L.A. Chapter of Women's Transportation Seminar Announces Annual Award Winners

Doug Failing, director of Caltrans District 7, served as master of ceremonies at the WTS Los Angeles Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner in downtown Los Angeles, where he was joined by industry leaders and professionals to honor the next generation of transportation professionals.

WTS Los Angeles also honored California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Secretary Sunne Wright McPeak as Woman of the Year, LAWA Project Engineer Cynthia Stoker as Member of the Year, and the Riverside County Transportation Commission as Employer of the Year.

Four promising young women were awarded coveted high school, under-graduate and graduate scholarships in recognition of their profound interest in and potential contributions to the transportation industry.

"Nothing is more essential than preparing young minds to face the transportation challenges of tomorrow," said WTS-LA President Alexandra Spencer.

"Through their exemplary efforts, these outstanding students promise to have a significant impact on the industry as a whole. We are pleased to award them for their exceptional accomplishments this year."

The Joan G. Wood Memorial High School Scholarship was awarded to North Hollywood High School student Daisy Corral. In addition to carrying a substantial workload as a transportation careers academy student, Corral spends a lot of time on community endeavors.

Having been named student of the month on several occasions, Corral also worked diligently for the Antonio Villaraigosa mayoral campaign.

Corral's commitment to acting on her belief illustrates why she was chosen to receive the Joan G. Wood Memorial Scholarship.

Another Transportation Career Academy student was the recipient of the WTS Los Angeles High School Scholarship in recognition of her talent, passion, and drive to succeed in the transportation industry.

Lalita Boonnoppornkul is a scholar-athlete, accomplished both in the classroom and on the field as captain of her school's golf team. Boonnoppornkul devotes considerable energy to extracurricular activities including Heal the Bay and the Antonio Villaraigosa mayoral campaign.

In college, Boonnoppornkul plans to pursue a degree in design or engineering.

Dignity, vitality, and moxie serve as the informal criteria for the Ava Doner Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship.

This year's recipient was California State University, Fullerton, student Rochelle Dawn Gingrich, known to her friends as 'Rocky.'

Gingrich successfully carries a considerable workload while balancing full-time employment during school breaks. She is a member of the CSUF honors program and works as an engineering intern at HNTB, where she is helping to design new runway systems at LAX.

"Rocky is a young, dynamic, responsible engineer who enjoys her transportation work enormously while integrating it to her life experience," said HNTB's Chief Transportation Planner Gail Staba. "Although her job title is 'intern,' she has gone a long way toward establishing herself as an integral part of HNTB staff."

This year, the Myra L. Frank Memorial Graduate Scholarship recognizing fortitude, resolve and expertise went to UCLA student Jane Berner, who received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Chicago.

Berner currently works as a planning assistant in the office of Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti. She is also beginning her second year in the urban planning master's program at UCLA where she is pursuing a double concentration in transportation planning and regional and international development.

In addition to awarding four scholarships worth a total of $12,500, WTS Los Angeles also raised more than $27,000 for future scholarships.

ASA-Capital City Awards Roebbelen, Ascent as Best General Contractors of 2005

The American Subcontractors Association-Capital City Chapter voted Roebbelen Contractors Inc. and Ascent Builders its 2005 Best General Contractors of the Year.

Rick Butterfield, Butterfield Electric and president of the ASA Capital City Chapter, presented the two awards at the annual holiday and awards party last week at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento.

Robert J. Kjome accepted the award on behalf of Roebbelen Contractors and Scott Kelly accepted on behalf of Ascent Builders.

Nominees honored by the nearly 100 attendees included Hensel Phelps Construction, Panattoni Construction and Roebbelen in the large category. The small category nominees included Ascent Builders, C&C Construction and Sierra View Co. ASA said these companies were recognized for their professional treatment of subcontractors in areas such as reasonable contracts, proper safety and quality job site scheduling among other criteria set forth in the nominating process.

"We would like to thank all of our employees in the office and the field for making this goal achievable," said Kjome, Roebbelen's vice president of preconstruction, as he accepted the award.

Roebbelen's president, Terry Street, said his company's core values are to treat individuals with dignity and respect; conduct business with honesty, integrity and fairness; create relationships that benefit every stakeholder and to continuously raise the benchmark of quality in the industry.

"We are pleased that our subcontractors believe that we are aligning with our core values and are creating relationships that benefit everyone," said Street. "We are very honored to have been selected."

Past winners of the honor include Harbison Mahony Higgins Builders Inc. & S.D. Deacon of California 2004; Unger Construction and C & C Construction 2003; Ascent Builders and John F Otto Inc., 2002; Brown Construction and ASI, 2001; Harbison Mahony Higgins Builders, 1999; John F. Otto, Inc., 1998; Unger Construction, 1997; Earl Construction Co., 1996; Unger Construction, 1995; John F. Otto, Inc., 1994; Campbell Construction Co., 1993; and Harbison Mahony Higgins Builders, 1992.

The American Subcontractors Association said it acknowledges the divergent points of view of the general contractor and the subcontractor, but feels the common goal of accomplishment necessitates cooperation between the two entities. For this reason the Capital City Chapter has developed a set of criteria to single out the best of the general contractors in the greater Sacramento area. By honoring the superior ones the association rewards those who work well with the subcontractors and provides an example for other generals to follow.

The chapter said the selection is based the following criteria: A contract with reasonable terms and conditions, proper safety precautions on the job, proper security on the job site, job supers who run the jobs well, a minimum of delays due to poor scheduling, timely payment of progress and final payments, respectful treatment of subcontractors during contract negotiation and on the job, and businesslike handling of change orders and disputes.