Les Rosso Honored for Construction Education Excellence

Associated Builders and Contractors' (ABC) educational affiliate, the Trimmer Education Foundation, presented its 2008 John Trimmer Excellence in Teaching Award to Dr. Lawrence Leslie “Les” Rosso, associate professor in construction management at Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge, La., during a March 8 ceremony held at ABC's 2008 National Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“ABC is pleased to honor such a strong proponent of the merit shop construction philosophy at the university level,” said Kirk Pickerel, ABC president and CEO. “Dr. Rosso is a dedicated supporter of the principles of free enterprise and open competition in the construction industry. We applaud his efforts to help shape the next generation of construction professionals, and it is an honor to recognize him with this well-deserved award.”

Dr. Rosso was nominated by the ABC student chapter for his contributions in the classroom and within the construction community. The award recognizes an outstanding college or university professor in a construction management program, and is named in honor of John Trimmer, who served as ABC's national executive vice president from 1952 to 1976. Trimmer was a tireless advocate both for merit shop construction and for superior construction education programs.

“Dr. Rosso has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to advancing construction education, serving as a co-advisor to LSU's Construction Student Association and as a departmental representative to the university's Construction Industry Advisory Council,” said Pickerel. “As new construction management technologies and practices emerge, the construction industry needs educators like Dr. Rosso, who is constantly working to teach his students how the construction industry is changing and how they can develop the skills needed to be exceptional construction professionals.”

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association representing nearly 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 78 chapters across the United States. For more news and information, visit ABC's website at www.abc.org .

Article excerpted from Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. News Release by Mimi LaValle, College of Engineering, 225-578-5706, mlavall@lsu.edu