2024 ACEC Conference on Roads and Streets

The 2024 ACEC Roads and Streets Conference was a huge success. The conference was held at El Conquistador Tucson from September 25th through 27th with a Hotwheels theme! Achen-Gardner Construction enjoyed learning from peers and sharing our work as well as racing our pinewood derby car in the 1st annual ACEC/PAC Fundraiser Pinewood Rally.   

Thank you to all who stopped by our booth to connect with our employee-owners, take fun swag, and learn about the work we do and the value we bring to our clients. Congratulations to the winner of our grand prize!

Achen-Gardner is proud to have strong partnerships in our family of brands. Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) recently won the 2023 Arizona Transportation Partnering Excellence Award for their Maricopa County I-17 Pavement Rehabilitation Diamond Grinding DBB project. ESS was the general contractor, and Achen-Gardner was a subcontractor. Chris Fitzpatrick, ESS Project Manager, accepted the award at the conference. This project for the Arizona Department of Transportation restored an important piece of transportation infrastructure using the diamond grinding technique.

APWA Statewide Conference Wrapup

The 2024 Arizona Chapter APWA Statewide Conference was a huge success. The conference was held at El Conquistador Tucson hotel from August 14-16 and had record-breaking attendance and exhibitors. Achen-Gardner Construction was a Platinum Sponsor, Public Agency Sponsor, and Prize Drawing Sponsor. We had a great time attending educational sessions and visiting with our clients, partners, and friends.  

This conference gave us the opportunity to combine booths with Rummel Construction, another member of our employee-owned family of brands. We thank everyone who stopped at our Olympic-themed booth to play fun games, pick up our branded swag, and learn more about the value that Achen-Gardner brings to our pre-construction and construction services. Congratulations to the winners of our gift cards and Arizona Cardinals football tickets.  

We’re proud to have received the Project of the Year Award for our Carefree Water Consolidation CMAR project. John Crane, Town of Carefree Mayor, Greg Crossman, Carefree Water Company General Manager, Abi Goode, Project Manager, and Tracy Grunden, CVL Consultants Project Manager, accepted the award at the Thursday luncheon.

Our team also gave presentations on two highly-successful and recent projects:

• Full Circle in One of Scottsdale’s Busiest Corridors: Design and Construction of the Raintree Drive Extension CMAR project by Derek Rogers, City of Scottsdale Project Manager, Kate Bondy, AECOM Project Manager, and Casey Peery, Project Manager.

• Carefree Water Consolidation: Expanding and Improving the Town’s Water Infrastructure by Greg Crossman, Carefree Water Company General Manager, Tracy Grunden, CVL Consultants Project Manager, and Abi Goode, Achen-Gardner Construction Project Manager.

SMPS National Conference

Pictured from left to right: Jessica Bukowski (Emery Sapp Construction, Marketing Manager), Megan Etheridge (Emery Sapp Construction, Communications Coordinator), Annie Treichel (Achen-Gardner, Marketing Coordinator)

Annie Treichel, Marketing Coordinator, recently connected with fellow employee-owners from Emery Sapp Construction at the SMPS National Conference, Amplify A|E|C in Salt Lake City, Utah. This conference offered valuable insights and fostered collaboration, showcasing our commitment to industry excellence and growth that we can use for every project.

Roundabout Art Installation

Our recently completed Raintree Drive Extension CMAR project received its final piece of art with the installation of TRI-HEX-CIRC, a 50-foot-tall steel sculpture in the center of the roundabout at Raintree Drive and Hayden Road. This Scottsdale Public Art sculpture was created by Phillip K. Smith III, and it transforms geometrically from a circle at its base to a hexagon in the middle and, finally, to a triangle at its top. TRI-HEX-CIRC is illuminated at night and offers this improved roadway a beautiful centerpiece for stakeholders and the traveling public to enjoy.

Learn more about this art sculpture and artist.

National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) 2024 Annual Conference

Achen-Gardner employee-owners pictured from left to right: Jose Gastelum (Safety Engineer), Lidia Valladares (Human Resources Manager), Scott Kirchhofer (Business Development and Marketing Manager)

Achen-Gardner Construction’s employee-owners attended the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) 2024 Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida, from April 28 to 30. The conference provided educational and inspirational presentations to attendees who work for a wide variety of companies in different industries and have or are considering having an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). An ESOP is a benefit plan that gives employees ownership of the company in the form of stock.

