2024 “GroundBreakers” Honored for Positively Impacting the Carolinas Construction Industry

GroundBreak Carolinas has announced the results of our 2024 GroundBreaker Awards, an annual awards program that recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a difference for the construction community in the Carolinas.

Selected from a well-rounded group of nominees from North Carolina and South Carolina, all four GroundBreakers for 2024 happen to be based in South Carolina – three in the Upstate and one in the Midlands.

This year’s GroundBreaker Award recipients include:

Ben Barfield, Vice President and Division Manager (Greenville Office) at Brasfield & Gorrie, which over the past 60 years, has grown to become one of the largest privately held construction firms in the nation with 13 offices in eight states.

Deepal Eliatamby, PE, President of Alliance Consulting Engineers, a Columbia-headquartered civil and environmental engineering firm celebrating 20 years in business in 2024.

Jackie Murray, General Superintendent at Greenville-based Marsh Bell Construction Company, which has served South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia as an unlimited general contractor since 1984.

Todd Usher, PhD, Founder and President of Addison Homes, an established Upstate home builder specializing in building healthy, high-performance homes that emphasize increased comfort and durability, better indoor air quality, and ultra energy efficiency.

“We congratulate this year’s GroundBreakers! Ben Barfield, Deepal Eliatamby, Jackie Murray and Todd Usher represent the best of the construction industry in the Carolinas,” said Lauren Gallagher, Publisher of GroundBreak Carolinas. “Like our GroundBreakers from years past, it is their selfless commitment to advancing the construction industry that truly sets them apart.”

Watch for individual spotlight stories on the 2024 GroundBreakers in the coming weeks.

PAST WINNERS | GROUNDBREAKERS

The GroundBreaker Awards program was established in 2019. Winners through 2023 include:

Didi Caldwell, Global Location Strategies

Demi Knight Clark, She Built This City

Joel Davis, J Davis Construction

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, U.S. Congress

Angela Gardner & Christi Powell, Women Talk Construction

John Hildreth, PhD, Western Carolina University

Adam Hoots, Lean Construction Shepherd

Brian King, A M King

Nichole Kopenhaver, McCrory Construction