Award Programs
Carolinas AGC Pinnacle Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Pinnacle Awards, recognizing projects completed between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The deadline to submit your entry is August 5, 2026.
Now is the time to begin reviewing the award Requirements and preparing to apply.
The most prestigious recognition in the Carolinas construction industry honors the work of general contractors and their projects' key partners.
A panel of CAGC member representatives evaluates - in confidence - the work of their peers. The presentation of the Pinnacle Awards is celebrated at CAGC's Annual Convention finale evening, shining a light on our industry's best projects of the year.
How It Works - 2 Types of Awards
Project Awards
A general contractor submits any number of projects, completed within the previous 12 months, to be considered for a Pinnacle Award in the below categories. (NOTE: The general contractor must hold a CAGC General Contractor membership; if the project is a joint-venture, all general contractors named on the joint-venture must hold CAGC General Contractor memberships as well.)
Best Building Project
- Under $20,000,000
- $20,000,000 and over
Best Highway-Heavy Project
- Under $20,000,000
- $20,000,000 and over
Best Utility Project
- Under $10,000,000
- $10,000,000 and over
Projects are Evaluated on:
- Unique Aspects
- Special Values
- Special Challenges
- Project Management
- Budget/Schedule
- Safety Performance (project-specific safety performance metrics, including Total Recordable Incident Rate and Lost-Time Incident Rate)
What items will you need to enter a project for consideration?
- The General Contractor will submit a narrative (.doc or .docx, max wordcount 1,200) explaining why this project deserves a Pinnacle Award. Safety performance metrics are required.
- The General Contractor will also submit jobsite photographs (up to 5 photos) for each of their own projects to be considered for an award. SUGGESTION: submit at least one photo of the finished project, and several photos of the project job site while under construction.
- Two (2) letters of Reference will also be required, from either the Project Architect, Project Engineer, or Project Owner.
The General Contractor also will have the optional opportunity to submit information on up to 3 subcontractors, suppliers, service companies, or designers whose contribution was critical to the project's exemplary nature and success, deemed as Key Partners. If the project wins, these Key Partners will be honored with Pinnacle Partner Awards. Subcontractor, supplier and service companies must also be CAGC members.
Build with the Best Award
The distinguished Build with the Best (BWTB) Award honors the contributions of a non-contractor individual for his or her role in advancing the construction industry and the overall Carolinas economic welfare, whether from outside the industry altogether or from our own Carolinas AGC supplier/service company membership sector.
Carolinas AGC Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame Legacy Awards
Congratulations to our 2026 Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame Legacy Award winners! We look forward to celebrating the 2026 award winners at the Summit & Expo in July.
Recognizing and honoring prestigious members, both past and present, who have made extraordinary contributions over their careers to CAGC, the construction industry and the community they serve. Nominations will be considered for two categories:
- Hall of Fame Award honors individuals who are current or retired members of Carolinas AGC and have had at least 20 years of active involvement in the construction industry and Carolinas AGC.
- Legacy Award honors deceased individuals who either owned or were employed by a CAGC member firm during their construction career, and had at least 20 years of active involvement in the construction industry and Carolinas AGC.
**NEW: 2 Hall of Fame Inductees and 1 Legacy Inductee will be recognized each year.
Minimum Criteria:
- Nominee must be a past or present member of CAGC
- Nominee must be at least 55 years old
- Nominee must have at least 20 years active involvement in Carolinas AGC and the construction industry.
Considerations for active involvement:
- Attendance at CAGC events
- Service on Board of Directors and/or Board of Trustees
- Service as a Committee Member
- Sponsorship's and support of CAGC events and programs
- Service on board and committees and other leadership roles
- Advocate for NC/SC PAC's
- Advocate for AGC of
- America's PAC
Advocate and supporter of CAGC Foundation - Civic and Community investments
For more information please contact Chelsea Andujar at 704-372-1450 Ext. 5229 or candujar@carolinasagc.org.
Carolinas AGC Top Young Leader Award
Congratulations to our 2026 Top Young Leader Award Winners! We look forward to celebrating the honorees at our Summit & Expo in July.
The Top Young Leader Award recognizes those, 45 and under, who play critical roles in Carolinas AGC, the CAGC Young Leader Program, and their companies. This prestigious honor highlights exceptional young professionals, who are shaping the future of the construction industry.
These awards provide a meaningful way to recognize the rising stars in your organization—individuals whose leadership, innovation, and dedication strengthen both our industry and the communities we serve.
Criteria:
- The nominee must work for a Carolinas AGC member company.
- Nominees must be Member of the CAGC Young Leaders Program. www.cagc.org/cagcyoungleaders for 2 or more years.
- Review committee will look at the nominees Young Leader participation through events and their Carolinas AGC participation through events and committees.
The Deadline to nominate is February 27, 2026.
Up to two awards will be given out at the 2026 Summer Summit & Expo on Saturday, July 25, 2026 in Asheville.
For more information, please contact Chelsea Andujar at 704-372-1450 Ext. 5229 or candujar@carolinasagc.org.
Sponsorships Available!
To be a sponsor at the 2026 Top Young Leader Awards presentation at the 2026 Summer Summit and Expo. Please contact Jacob Garmon at 704-372-1450 Ext. 5222
Carolinas AGC Small Business Award
Congratulations to Ascendance Electric, our 2026 Small Business Award Winner! We look forward to celebrating our winner at the 2026 Construction Summit!
The Small Business Award recognizes a Carolinas AGC member company that dedicates time and efforts within Carolinas AGC, whether through committee involvement, event attendance, and participation in trainings. We look forward to celebrating this year's winner on Saturday, July 25 at the 2026 Construction Summit and Expo during the Saturday night awards ceremony.
Eligibility:
- Must be a current Carolinas AGC member.
