Stellar Named Accredited Quality Contractor by ABC for Achievement in Construction Safety, Education, and Culture

Stellar, headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, has been awarded the Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) credential by Associated Builders and Contractors due to its dedication to corporate responsibility. ABC is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Accredited Quality Contractors program in 2023, and only 547 of the nation's elite merit shop construction contractors most recently earned the credential.

"We are proud to be a part of ABC's membership, and we are committed to providing the highest quality construction services to our clients while ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and the communities we serve," says Freida Speicher, Stellar's Director of Quality Assurance.

ABC's AQC program, launched 30 years ago, recognizes world-class construction firms committed to five areas:

• Quality
• Safety performance
• Talent management, including diversity, inclusion, and equity
• Craft and management education
• Community relations

"Accredited Quality Contractors exemplify top-performing contractors by setting the standard in the contracting community for safety, culture, workforce development, innovation, diversity, and quality," said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO. "Every day, the leaders and employees of Stellar commit to the highest level of corporate and community achievement, embodying the best of ABC's membership. Congratulations to these outstanding construction companies."

In earning the AQC credential, each member company commits to world-class safety by achieving the Gold, Platinum, or Diamond level in ABC's STEP Safety Management System. Founded more than three decades ago, STEP dramatically improves safety performance among construction industry participants, with top performers achieving incident rates more than six times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average.

Reaccredited annually, AQC members also make the following pledge: As an Accredited Quality Contractor, our company is committed to providing our clients with the highest quality construction services, and we care deeply about our employees and the communities we build. We are proud to be part of the construction industry and are dedicated to the principles of free enterprise. We commit ourselves to serving our communities and providing our employees with the skills to work safely and productively to meet our clients' needs.

AQC is recognized by the Construction Users Roundtable, an organization founded by leading construction project owners. AQC members are eligible for ABC's Top Performers lists, which rank contractors based on work hours.

To learn more about AQC and the complete list of accredited quality contractors, visit abc.org/aqc.

About ABC:

Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 that represents more than 22,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 68 chapters help members develop people, win work, and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. Visit us at abc.org.

About Stellar:

Stellar is a fully integrated design, engineering, construction, refrigeration, and mechanical services firm serving commercial, industrial, and public sector markets across the United States. More than 750 Stellar employees create award-winning food processing plants, refrigerated warehouses, distribution centers, commercial buildings, and military facilities. In addition to its Jacksonville, Florida, headquarters, Stellar offers service and support locations throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.stellar.net.