Featured Stories
New York State Department of Transportation Named "Owner of the Year" in AISC and NSBA 2026 Prize Bridge Awards
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 17 -- The American Institute of Steel Construction issued the following news release:
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New York State Department of Transportation Named "Owner of the Year" in AISC and NSBA 2026 Prize Bridge Awards
September 16, 2026
CHICAGO - The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) have designated the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) as the 2026 "Owner of the Year" in this year's Prize Bridge Awards. Selected by a panel of bridge industry experts who judged the competition, the "Owner of the Year" award
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CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 17 -- The American Institute of Steel Construction issued the following news release:
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New York State Department of Transportation Named "Owner of the Year" in AISC and NSBA 2026 Prize Bridge Awards
September 16, 2026
CHICAGO - The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) have designated the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) as the 2026 "Owner of the Year" in this year's Prize Bridge Awards. Selected by a panel of bridge industry experts who judged the competition, the "Owner of the Year" awardhonors NYSDOT's exceptional engineering leadership, rapid-response capabilities, and resourceful use of structural steel to address critical infrastructure emergencies across the state.
This recognition highlights two standout projects completed by NYSDOT: the Emergency Replacement of Route 28N over Fishing Brook in Hamilton County and the Emergency Bridge Response for the Riverview Road Bridge over I-87 in Saratoga County. Both projects demonstrated how NYSDOT's in-house engineering team leverages steel's versatility, resilience, and speed of construction to restore vital transportation links following unexpected structural crises.
"The New York State Department of Transportation provided a vital model for DOTs responding to critical situations," said Brandon Chavel, PE, PhD, vice president of bridges at AISC. "Whether implementing cost-effective shoring solutions or collaborating seamlessly with fabricators to repurpose steel shapes quickly and efficiently, their team has set a high benchmark for public agency resourcefulness--and set an example that other owners can reference in similar situations."
The Route 28N over Fishing Brook project showcased an emergency response following a severe storm and a dam breach that washed out the original 1932 bridge. NYSDOT engineered a solution using 100-ft rolled steel beams stored in its own yard, working alongside fabricator High Steel Structures to modify, paint, and deliver the steel in weeks. Final plans were completed in just 22 days, allowing the team to restore traffic on a crucial artery right before winter weather set in.
For the Riverview Road Bridge over I-87, NYSDOT addressed the challenges of repeated over-height vehicle impacts on interstate overpasses. Capitalizing on a continuous steel retrofit detail that prevented catastrophic collapse during a major impact, NYSDOT designed and deployed reusable steel beam strongbacks over the deck. This allowed local traffic to continue flowing while accelerating design plans for a permanent replacement bridge featuring haunched steel girders to increase vertical clearance.
"When extreme weather strikes or a structure is impacted, our priority is public safety and restoring traffic as quickly as possible without sacrificing long-term durability," said Brenda Crudele, PE, deputy chief engineer, structures at NYSDOT. "Being named 'Owner of the Year' by AISC and NSBA is a tremendous honor that reflects the dedication and technical skill of our in-house engineering team."
To learn more about the Prize Bridge Awards and this year's winning projects, visit aisc.org/prizebridgeawards.
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About the American Institute of Steel Construction
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), a not-for-profit technical institute supported by the steel industry, partners with the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) community to develop safe and efficient steel specifications and codes while driving innovation to make steel the most sustainable, economic, and resilient structural material. For more than a century, AISC has been a reliable resource for information and advice on the design and construction of domestically fabricated structural steel buildings and bridges.
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Original text here: https://www.aisc.org/news/nysdot-named-owner-of-the-year-in-aisc-and-nsba-2026-prize-bridge-awards/
[Category: Steel]
NWTF Helps Give Kentucky Grasslands Room to Grow
EDGEFIELD, South Carolina, Sept. 17 -- The National Wild Turkey Federation issued the following news release:
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NWTF Helps Give Kentucky Grasslands Room to Grow
Sometimes improving wild turkey habitat calls for prescribed fire. Sometimes it takes a mower, herbicide or a little extra horsepower. At Gabbard Branch Wildlife Management Area in Kentucky, it took a Bobcat equipped with a 60-inch mulching head.
September 16, 2026
The Kentucky State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation contributed funding to help the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources rent the heavy equipment
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EDGEFIELD, South Carolina, Sept. 17 -- The National Wild Turkey Federation issued the following news release:
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NWTF Helps Give Kentucky Grasslands Room to Grow
Sometimes improving wild turkey habitat calls for prescribed fire. Sometimes it takes a mower, herbicide or a little extra horsepower. At Gabbard Branch Wildlife Management Area in Kentucky, it took a Bobcat equipped with a 60-inch mulching head.
