MMR Receives National Honors from ABC for Project Excellence and Safety

March 10, 2025

BATON ROUGE, LA – MMR was recognized for its exceptional project and safety performance at the 35th Annual National Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Excellence in Construction Awards Gala.

“It is an honor and a direct testament to our workforce to be nationally recognized by ABC for our relentless pursuit of excellence while maintaining an unwavering commitment to safety,” said MMR President/CEO James B. “Pepper” Rutland. “At MMR, safety is at the forefront of everything we do. We are dedicated to upholding the highest standard while remaining steadfast in our mission to provide exceptional value to our clients.”

ABC presented MMR with a Pyramid Award for its work on the ExxonMobil RGCU Compressor Upgrade Project in Baton Rouge, LA, as well as a Diamond STEP Award, presented for exceptional safety practices. In December, MMR’s ExxonMobil RGCU Compressor Upgrade Project also received Excellence recognition by the ABC Bayou Chapter of New Orleans.

ABC’s world-class STEP safety management system awards companies for maintaining exceptional safety standards. MMR’s Diamond Level achievement represents an unmatched level of safety that ranks significantly higher than the industry average.

“MMR exhibits an unrelenting commitment to jobsite safety, and that should be celebrated and honored,” said 2025 Chair of the ABC National Board of Directors David Pugh, partner, Bradley, Birmingham, Alabama. “Their leadership and employees make a choice every day to create a culture that refuses to compromise on safety, relentlessly ensuring every employee leaves the jobsite in the same or better condition every day.”

The ABC National Excellence in Construction Awards Gala celebrates superiority in merit shop construction across the country. The gala, held in Las Vegas, NV, during the ABC Convention, honored the year’s most outstanding construction projects and contractors for extraordinary achievements in leadership, safety, innovation, inclusion, diversity and equity.

Learn more about MMR’s accolades at the ABC Convention below.

Winning Projects:

ExxonMobil RGCU Compressor Upgrade Project, Baton Rouge, LA

Pyramid Award, ABC National

In November 2023, MMR successfully completed the ExxonMobil Refinery Gas Compressor Unit (RCGU) upgrade project in Baton Rouge, LA. MMR was contracted by ExxonMobil to assist in upgrading the power and communications system for the critical RCGU. This unit supports the sitewide Refinery Flare Gas system that is designed to flare any excess waste at the plant, and there are 12 flares on site that directly rely on it.

Scope of work included, but was not limited to power distribution, raceway installation, MMR custom fabricated enclosures, installation of enclosures, instrument and tubing installation, communications equipment installation, cable and medium voltage installation, grounding and light protection, and control systems.

Despite challenges and obstacles, MMR completed the project safely and efficiently in under 12 months.