Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA) has elected Kevin Machej, executive vice-president of strategy, development and partnership ventures at CRH Canada as president for 2022.
“Since 1927, ORBA has been the voice of the road building industry and has grown to become a great organization with a solid foundation and world class members,” Machej said. “As we look into the future, we have an exciting journey ahead of us.
“I will work with our members and stakeholders to strengthen our relationships with all levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal as a partner and collaborator and in the business of keeping Ontario moving forward.”
Machej takes over from Rocky Coco, who served as ORBA’s president last year.
“I am very pleased to pass the president’s gavel on to Kevin,” Coco said. “Kevin brings a unique set of skills and a wealth of knowledge to the road building industry. His experience in finance, operations and strategy is a boon to the association.”
ORBA held its 2022 Summit virtually Jan. 26, 27, Feb. 2 and 3, presenting the following awards:
MTO Asphalt Paving Contractor of the Year:
Winner: Lavis Contracting Co. Ltd. received the for its work on Highway 21, near Forest (Contract 2020-3042).
Finalists:
- Dufferin Construction Company for work on Highway 402, near Strathroy (Contract 2020-3022); and
- Pioneer Construction Inc. for work on Highway 17, near Bruce Mines (Contract 2020-5163).
MTO Concrete Contract of the Year:
Winner: McLean Taylor Construction for its work on Highway 21, near Bayfield (Contract 2020-3044).
Finalists:
- Louis W. Bray Construction Limited for work on Highway 401 at Flagg Road near Morrisburg (Contract 2018-4023).
- McLean Taylor Construction for work on Highways 7/8, near Kitchener (Contract 2020-3074).
Routly Safety Awards recognize ORBA member companies for superior performance in worker health and safety in three categories. Recipients are determined from statistics provided annually by Infrastructure Health & Safety Association.
Winners:
- R. Foulton Construction Ltd., for achieving up to 100,000 average person hours without a lost-time injury.
- L B Leveque Bros., for achieving more than 100,000 average hours without a lost-time injury.
- Milestone Award: Roto-Mill, for 1,034,479 hours without a lost-time to injury.
2021 ORBA Transportation Infrastructure Innovation Award recognizes innovative techniques and methods, applied on actual projects or in activities or processes, performed by an ORBA member company, which improve the quality and/or reduce the cost of construction.
Winner: Kiewit, for the Eurovia Vinci Ottawa LRT Stage 2 project.
2021 ORBA Distinguished Service Award recognizes a member of a member company who has contributed significantly to the objectives of the association during the past year, through volunteering of time and resources and through the leadership shown in achieving those objectives.
Winner: Steve Manolis, general manager, Coco Asphalt Engineering
2021 ORBA Director of the Year recognizes an ORBA director who has contributed significantly to the objectives of the association during the past year through leadership, volunteering of time and resources and working on ORBA committees and special projects.
Winner: Rocky Coco, president, Coco Group.
OAPC Honorary Life Membership recognizes a member for their dedication to advancing the objectives of OAPC and their notable service to the council.
Winner: Cosmo Crupi, D. Crupi & Sons Ltd.
ORBA Scholarship recipients
- ORBA Civil Engineering University Scholarship: Duncan Waugh, first-year civil engineering student at Western University.
- ORBA J.D. Chick Scholarship: Andrew Pavan, civil engineering, final-year civil engineering student at McMaster University.