September 16, 2026
The Kentucky State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation contributed funding to help the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources rent the heavy equipmentneeded to restore grassland habitat on the 809-acre WMA in Butler County.
Invasive Bradford pear trees and other callery pears had become established throughout portions of the grasslands, with some growing beyond what conventional mowing equipment could easily handle. Their large thorns also made working around the trees difficult for equipment and crews.
With the larger equipment in place, KDFWR staff spent several long days in late May and early June cutting, mowing and mulching woody vegetation to give grasses and other beneficial plants more room to grow.
"We spent a week out there, long days setting succession back, and it looks great now," said Wayne Tamminga, a KDFWR public lands biologist.
Crews used a John Deere CX-15 mower to handle smaller vegetation while the compact track loader and mulching head tackled larger trees. Desirable oak trees were left standing, while a few trees too large for the mulcher were treated individually.
The work helps maintain the open grassland conditions that provide important nesting and brood-rearing habitat for wild turkeys.
Without continued management, woody vegetation can gradually move into grasslands and change the habitat. Removing some of that vegetation allows native grasses and flowering plants to continue developing, benefiting wild turkeys and other wildlife that use the property.
The need for heavier equipment had become clear during previous maintenance at the WMA. While crews were mowing in the area, thorns from the invasive pear trees damaged a tractor tire badly enough that it had to be replaced.
The mulcher gave staff another way to work through larger vegetation that had become difficult to address with a traditional mower alone.
About three weeks after the mechanical work was completed, KDFWR staff followed up with herbicide treatment across approximately 40 acres to control tree resprouting and sericea lespedeza while helping native grasses and forbs continue to develop.
The work builds on habitat management already underway at Gabbard Branch WMA.
In March, KDFWR staff conducted a prescribed burn on a portion of the property. The burn set back woody vegetation and encouraged native warm-season grasses and annual forbs, creating conditions beneficial for turkey nesting and brood rearing. Additional sections of the WMA are planned for prescribed fire in future years.
Crews also used the rented equipment to strengthen fire lanes dividing the property into management units, helping prepare the WMA for future prescribed burns.
Taken together, mowing, mulching, herbicide treatment and prescribed fire are helping maintain a diverse mix of habitat across Gabbard Branch WMA.
For NWTF, the financial contribution helped put another useful tool in the hands of its conservation partners -- and gave native grasses, wildflowers and better turkey habitat more room to grow.
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Original text here: https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/nwtf-helps-give-kentucky-grasslands-room-to-grow
[Category: Animals]
NSGA Collaborating With AI Expert Susan Sly on AI Resources for Sporting Goods Industry
MOUNT PROSPECT, Illinois, Sept. 17 -- The National Sporting Goods Association posted the following news:
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NSGA Collaborating with AI Expert Susan Sly on AI Resources for Sporting Goods Industry
DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (September 15, 2026) - Using AI (artificial intelligence) to make our busy professional and personal lives more efficient is one of the world's hottest topics.
The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) is addressing the challenges of using AI in the sporting goods industry. NSGA is excited to announce a new collaboration with renowned AI expert Susan Sly as the association's
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MOUNT PROSPECT, Illinois, Sept. 17 -- The National Sporting Goods Association posted the following news:
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NSGA Collaborating with AI Expert Susan Sly on AI Resources for Sporting Goods Industry
DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (September 15, 2026) - Using AI (artificial intelligence) to make our busy professional and personal lives more efficient is one of the world's hottest topics.
The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) is addressing the challenges of using AI in the sporting goods industry. NSGA is excited to announce a new collaboration with renowned AI expert Susan Sly as the association'sAI-Expert-in-Residence.
Sly will be producing a series of webinars and content to help NSGA members better understand the pros and cons of AI use. Her session at the NSGA 2026 Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, was a huge hit and received a 4.84 rating on a 5.0 scale from attendees, according to a NSGA survey.
"Susan Sly has an incredible energy and passion for sharing her knowledge of AI with others and we are thrilled to have her doing this with NSGA members as our AI-Expert-in-Residence," said Matt Carlson, NSGA President & CEO. "Her presentation at the 2026 Leadership Conference was a huge hit because of her ability to break down how to use AI in ways that anyone from a novice to an expert can understand.
