The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) announced the winners of awards of recognition presented in the industry.
Presentation of awards took place at the conclusion of the ASBA’s Technical Meeting, held in Orlando, Fla. The meeting, which featured an all-time high attendance of more than 750, drew attendees from not only across the United States but around the world.
The Industry Merit Award, given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the association and to the Industry, was presented to Sam Fisher, CTB. Fisher, of Fisher Tracks in Boone, Iowa, has, over the years, been active in ASBA as a member of the board of directors, track division president and chairman, has spoken at meetings, reviewed technical articles and helped edit and revise the ASBA’s publication, Running Tracks: A Construction and Maintenance Manual. He is the chairman of the association’s certification committee, and has been a member of the delegation that meets with both the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations to discuss rule changes as they pertain to the design and construction of athletic facilities.
Paul Nagle, CTB, president of ASBA’s track division, announced Fisher as the recipient of the award, noting that in meetings, Fisher “is quite often the voice of reason with unparalleled knowledge of the Association’s history. In the Track Division, he is our safety net. His mathematical prowess is second to none, often coming up with numeric answers before most of us have turned on our calculators.” Fisher received a standing ovation from all those in attendance as he was presented with his award.
The Chairman’s Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the Association, was presented to both Megan Buczynski, PE, LEED AP (Activitas, Inc., Dedham, Massachusetts) and Chris Sullivan, RLA (Verde Design, Inc., Folsom, California). Both Buczynski and Sullivan have been active as members of the board of directors, where they represent the association’s professional division, and both have additionally spoken at meetings and contributed to the editing and revision of several publications in ASBA’s Construction and Maintenance Manualseries.
The Tennis Builder/Contractor of the Year Award, presented by Racquet Sports Industry Magazine, was presented to Renner Sport Surfaces in Denver, Colo. Renner is a full-service contractor, offering the entire Rocky Mountain region complete services for the design, construction and rehabilitation of both tennis courts and running tracks, as well as pickleball courts, inline hockey rinks, basketball courts and other facilities.