2026 "GroundBreakers" Honored for Positively Impacting Carolinas Construction Industry

GroundBreak Carolinas is excited to announce the results of our 2026 GroundBreaker Awards, an annual awards program – now in its eighth year – 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, the 2026 Class of GroundBreakers represents both states.

“We are proud to recognize Chad Frampton, Jonathan Thrasher, and Dave Simpson as the 2026 GroundBreaker Award recipients,” said Lauren Gallagher, Publisher of GroundBreak Carolinas. “Each has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a commitment to advancing the construction industry, and a willingness to invest their time and experience in others. Their impact extends well beyond their own organizations and represents the very best of our industry in the Carolinas.”

Meet the 2026 GroundBreakers

(L to R): Chad Frampton, Jonathan Thrasher, and Dave Simpson.

Chad Frampton, President and CEO of Frampton Construction, based in Ladson, SC, in Charleston County. Founded in 1993, Frampton is a Southeast-based construction firm offering planning and design support, preconstruction, and construction services. With additional offices in Charlotte and Tampa, the company is positioned to manage projects in the Southeast and beyond.

Jonathan Thrasher, P.E., Senior Client Developer/Project Manager with S&ME, Greenville, SC. In business for more than 50 years, S&ME is a wholly employee-owned firm delivering geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, and third-party inspections for both public and private sector projects. Headquartered in Raleigh, S&ME has more than 25 locations across 10 states, including seven offices in North Carolina and six in South Carolina.

Dave Simpson, President and CEO of Carolinas AGC, Charlotte, NC. Carolinas AGC (CAGC) is a construction trade association made up of contractors and construction-related firms that perform work in the Carolinas. CAGC members are both small and large general contractors, specialty contractors, material/equipment suppliers and service providers. Simpson has been singled out with our special Lifetime GroundBreaker Award!

Watch for individual spotlight articles in the coming weeks.

PAST WINNERS (Since launch of the GroundBreaker Awards in 2017)

Ben Barfield, Brasfield & Gorrie

Didi Caldwell, Global Location Strategies

Demi Knight Clark, She Built This City

Joel Davis, J Davis Construction

Deepal Eliatamby, PE, Alliance Consulting Engineers

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, U.S. Congress

Angela Gardner & Christi Powell, Women Talk Construction

John Hildreth, PhD, Western Carolina University

Adam Hoots, Lean Construction Shepherd

Will Huss, Trehel