"AI is continually evolving and Susan is the perfect person to make sure NSGA members have the knowledge they need to make their businesses more successful."
Sly is an AI keynote speaker and two-time AI startup founder. She is the founder and CEO of The Pause Technologies, creator of Harmoni(R), an AI platform supporting women in midlife, and the founder and CEO of Amsara Health, an integrative telehealth practice serving women and men navigating midlife. She previously co-founded and served as co-CEO of RadiusAI, a computer-vision company serving the retail and healthcare industries.
Sly has also appeared on CNN, CNBC and Fox to discuss AI. She is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and hosts the popular podcast, "Raw and Real Entrepreneurship."
"The questions after my conference session made it clear that NSGA members want practical AI guidance they can apply immediately," Sly said. "AI can help sporting goods businesses save time, strengthen their marketing and make better decisions. The technology works best when people remain accountable for how it is used and the outcomes it creates. I am honored to work with NSGA to make AI more useful, approachable and relevant to its members."
Sly will conduct her first hour-long webinar for NSGA members and 2026 Leadership Conference attendees, "AI in Action: What Has Changed, What Matters Now and What to do Next," on Thursday, September 17 at 2 p.m. ET. Webinars are tentatively scheduled for October 2026, January and March 2027. She will also produce downloadable resources that address the biggest AI challenges and concerns. These resources will be housed on the NSGA website and featured in the NSGA electronic newsletters and NSGA NOW magazine.
Sly will also be conducting a workshop and doing another speaker session at the NSGA 2027 Leadership Conference on May 23-26, 2027 at The Wigwam in the Phoenix suburb of Litchfield Park, Arizona. More details about the entire program and registering for the Leadership Conference will be announced soon.
The webinars and content on AI with Susan Sly are an exclusive NSGA member-only benefit. To learn more about NSGA membership and the collaboration with Susan Sly please contact Brian Van Acker, NSGA Membership and Database Manager, at (847) 296-NSGA (6742), ext. 1170, or bvanacker@nsga.org.
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About the National Sporting Goods Association
Since 1929, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has been the leading voice and go-to resource for the sporting goods industry. NSGA helps the industry grow its businesses through research, advocacy and networking. For more information about membership or NSGA's products and services, please visit www.nsga.org.
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Original text here: https://nsga.org/news/nsga-collaborating-with-ai-expert-susan-sly-on-ai-resources-for-sporting-goods-industry/
[Category: Business]
NCGA Supports Farm Bill Vote, Urges Further Action as Corn Farmers Harvest Most Expensive Crop
CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, Sept. 17 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
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NCGA Supports Farm Bill Vote, Urges Further Action as Corn Farmers Harvest Most Expensive Crop
Sep 16, 2026
Author: Bryan Goodman
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry reconvened today and narrowly passed the Agricultural Act out of committee. The legislation, also commonly referred to as "farm bill 2.0," contains many corn grower policy priorities. This includes language that would allow for the year-round sale of fuels with 15% ethanol blends, often
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CHESTERFIELD, Missouri, Sept. 17 -- The National Corn Growers Association issued the following news:
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NCGA Supports Farm Bill Vote, Urges Further Action as Corn Farmers Harvest Most Expensive Crop
Sep 16, 2026
Author: Bryan Goodman
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry reconvened today and narrowly passed the Agricultural Act out of committee. The legislation, also commonly referred to as "farm bill 2.0," contains many corn grower policy priorities. This includes language that would allow for the year-round sale of fuels with 15% ethanol blends, oftenreferred to as E15.
In response to this development, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Jed Bower released the following statement:
"We are pleased that the farm bill passed in committee and is one step further in the legislative process. Corn growers are in Washington this week, reminding legislators that the true finish line is for the farm bill and year-round E15 to become law this year.
"The Senate farm bill would expand year-round consumer access to E15, which is important to farmers and the rural economy. It has the potential to significantly lower gas prices across the country while shoring up the nation's energy security.
"There is still work to be done. The 2026 corn crop is the most expensive crop we've ever planted, raised, and are now harvesting. The pressures on the ag economy only continue to mount. We encourage the full Senate to take bipartisan action to provide certainty in a worrisome time by voting to pass this legislation.
"Corn growers thank the leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee for continuing to move this important piece of legislation forward and for their service to agriculture.
