Two ABC Members Named 2026 GroundBreaker Award Winners
Two members of Associated Builders and Contractors have been named 2026 GroundBreaker Award recipients, recognizing their leadership, industry involvement and contributions to the construction community across the Carolinas.
Chad Frampton, President and CEO of Frampton Construction, and Jonathan Thrasher, P.E., Senior Client Developer/Project Manager with S&ME, were selected for the annual honors presented by GroundBreak Carolinas.
Now in its eighth year, the GroundBreaker Awards recognize construction industry leaders who go beyond their day-to-day responsibilities to positively impact the industry, their organizations and the communities they serve.
The recognition of Frampton and Thrasher also reflects a hallmark of the ABC community: industry leaders who invest not only in building successful companies and careers, but also in strengthening the construction industry around them.
Chad Frampton — Frampton Construction
Chad Frampton serves as President and CEO of Frampton Construction, a Southeast-based construction firm headquartered in Ladson, South Carolina, with additional offices in Charlotte and Tampa.
Founded in 1993, Frampton Construction provides planning and design support, preconstruction and construction services for clients throughout the Southeast and beyond.
Under Frampton’s leadership, the company has continued to grow while maintaining a strong emphasis on its people, clients and communities. His selection as a GroundBreaker recognizes both his business leadership and his broader contributions to the construction industry.
Jonathan Thrasher — S&ME
Jonathan Thrasher, P.E., serves as Senior Client Developer/Project Manager with S&ME in Greenville, South Carolina.
S&ME is a wholly employee-owned engineering firm with more than 50 years of experience providing geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting and third-party inspection services for public- and private-sector projects.
Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, S&ME operates more than 25 locations across 10 states, including a significant presence throughout North and South Carolina.
Thrasher’s career has been distinguished by his commitment to clients, relationships and the construction community. His GroundBreaker recognition reflects the impact that industry professionals can make when they combine technical expertise with leadership and service.
ABC Members Making an Impact
The GroundBreaker Awards were created to recognize people who are helping move the Carolinas construction industry forward. The selection of two ABC members among the 2026 honorees reinforces the important role ABC members play in developing people, strengthening businesses and advancing the industry.
Frampton and Thrasher represent different disciplines within the construction ecosystem, but their recognition shares a common theme: leadership extends beyond the company you work for.
It includes investing in people, building relationships, participating in the industry and helping create a stronger construction community for the next generation.
Congratulations to Chad Frampton and Jonathan Thrasher on being named 2026 GroundBreakers.
