PRESS RELEASE: New Arizona Highway Construction Receives Industry-Wide Accolades

For Immediate Release:

September 15, 2011

Home News PRESS RELEASE: New Arizona Highway Construction Receives Industry-Wide Accolades

(Washington DC) – Arizona’s route 303—from Happy Valley Road to Pleasant Parkway in Peoria—received the latest in a series of sweeping accolades from both the construction industry and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), builder Austin Bridge & Road announced today. The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) recognized the project with its Silver award for high-quality workmanship, following closely on the heels of tributes from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, Roads & Bridges magazine and ADOT.

The company—a 100 percent employee-owned private company, or “S corporation employee stock ownership plan” (S ESOP)—attributes the successes to its culture of ownership. “Austin’s employee-owners are personally invested in creating a legacy of strong workmanship and good stewardship, something we believe not only benefits the Peoria community but also enables us to remain a high-performing business and have real impact on our retirement security long into the future,” said Jim Andoga, president of Austin Bridge & Road.

The 5.35-mile section of the new freeway was built through pristine desert and included construction of 18 bridges, extensive drainage improvements, mass excavation and landscaping to support the west valley’s increased growth over the past 10 years. The Austin Bridge & Road team was responsible for substantial environmental protections of the air, water, indigenous plants and local wildlife along the new freeway section.

S ESOP companies like Austin, according to a University of Pennsylvania study, create not only employee motivation and success, but also $14 billion in new savings for S ESOP workers that they otherwise would not have. This is because company profits flow into the ESOP (retirement) accounts of the workers.  Moreover, most S ESOP employees have retirement account balances three to five times higher than the average 401 (k) or other defined contribution plans, as compared with most working Americans who, according to an April 2011 Gallup poll, think they will lack enough money to live comfortably in retirement.

“Employee-owners like those at Austin work smarter and harder because of their commitment and investment in the business,” said Greg Klein, chairman of the board of directors of the Employee-Owned S Corporations of America. “The dedication of Austin’s employee-owners not only defines the company’s bottom line, but also translates directly to the reliability and soundness of their operations.”

Austin Industries is a diverse, merit-shop construction company owned 100 percent by its employees. The three operating companies of Austin Industries—Austin Bridge & Road, Austin Commercial and Austin Industrial—engage in almost every type of civil, commercial and industrial construction. The company’s total workforce numbers about 5,300 and the completion value of projects in progress exceeds $1 billion. Founded in 1918, Austin is one of the largest and most diversified construction organizations in the United States. Offices are in Texas, California, Arizona, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

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The Employee-Owned S Corporations of America (“ESCA”) is the Washington, DC voice for employee-owned S corporations.  ESCA’s exclusive mission is to preserve and protect S corporation ESOPs and the benefits they provide to the employees who own them.  These companies have an important story to tell policymakers about the tremendous success of the S ESOP structure in generating long-term retirement savings for working Americans and their families.  ESCA provides the vehicle and the voice for these efforts.  ESCA represents employee-owners in every state in the nation.

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