"As recent action in the House of Representatives on the farm bill and E15 demonstrates, expanding access to higher blends of ethanol is a bipartisan endeavor, and one that can benefit all of our nation's citizens. We are deeply appreciative of Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar and all our allies on the committee for pushing to expand access to E15."
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Original text here: https://www.ncga.com/stay-informed/media/in-the-news/article/2026/09/ncga-supports-farm-bill-vote-urges-further-action-as-corn-farmers-harvest-most-expensive-crop
[Category: Agriculture]
ACC Statement on Fifth Circuit Decision Rejecting EPA's Whole Chemical Approach
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The American Chemistry Council posted the following news release:
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ACC Statement on Fifth Circuit Decision Rejecting EPA's Whole Chemical Approach
WASHINGTON (September 16, 2026) - The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement today on the Fifth Circuit's decision regarding methylene chloride:
"America's chemical manufacturers welcome the Court's decision, which reinforces that TSCA decisions must be grounded in science, evidence, and real-world conditions. We appreciate the current EPA's efforts to bring greater transparency, stakeholder engagement,
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The American Chemistry Council posted the following news release:
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ACC Statement on Fifth Circuit Decision Rejecting EPA's Whole Chemical Approach
WASHINGTON (September 16, 2026) - The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement today on the Fifth Circuit's decision regarding methylene chloride:
"America's chemical manufacturers welcome the Court's decision, which reinforces that TSCA decisions must be grounded in science, evidence, and real-world conditions. We appreciate the current EPA's efforts to bring greater transparency, stakeholder engagement,and regulatory certainty to TSCA implementation, and this ruling provides an important foundation for that work.
"For years, ACC has maintained that TSCA requires EPA to evaluate and manage risk based on individual conditions of use and the best available science, including consideration of existing workplace protections and real-world exposure information. The Court agreed, rejecting EPA's improper 'whole chemical' approach and affirming that risk determinations must consider individual conditions of use, including proven workplace protections such as personal protective equipment.
The Court highlighted the need for EPA's risk management approach to consider current OSHA standards and exposure limits as well as the economic consequences of restrictions. The ruling makes clear that TSCA is designed to manage unreasonable risk through targeted, evidence-based regulation and is not a zero-risk statute.
"Importantly, this decision addresses policy interpretations adopted during the previous Administration's implementation of TSCA, giving EPA and stakeholders important clarity for future TSCA reviews. It emphasizes that chemical evaluations must be based on the statute, sound science, and practical risk-management principles. ACC looks forward to continuing to work with EPA and other stakeholders to support a science-based approach that protects workers and communities, promotes innovation, and strengthens American competitiveness."
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American Chemistry Council
The American Chemistry Council's mission is to advocate for the people, policy, and products of chemistry that make the United States the global leader in innovation and manufacturing. To achieve this, we: Champion science-based policy solutions across all levels of government; Drive continuous performance improvement to protect employees and communities through Responsible Care(R); Foster the development of sustainability practices throughout ACC member companies; and Communicate authentically with communities about challenges and solutions for a safer, healthier and more sustainable way of life. Our vision is a world made better by chemistry, where people live happier, healthier, and more prosperous lives, safely and sustainably--for generations to come.
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Original text here: https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america-industry-innovation-impact/news-trends/press-release/2026/acc-statement-on-fifth-circuit-decision-rejecting-epa-s-whole-chemical-approach
[Category: Chemicals]
AAFA Launches Heat Stress Toolkit to Protect Workers From Extreme Temperatures
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Sept. 17 -- The American Apparel and Footwear Association issued the following news release:
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AAFA Launches Heat Stress Toolkit to Protect Workers from Extreme Temperatures
September 16, 2026 | WASHINGTON, D.C.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has launched a new AAFA Heat Stress Toolkit at Cascale's Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, Greece, providing manufacturers and brands with practical tools to help manage rising global temperatures and workplace heat-related incidents across production regions. As extreme heat events become more frequent and persistent,
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Sept. 17 -- The American Apparel and Footwear Association issued the following news release:
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AAFA Launches Heat Stress Toolkit to Protect Workers from Extreme Temperatures
September 16, 2026 | WASHINGTON, D.C.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has launched a new AAFA Heat Stress Toolkit at Cascale's Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, Greece, providing manufacturers and brands with practical tools to help manage rising global temperatures and workplace heat-related incidents across production regions. As extreme heat events become more frequent and persistent,protecting workers from heat stress is an increasingly important operational priority for our industry..
