National Academy of Construction Honors Construction Industry Leader

The National Academy of Construction recently inducted William W. (Bill) Brown, chairman emeritus, Ben Hur Construction Company and co-chair of Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust, into its class of 2019 during a ceremony at the recently held NAC annual meeting.

More than 300 construction industry leaders were considered in selecting 39 prominent leaders for the 2019 class. Criteria for selection included leadership, exceptional service, continued commitment to making a contribution, past recognition by peers for innovation and being recognized as “best of the best.” The NAC’s mission is to recognize and honor individuals for their distinguished contributions to the industry and share a reservoir of their expertise as a service to the nation.

NAC recognized Brown for his “influential leadership as an executive in the union sector of steel erection and the lasting impacts he made in innovation, strategic planning and training.”

Brown’s career at Ben Hur Construction Co. began in 1967 after he served in the United States Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve. He was elected company president in 1987 and CEO in 1997. He’s a member of Iron Workers Local 396 (St. Louis, Missouri) and he served on the St. Louis Ironworkers Joint Apprenticeship Committee. He’s the co-chair of Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust. He was appointed to the Associated General Contractors’ Manpower and Training Committee as chairman and served on its board of directors.

President George H. Bush appointed Brown as the vice chairman of the Federal Committee on Apprenticeship. He was later appointed by the Secretary of Labor Robert Reich as OSHA’s Negotiated Rulemaking Committee co-chair. He served as president of the National Erector’s Association and its successor, The Association of Union Constructors.