The Texas State chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors Inc. recently won three national awards as the organization announced its 2002 legislative awards during the annual IEC Legislative Conference.

Led by chapter executive director Renea Beasley, Texas was named Category A's best state lobbyist for 2002 and also earned the award for best single issue lobbying campaign.

Additionally, the state was named Category A Legislative Chapter of the Year. In Category B, the Legislative Chapter of the Year title was awarded to the IEC Florida West Coast Chapter and the Category C award went to the IEC of Oregon.

U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Small Business Committee, and IEC National Senior Vice President Steve Humphrey Sr. of Dallas announced the awards at the conference.

The Associated General Contractors of America recently recognized APAC-Texas Inc.'s Buster Paving Division for its outstanding safety program. APAC-Texas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ashland Inc.

Buster Paving was recognized in the highway division for companies that worked 100,000 to 500,000 hours without a work site fatality or multi-catastrophic injury. The award was presented at the AGC's annual convention, held in Honolulu earlier this year.

The Buster Paving Division is based in Sulphur Springs, and operates in northeast Texas, southern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Scott Sarine heads up the division, and Jay Owens is the division's environment, health and safety manager.

"This award acknowledges the efforts of all of our division's team members and recognizes their commitment to safety," Sarine said. "The 'safety culture' that pervades our division has its roots at the headquarters level. Our president, Charles Potts, has established safety as our company's No. 1 priority, and it provides a clear focus for us in every job."

The San Antonio chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America in late June held a summer celebration event and honored the many volunteers that help the organization throughout the year.

Held at Aggie Park and sponsored in part by Godwin Pumps, the event also featured several exhibits as well as complimentary food and beverages.

Exhibitors participating included such San Antonio-area businesses and organizations as Cavender Auto Group, Elsey & Associates, Godwin Pumps, Guaranty Insurance, Habitat for Humanity, Hill Horticulture, Lyda Publications, Mechanical Reps, The Miner Corp., Online Business Services, Padgett Strateman & Co., PitStop Portable Restrooms, Rx Technology, Sediment & Erosion Control, Tyvek Weatherization Systems, Western Technologies and You Name It Specialties.

The National Association of Women in Construction will hold its 48th annual meeting and convention Sept. 10-13 at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Drs. John and Frances Carter will be the keynote speakers with a presentation titled "Honoring the Women of World War II."

In addition to the keynote address, there will be a variety of other speakers as well as training opportunities through seminars and workshops. Topics will include Basics of Estimating, Contracting with Federal Agencies and Avoiding Disaster and Landscape Construction - Endless Possibilities.

Other convention highlights will include the NAWIC Education Foundation Awards Luncheon and the prestigious Crystal Vision Awards Banquet. This year's convention will honor Randy Evans of BE&K as the Crystal Vision Award recipient and Lynn Sears of Sears Construction Inc. as the Crystal Achievement Award winner.

For registration information, visit the NAWIC Web site at www.nawic.org.

Peter A. Wilson, senior vice president of New Orleans-based Barriere Construction Co. LLC, was recently elected chairman of the National Asphalt Pavement Association for 2003.

Wilson was installed during NAPA's 48th annual convention in San Diego.

His NAPA activities have included serving as a member of the executive committee since 1997; as state director for Louisiana from 1991-96; and as chairman of the Convention Feedback Committee. He also served on the National Center for Asphalt Technology board of directors, the Associate Member Council and numerous other association committees and task forces. He is also on the board of trustees of the NAPA Research and Education Foundation.

Joining Wilson on the 2003 NAPA slate of officers are first vice chairman Charles F. Potts of APAC Inc. in Atlanta; second vice chairman Richard C. Moore Jr. of Memphis, Tenn.-based Lehman-Roberts Co.; third vice chairman James H. Roberts of Watsonville, Calif.-based Granite Construction Co.; secretary Ronald M. White of Superior Paving Corp. in Gainesville, Va., and treasurer Thomas W. Hill of Oldcastle Materials Group in Washington, D.C.