The five-part toolkit builds on AAFA's Guide to Protecting Workers from Heat Stress (published in April 2026), translating its recommendations into ready-to-use guidance and a companion workbook for manufacturers, plus implementation guidelines and a standard supplier survey questionnaire for brands. The toolkit is open to all industry stakeholders for widespread sharing of best practices.
The toolkit is designed to be practical, accessible, and grounded in operational reality. It is not an audit protocol or another compliance standard, but a framework for manufacturers to develop facility-level heat stress plans. For brands, it helps them establish their own heat stress management processes while avoiding duplication.
Commissioned by AAFA, this toolkit was designed through a collaborative process. The AAFA Heat Guidance Working Group--consisting of brands, manufacturers, and worker-advocacy groups--developed the Brand Implementation Guidelines and Supplier Survey. Meanwhile, the Fashion Producer Collective (FPC) developed the manufacturer-specific guidelines and workbook, with support from the Heat Guidance Working Group. Key contributing authors included Elevate Textiles, Inc., Epic Group, Shahi Exports, and YKK Corporation, with additional review support from Crescent Bahuman Ltd, MAS Capital (Pvt) Ltd., TAL Apparel, Yee Chain International, and the Vaada Hope Foundation.
"As extreme heat becomes an increasingly common reality worldwide, our industry must act to protect the workers who are at the heart of our supply chains," said AAFA Executive Vice President Nate Herman. "Given the fashion industry's global, interconnected, and diverse nature, it was essential that the AAFA Heat Stress Toolkit be informed by perspectives from across the supply chain. By bringing together the voices of workers, manufacturers, and brands, we have created a practical resource that supports meaningful progress on protecting workers from heat stress."
"Co-creating these guidelines demonstrates the power of a manufacturer-led approach: those who manage heat stress on the shop floor designed the tools they will implement, with input from brands and others," said the key contributing authors of the AAFA Heat Stress Toolkit. "We appreciate AAFA putting suppliers in the driver's seat. Given the mounting climate urgency and rising global temperatures, this must be an inflection point for our industry. We call on brands, auditors, and MSIs to adopt these unified guidelines, and avoid fragmenting the supply chain with duplicative standards. To truly protect workers, we must share the risks -- creating the enabling conditions for manufacturers to invest in long-term climate resilience."
"We are proud to have contributed to the work informing the Heat Stress Toolkit by providing a forum for meaningful dialogue among the apparel and footwear industry's diverse stakeholders," said Cascale CEO Ying McGuire. "The practical, actionable solutions reflected in this resource were only possible through active listening and bringing perspectives and implementation realities from across the supply chain into collective industry efforts to address the urgent challenge of heat stress."
The AAFA Heat Stress Toolkit is built around five principles that put shared risk and responsibility at the center of the approach, recognizing that managing heat stress requires more than asking manufacturers to collect more data, go through another audit, or absorb the cost of investment.
* Protecting workers. The goal is to identify and address heat stress early, with facilities retaining the flexibility to choose controls that fit their context rather than using the toolkit as an audit or verification protocol.
* Measuring to act. Data should be used to trigger protection and target investment, while remaining with the facility and avoiding unnecessary or duplicative reporting requests.
* Sharing risk and financial responsibility. Brands and manufacturers should share responsibility for the investments and potential disruption involved in building resilience, creating the commercial conditions needed to protect workers.
* Prioritizing context over prescription. Heat stress management needs to reflect the operational, financial, technical and local realities of each facility; there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
* Making communication two-way. Brands and manufacturers should work together to plan for heat stress, communicate expectations and investment needs early, and address potential impacts on production before they become crises.
The five-part AAFA Heat Stress Toolkit can be accessed on the AAFA website (https://www.aafaglobal.org/AAFA/Solutions_Pages/AAFA_Heat_Guidance_Protecting_Supply_Chain_Workers_Excessive_Heat.aspx).
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Original text here: https://www.aafaglobal.org/AAFA/AAFA_News/2026_Press_Releases/AAFA_Launches_Heat_Stress_Toolkit_to_Protect_Workers_from_Extreme_Temperature.aspx
[Category: Business]
2026 Annual Achievement Award Winners Announced at CCA Annual Convention
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The Competitive Carriers Association issued the following news release:
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2026 Annual Achievement Award Winners Announced at CCA Annual Convention
September 16, 2026
New Orleans, LA - Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) today announced the winners of its 2026 Annual Achievement Awards onstage at the CCA Annual Convention. The awards recognize industry and community contributions from individuals, carriers, and associates in the communications service provider market. CCA's Annual Convention takes place September 14 -16 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans in Louisiana.
