2025 LITE Award Winners Announced

Congratulations to our 2025 winners!  They were nominated by leadership and celebrated last week at our annual Spring Kick-off event.  These team members define what it means to show up to work each day and lead by example. 

Legacy – Oscar Chavez, Operator, Cary 

Oscar brings more than two decades of experience at Faulconer to the job site every day. A mentor to new employees, Oscar regularly and respectfully shares lessons he has learned over time and always strives to get things done right the first time. 

Legacy – Ryan Howell, Assistant Superintendent, Charlottesville 

Ryan has methodically worked his way up the ranks at Faulconer, from pipe layer to foreman to his current role as Assistant Superintendent – to which he was promoted last year. Ryan is known for his incredible attention to detail and his ability to take on tough challenges, leading him to serve as the primary supervisor on the highly technical McIntyre project at UVA. He’s proof that through a career at Faulconer, living up to our values leads to great things. 

Integrity – Kevin Strickland, Operator, Coastal 

While only joining Faulconer in 2023, Kevin has already made a big impact. He is reliable no matter the task at hand – working on the pipe crew or grade crew. He’s eager to learn, always listening, and is often the last one on the job making sure others finish strong.  

Integrity – Jacob Walker, Concrete Finisher, SWVA 

Jacob is humble but assertive, showing respect for others while asking the tough questions to ensure that work is done right down to the smallest detail. He is known for stepping up in a number of roles, being willing to travel, and delivering whether the job is his specialty of concrete carpentry and finishing or as a utility player.  

Team – Arden Harner, Mechanic, Shop 

Over the course of more than 25 years of service, Arden has served as a leader and a mentor in the Shop. But, it doesn’t stop there. Arden helps spark innovation that leads to production and profitability gains in the field, such as the offroad truck pipe hauler at JRWA, the alterations to the Marooka track truck for Rocky Forge, and modifying a John Deere to haul pipe at AWS. He’s as dependable as a Swiss watch and appreciated by many. 

Team – Kevin Meadows, Foreman, SWVA 

Kevin leads by example, always doing the right thing, and never being the weak link. It’s noticed by our team, and it’s noticed by project owners. Kevin is well-rounded, well-respected, and can be counted on at a moment’s notice. 

Excellence – Ryan Boston, Rental Coordinator, Shop 

Ryan has owned his responsibilities since the day he started, working at a project level to see every job succeed and maximize profitability, and at a company level delivering the same level of service across every area. Ryan has a very bright future – we hope he’s just getting started with Faulconer. 

Excellence – Bernard McMillan, Assistant Pipe Foreman, Charlotte 

Bernard has taken his work to another level in the past year at a critical time for the Charlotte operation. After working on a pipe crew, Bernard expressed interest in moving up within the company. He attended Faulconer Academy classes, and put that training to use in the field, both in terms of how he performs his work and how he interacts with team members and others on the job site. 

Safety – Mauricio Carbajal, Operator, Cary 

Mauricio is a very cautious and detail-oriented excavator operator. He starts every task by identifying potential underground utilities and surrounding hazards. While he is a “fast and smooth” operator, Mauricio always ensures that people working with him on the ground are in the correct spots and out of harm’s way. 

Safety – Greg Sabean, Assistant Superintendent, Charlottesville 

Greg is a real professional and an emerging leader, especially when it comes to safety. Working in a tough environment, Greg has navigated multiple situations with professionalism involving the use of Stop Work Authorization and responding positively to project owner feedback. In other words, he knows how to handle pressure and keep everyone safe.