CASF Makes Big Donation to Charities; Contractor Goes Solar

The Construction Association of South Florida raised roughly $100,000 for Junior Achievement and Children’s Aid Club, while Willis A. Smith made the commitment to go solar and save money.

CASF Raises $100,000 at Charity Golf Classic

The Construction Association of South Florida raised an estimated $100,000 at its recent annual Charity Golf Classic, held at the Fort Lauderdale Country Club in Plantation, Fla.

From left: Mike Fee, Harley Miller, Marc Plancarte, Jeffrey Slade participated as volunteers for CASF’s recent annual golf tournament. The event raised approximately $100,000 for South Florida organizations. (Photo courtesy CASF)

Approximately 250 individuals from the South Florida construction industry participated in the day’s activities, which in addition to golf included an awards dinner, raffles and silent and live auctions. All proceeds equally benefited Junior Achievement of South Florida and The Children’s Aid Club.

“This annual golf tournament feels like a family reunion,” said Melissa Aiello, president of Junior Achievement South Florida. “They are serious about having fun, producing a terrific day for participants, and helping make a difference in Broward County and throughout South Florida.”

“It is overwhelming how generous all of the CASF members have been, not to mention all of the time and effort they have put into the tournament. It warmed my heart how generous everyone was this year, especially given the economy,” said Louise Proffer, president of The Children’s Aid Club.

“Even in a tough economy, our event is an example of how much the construction industry can positively affect the lives of thousands of individuals,” said John Siegle, executive vice president of CASF. In the last five years, the association has raised more than $495,000 for local charities.

Willis A. Smith Construction’s Headquarters Goes Solar

The newly constructed headquarters building of Willis A. Smith Construction, a Sarasota, Fla.-based general contractor, utilized the services of Brilliant Harvest of Sarasota to install solar photovoltaics to the facility’s roof.

David Sessions, president of Willis A. Smith Construction, said he expects to save about $2,500 per year, with the system paying for itself in about 4 years. The system should eliminate 24,000 pounds of CO2 per year.

The solar photovoltaic array at the headquarters building in Lakewood Ranch will consist of 60 silicon solar panels, each producing 205 watts of DC electricity. The panels are connected to a grid-tied power inverter which feeds AC power to the building.

RS&H Named Florida APWA’s Consultant of the Year

RS&H was named the Florida Chapter of the American Public Works Association’s “Consultant of the Year in Roads and Highways.” RS&H was recognized for saving the Florida Dept. of Transportation nearly $15 million on the widening of Ulmerton Road, while also providing a solution for an adjacent trail project that saved Pinellas County nearly $1.5 million.

By changing the alignment of Ulmerton Road between U.S. 19 and 49th Street North, RS&H cut FDOT’s right-of-way costs by nearly $15 million. The team also coordinated with Pinellas County, which planned a pedestrian bridge within the limits of the project at the Progress Energy Trail extension’s crossing of Ulmerton Road and the Cross Bayou Canal. By incorporating pedestrian access into the design of the widening project, RS&H saved Pinellas County approximately $1.5 million.

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