Balfour Beatty Construction has named Eric Garcia as its 2015 Relentless Ally – the highest honor the company can bestow upon an employee. Created to honor the legacy of retired chairman and CEO Robert C. Van Cleave, Balfour Beatty’s Relentless Ally Award is presented to the individual who most embodies one or more pillars of the company’s Creed – Zero Harm, Zero Waste, Client Advocacy and Employee Inspiration. Thereby, this individual truly lives the company’s Purpose by definition: “To be a Relentless Ally for the success of each and every dream that we are entrusted to build.”
As a senior loss prevention manager in Balfour Beatty’s Orlando office, Garcia’s key priority is to lead the company’s Zero Harm efforts on some of its most complicated projects. However, Garcia has been recognized by his clients and colleagues for accomplishments that surpass his job description by touching not just one, but all four of Balfour Beatty’s Creed pillars. In essence, the Relentless Ally Award recognizes the heroes at Balfour Beatty who define and deliver service excellence.
“Eric Garcia represents everything we look for in an employee who epitomizes the Relentless Ally purpose,” said Sean DeMartino, president of Balfour Beatty’s Florida Division. “He consistently exhibits a sound work ethic, a client focus, solutions-oriented ideas, leadership by example, superior technical proficiency, and consistent follow-through – all in addition to his day job of leading our efforts around Zero Harm on some of the most complicated projects in our Florida business. He undoubtedly represents each of our four Creed pillars at the highest level and is a proven Relentless Ally for our clients, business partners, and his fellow employees.”
When it comes to Balfour Beatty’s commitment to accepting nothing less than Zero Harm for anyone who comes into contact with its work, Garcia led the charge that resulted in over 1 million man hours without a lost-time incident on two projects. Garcia exceeds industry standards because he takes his role personally and establishes trust with his workforce through a servant leadership approach centered on his team’s best interests.
“Eric is so effective at his job because of how he interacts with the workforce,” said Steve Smithgall, senior vice president of national operations and safety, Balfour Beatty Construction. “When he approaches people, they can tell he is passionate about his job and wants them to be and act safe because he genuinely cares about their wellbeing. He isn’t just enforcing rules, he goes that extra step to warn them about the risks and hazards our rules are aimed at preventing. He also takes the time to acknowledge them for doing things right.”
Garcia is a leader in helping the company achieve its Zero Waste commitment focused on continuous innovation and operationalizing efficiencies across the company. On some very high-profile Florida projects, Garcia leveraged technology to capitalize on time, cost and natural resources by implementing an electronic database and subcontractor badge system. The system saved time by allowing for on-the-spot identification. It also saved enough paper to equal 26 trees and saved thousands of dollars.
A key contributor to delivering iconic projects on behalf of Balfour Beatty clients, Garcia embodies the company’s commitment to Client Advocacy and service excellence. On one particular Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) project, Garcia serves as a truly integrated partner day-in and day-out with the client to achieve collective goals. As a result of his service, the client honored him with its top safety recognition award. Though it’s nothing new, Garcia has proven himself as a trusted advisor with several of his clients on some of the most complex, high-profile projects.
Garcia’s Relentless Ally Award recognition culminates with the Balfour Beatty’s fourth Creed pillar dedicated to Employee Inspiration. He works closely with his team to understand a project’s needs in order to implement timely and practical strategies for operations to run without negative impact or delay. Garcia consistently achieves the delicate balance that maximizes team performance and has earned the respect of his peers as a go-to leader well beyond his Zero Harm responsibilities.
About Balfour Beatty Construction US
An industry leader for more than 80 years, Balfour Beatty Construction US provides general contracting, at-risk construction management, and design-build services for a wide variety of markets, serving clients in both the public and private sectors. The company is the U.S. subsidiary of London-based Balfour Beatty plc (LSE: BBY), a leading international infrastructure group that finances, develops, builds and maintains complex building programs focused on social and commercial buildings, power and utility systems, and transportation. Consistently ranked among the nation’s largest building contractors, Balfour Beatty Construction Services US has been cited as a Top 10 Domestic Building Contractor and Top 10 Green Builder by Engineering News-Record. To learn more, visit www.balfourbeattyus.com or look for BalfourBeattyUS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151209006209/en/
Contacts:
Matt Averitt, 214-451-1030
maveritt@balfourbeattyus.com
