacy award is designed to recognize a construction trades industry professional with 25-plus years of experience. The winner will have demonstrated exceptional skill, expertise and technical knowledge in his or her trade, and will have consistently produced high-quality work that exceeds industry standards. The recipient also will have devoted a significant portion of his or her career to the construction industry, leaving a lasting impact on projects, colleagues and the trade as a whole. In addition to upholding the highest standards of safety, ethics and professionalism, he or she additionally will have made a lasting impact beyond the job site by actively supporting the construction industry, local community and his or her employer.
Award recipients and their achievements will be recognized in front of peers and industry leaders at the NEW Construction Alliance annual meeting in January 2026. They additionally will be featured in Insight magazine and showcased on the NEWCA website and social-media channels.