- Gross Construction Revenue must be under $5 Million.
Award Criteria:
- Must demonstrate active involvement through CAGC committees, event attendance, trainings, and more.
- Companies must submit their own nomination, including a brief summary (500 words or less) showcasing their commitment and involvement with Carolinas AGC (including committee tenure, event attendance, training participation, etc.).
One CAGC Small Business Award will be awarded annually at the Construction Summit and Expo.
For more information please contact Chelsea Andujar at 704-372-1450 Ext. 5229 or candujar@carolinasagc.org.
Carolinas AGC Community Impact Award
The 2026 Community Impact Awards is now open for nominations! The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 24 at 5:00 p.m. We look forward to announcing the winners this Spring and celebrating them at the 2026 Construction Summit & Expo in Asheville this July.
Community Impact Awards honor companies that are making significant contributions to their community through time, actions, talents, dedication, and resources. These companies serve as role models for compassion and service and strive to make their communities better places to live and work. Carolinas AGC members have a passion for helping others—and we want to honor them through this awards program!
CAGC Community Impact Award recipients will be honored annually at the Carolinas AGC Construction Summit & Expo.
Award Details
The 2026 Community Impact Awards will be open for submissions from Thursday, March 12, 2026 - Friday, April 24, 2026. We look forward to announcing the winners this Spring and celebrating them at the 2026 Construction Summit and Expo in Hilton Head this July.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be a Carolinas AGC member in good standing, at time of entry and when awards are given. All members are invited to participate (General Contractors, Specialty Contractors, Suppliers and Service Companies)
- Non-Profit Community Service Programs that are currently taking place in the Carolinas (NC/SC).
- There is no timeframe on Community Impact programs/projects; however, each program/project may win only once. If your program/project wins a CAGC Community Impact award, it will not be eligible to win again.
Examples: Habitat for Humanity, Make-a-Wish, or other non-profit organizations (i.e., government, municipal, schools).
Criteria
Applicants will include:
- the size and scope of the community program/project and how it may be considered going above and beyond the call of duty
- the organization that benefitted from the program/project
- the impact of the program/project and how it has made a lasting or meaningful contribution or impact on their community
For more information please contact Hayley Gafel at 704-372-1450 or hgafel@carolinasagc.org.
Safety Awards
National AGC (NASA) and Carolinas AGC Safety Awards
The 2025 NASA and Carolinas AGC Safety Awards are now closed. We look forward to celebrating this year's winners at the 2026 Construction Summit & Expo!
It's fast, easy and free to enter. Fill out one safety data form to be entered in both award programs, allowing you to compete on both the national and local level! The 2025 NASA and Carolinas AGC Safety Awards will be presented during the 2026 CAGC Summit and Expo, July 23-25, at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC..
About the Awards
National AGC and Carolinas AGC safety recognition program compares members' safety records with others in like classifications and similar man-hours exposure. The National AGC Safety Awards (NASA) application requests that certain information from your OSHA 300 Log, which must be posted on your job sites by the first of February, be transferred to a short online reporting form. Awards are given to companies with qualifying incident rates. This award is for AGC members only, and you should apply through your home AGC chapter.
Questions about this award:
Contact Jacob Garmon | (704) 372-1450 ext. 5222.
Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA)
Congratulations to the CAGC Members who are 2026 Construction Safety Excellence Award Winners who were honored at the AGC of America Convention in Orlando, Florida in Thursday, March 26, 2026.
The purpose of the CSEA is to recognize those construction companies who excel at safety performance. The CSEA closely examines each candidate's commitment to safety and occupational health management and risk control. Unlike other safety award programs that limit the criteria to frequency rates, the CSEA selection process is considerably more comprehensive. Each application will be reviewed for evidence of:
- Company management commitment
- Active employee participation
- Safety training
Work site hazard identification and control - Safety program innovation
Participants will be required to complete the application form and submit it directly to AGC of America. Members of the national AGC Safety & Health Committee will review and judge the submittals at the Construction Safety & Health Conference, held in January each year. The finalists in each divisional category will then be invited to compete in-person at the AGC National Convention for either a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place award. Finalists will give an oral presentation in front of five judges. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards will be determined after oral presentations. The grand award winner will be selected from among the 1st place winners. The winners will be announced at the Safety Awards Ceremony during the AGC National Convention.
Questions about this award:
Contact Jacob Garmon | 704-372-1450 x5222.
Excellence in Human Resources Leadership Award
The Excellence in Human Resources Leadership Award is now open for applications! We look forward to honoring our award winner at the 2026 HR & Safety Conference in Myrtle Beach March 25 - 27, 2026!
The CAGC Excellence in Human Resources Leadership Award recognizes CAGC members with exemplary leadership in Human Resources within the construction industry and among CAGC’s member companies. This individual demonstrates outstanding leadership and makes a significant, positive impact on their company’s employees, community, business partners and within CAGC. This HR professional embodies the values of CAGC and its dedication to excellence.
Award Criteria
Nominees should represent distinction in areas such as:
- Organizational Leadership and Strategy
- Commitment to Compliance and Ethics
- Visionary Innovation in HR Practices
- Employee Development and Engagement
- Fostering a Positive Workplace Culture
- Engagement in CAGC
Nominations
Written nominations of 1,000 words or less addressing the areas of distinction should be submitted to CAGC's Betsy Bailey by email (bbailey@carolinasagc.org) by February 13, 2026 and include at least three letters of recommendation, professional and/or personal, for each nominee. A judging panel made up of industry professionals/peers will carefully review and choose the award recipient.
This award will be presented annually at the CAGC HR & Safety Conference.
Questions
For more information please contact Betsy Bailey at 704-372-1450 Ext. 5725 or bbailey@carolinasagc.org.
