Barton Malow Company Ironworker General Foreman Rob Gadson is among nine recipients of the 2021 James J. Willis Craftsperson of the Year honor presented by The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC). This award honors outstanding labor-management cooperation and quality craftsmanship in the union construction and maintenance industries.
Rob is a member of the Iron Workers Local 147 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was nominated for his work on a Cliffs industrial project in Ohio, where he led a team of 125 ironworkers from eight different Ironworker Locals.
“What Rob did on this job, managing something so complex and keeping everything so well-choreographed, was nothing short of miraculous,” said Brandon Leslie, Barton Malow Company Vice President of Industrial. “He is the complete teammate, putting the team first at all times, and is so deserving of this honor.”
TAUC usually would present the award at its annual Leadership Conference, but this year’s conference was canceled due to COVID-19. Instead, Rob was presented the award during an informal ceremony held last week.
Read more about the James J. Willis Craftsman of the Year Award on the TAUC website.
The Association of Union Contractors is made up of more than 1,800 contractor companies that utilize union labor for their projects, as well as local contractor associations and vendors in the industrial maintenance and construction fields. Their mission is to act as an advocate for union contractors and enhance cooperation between the three entities involved in the successful completion of construction projects: the union, the contractor, and the owner-client, the company for which the work is being completed.
