J.D. Flaherty accepting
the Pinnacle Award
for Lifetime Achievement
J. D. Flaherty holding the Pinnacle Award for Lifetime Achievement standing beside Richard Hobbs, Executive VP, AGC of Ohio
During the 2014 Build Ohio Celebration, AGC of Ohio President Ed Sellers presented J.D. Flaherty with the AGC of Ohio Pinnacle Award for Lifetime Achievement.
The following is an excerpt of President Seller's speech.
In 2006, AGC of Ohio created the Pinnacle Award to distinguish those who remain active in the association long after serving in a leadership role. It honors people that put self-serving interests aside and work with AGC to benefit the industry as a whole – who epitomize the AGC tenets of skill, responsibility and integrity. The award has only been presented twice since its inception.
This year’s Pinnacle Award winner represents the personification of why this award was created. He is a tireless advocate for AGC and the construction industry, and has demonstrated leadership above and beyond the call of duty for the decades he has been involved with AGC of Ohio.
It is with great honor that we announce the recipient of the AGC of Ohio Pinnacle Award for Lifetime Achievement: J.D. Flaherty, Jr. J.D. has been an unrelenting supporter of AGC since he first joined in the early 1980s. For over thirty years, he has not hesitated to volunteer and get involved in an AGC initiative. He has also held, and continues to hold, many leadership roles for the association.
In 1999, J.D. was the first subcontractor elected as AGC of Ohio’s president. He has continued to serve on the association’s executive committee since then as Treasurer. J.D. is co-chair of the Workforce Development and Scholarship Committee, and participates on the Legislative, Project Delivery Systems and Build Ohio committees. J.D. is also very active in the Central Ohio AGC, serving on its Board of Directors as the longtime treasurer. His work with Central Ohio AGC introduced him to The Ohio State University’s Construction Systems Management program where he now volunteers. Additionally, he is involved with the Central Ohio Builders Exchange and the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
Dedicated to supporting the industry’s future leaders, one of J.D.’s signature achievements is the creation of the AGC of Ohio Education Foundation in 1999. Not only was J.D. the energy behind the creation of the Foundation and its scholarship program, he provided the seed money to start it. He remains actively involved in the scholarship program, and has helped it grow from the initial one scholarship to the twenty-five housed within its auspices today.
J.D. helps guide the OSU Construction Systems Management Advisory Council. He heartily promotes the program and spearheads its marketing efforts. He worked with Central Ohio AGC to establish the first ever endowed scholarship for OSU’s Construction Systems Management program. His commitment to developing new generations of industry leaders can be seen within his own company, Construction Systems. J.D. instituted a phantom stock plan that will eventually transfer ownership and management responsibilities to a group of younger employees. He also considerately places promising, young field employees with experienced superintendents, providing them years of training and guidance. Throughout his career, J.D. has exemplified the AGC tenets of Skill, Responsibility and Integrity. His altruistic determination, enthusiasm and good-natured personality has helped J.D. build support for many initiatives to further the construction industry and AGC.
AGC of Ohio has been fortunate to have his involvement and leadership over the past 30 years, and is honored to present him the third-ever Pinnacle Award for Lifetime Achievement.