Our ESOP includes Achen-Gardner Construction (Arizona), Rummel Construction (Arizona), Emery Sapp & Sons (Missouri and Arkansas), and Premier Testing Laboratories (Missouri). In total, more than 2,500 employees across two regions are working together under one ESOP. Pride of ownership is the foundation of Achen-Gardner Construction’s culture. As a 100% employee-owned company, our work affects us all and has a direct impact on our ESOP.

2024 AZ Water Association’s 97th Annual Conference and Exhibition

We enjoyed seeing all our friends and partners at the AZ Water Association’s 97th Annual Conference and Exhibition on April 23-25 at the Phoenix Convention Center. We were a silver sponsor and had a great time at our booth where we showcased recent projects and handed out lots of giveaways. 

The AZ Water Association’s 97th Annual Conference and Exhibition was filled with opportunities for networking, learning, and inspiration. Throughout the event, attendees engaged in sessions and workshops covering topics ranging from water facility operations to encouraging emerging leaders. In the exhibition hall, companies showcased innovative solutions aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the water industry. Overall, the conference provided valuable insights on new technology and fostered collaboration among the local stewards of our water resources.

AZUCA Scholarship Shot Gun Golf Tournament

Achen-Gardner came in full swing as a proud sponsor of the AZUCA Scholarship Shot Gun Golf Tournament on April 12 at the Legacy Golf Club. Our team was on hole 14 handing out swag, and had a fun “guess how many golf tees are in the jar” game for a chance to win a sleeve of Achen-Gardner ProV1 golf balls.

Celebrating Women in Construction

The National Association of Women in Construction hosted its 26th annual Women in Construction week March 3-9, 2024 in honor of Women’s History Month.

As we strive to create an inclusive workplace, Achen-Gardner Construction is excited to celebrate this annual event which is an opportunity for us to recognize the invaluable contributions of our female colleagues.

Women in Construction Week not only highlights the achievements of women in our field but also serves as a reminder of the progress we have made toward a more equitable and diverse workforce. It is a chance for us to express our appreciation for the women who play vital roles in our company and our industry.

Throughout this week, we will highlight some of our female employee-owners on our social media to celebrate their accomplishments.

AZ Water for People 5K

Employee-owners went the extra mile at the AZ Water for People 5K on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. This event is hosted annually by the Water for People Arizona Committee with support from the AZ Water Commission. Registrations contributed to the Water for People nonprofit organization to support access to clean water in developing countries.

Achen-Gardner Construction won the Corporate Challenge Champions award for registering the most participants. There were 121 people in the 11th Annual Run for World Water, and Achen-Gardner represented 18% of the race at 22 members. Nine people from team Achen-Gardner placed in the top three of their age groups.

Project Engineer Justin Watkins placed 18th out of all runners at 26 minutes and 35 seconds, which was the best time from the team. After running all three miles and beating his own personal record, Justin decided he wasn’t done. He ran half of it again and walked the other half back with several Achen-Gardner teammates.

“We are only great because of the people to our left and our right, that’s why I decided to run more – so I can finish strong with my team by my side.”

This event was located at Arizona Falls in the City of Phoenix. Achen-Gardner completed the Arizona Falls Canal Bank Enhancement Construction Manager at Risk project in 2004. Vice President Kevin Nunez was the original project manager for this award-winning work.  

The City of Phoenix Arts Commission partnered with the Parks Department and SRP to develop a 64,000 SF recreational landmark, encompassing desert masonry walls, pathways, water features, a pedestrian bridge, a shade canopy, landscaping, numerous art elements and historical information, and a 600 SF restroom facility.

“I’m proud to be part of something that withstands the test of time and not only provides a function – power generation – but also provides the community with a beautiful place to relax and enjoy a learning experience,” Kevin said.

The facility took inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West stone walls, the contribution of many local artists, and other southwest features.

Arizonans have utilized this area as a meeting place for over 100 years. It was first constructed in 1902 by the Salt River Project to generate hydroelectricity. Arizona Falls has a natural drop of 20 feet across the length of the canal.