"Congratulations
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 -- The Competitive Carriers Association issued the following news release:
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2026 Annual Achievement Award Winners Announced at CCA Annual Convention
September 16, 2026
New Orleans, LA - Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) today announced the winners of its 2026 Annual Achievement Awards onstage at the CCA Annual Convention. The awards recognize industry and community contributions from individuals, carriers, and associates in the communications service provider market. CCA's Annual Convention takes place September 14 -16 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans in Louisiana.
"Congratulationsto our 2026 award winners, whose accomplishments reflect an extraordinary commitment to our industry and the communities they serve," said Tim Donovan, President and CEO of CCA. "I'm delighted to recognize this year's winners and celebrate their outstanding work and contributions. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Maureen McCabe Moore for her dedicated service as Chair of CCA's Board of Directors over the past two years and for all she has done to advance CCA and its members."
The 2026 Annual Achievement Award winners are as follows:
Steven K. Berry Outstanding Achievement Award
Luke Dillie, VP of Sales, Viaero Wireless
Luke Dillie is recognized for his exceptional business acumen, willingness to lend a hand, and dedication to CCA and the industry. As co-chair of the Business Innovation Group and an active CCA contributor, Luke has helped recruit new members, shape educational sessions through the Events Committee, and support CCA's mission.
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David Zylka, CTO, Carolina West Wireless
David co-chairs the Business Innovation Group and is honored for his exceptional contributions to CCA and the industry. He co-leads the Carrier CTO Roundtable at CCA shows, contributes to advocacy discussions, and frequently speaks at CCA's biannual events.
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Neko Hamlett Associate Member of the Year Award
Bryan Darr, VP Government Affairs, Ookla
Bryan and Ookla have worked tirelessly to enable Ookla data to be incorporated into the FCC's National Broadband Map. Ookla's app provides significantly more data than the FCC's app. More accurate mapping will strengthen FCC programs, benefiting the CCA members, industry, and the customers they serve.
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Outstanding Service Award (Carrier)
HTC
HTC donated 35 cases of Girl Scout cookies to the Blue Star Mothers of Coastal Carolina. Blue Star Mothers includes mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, and female legal guardians with children who serve or have served in the military. HTC's donation added a heartfelt touch to care packages that will reach far beyond the local community.
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Outstanding Service Award (Associate)
Scott Donlea, Hemphill Tower & Power
Scott is an active volunteer in his community, serving as a Special Olympics coach for football, powerlifting, and golf, as well as a Sunday School small group leader. He has also served with the Douglas County Sheriff's Posse, as a nurse aide in the oncology suite at Alomere Hospital, and as a story time leader at Advance Training Center.
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Industry Innovation Award (Carrier)
C Spire
C Spire is being honored for its collaborative work with AWS to apply AI to network operations. Their partnership serves as a strong example of how carriers and technology providers can work together to drive meaningful innovation that benefits both operators and the communities they serve.
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Industry Innovation Award (Associate)
Comfone
Comfone is awarded for its Signal Tracing and Hawkeye Applications. These complimentary self-service applications empower operators with unprecedented visibility, control, and efficiency over their global roaming relationships. These tools have significantly reduced reliance on outside resources and allow a broader range of employees to troubleshoot issues, freeing highly trained resources to focus on more complex matters.
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Distinguished Leadership Award
Maureen McCabe Moore, Senior Vice President & Chief Customer Experience Officer, GCI
Maureen is honored for her leadership, guidance, and dedication to CCA during her tenure as Board Chair from 2024-2026. Maureen helped lead the association during some of its most significant advocacy wins, including a Universal Service Fund win at the Supreme Court and reinstatement of the FCC's spectrum auction authority. She is a well-respected industry executive deserving of recognition.
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About Competitive Carriers Association
Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) is the leading association for competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions, as well as vendors and suppliers delivering products and services throughout the communications ecosystem. In 2027, CCA's Policy Summit and Capitol Hill Day will be held in Washington, DC February 9 & 10 and its 2027 Annual Convention will take place September 13-15 in Palm Springs, CA. Visit ccamobile.org and on Twitter/X, @CCAMobile #CCA2026.
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Original text here: https://www.ccamobile.org/2026-annual-achievement-award-winners-announced-at-cca-annual-convention
[Category: Telecommunications]
