ABC Honors Jordan Foster Construction with National Health and Safety Excellence Award

The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) recognize Jordan Foster Construction (JFC) with the 2025 National Health and Safety Excellence Award, honoring construction companies that demonstrate industry-leading performance and a deeply embedded culture of safety across their operations. The recognition marks the third time since 2023 that Jordan Foster Construction’s Health and Safety program has received national recognition, reinforcing the company’s long-standing commitment to protecting its workforce deliver dependable outcomes for clients and project partners.

“This recognition reflects the operational discipline that guides our projects across all phases of construction,” said Darren Woody, Chief Executive Officer of Jordan Foster Construction. “Our responsibility extends beyond building projects; it includes ensuring that every individual who steps onto our jobsites returns home safely.”

36th Annual Excellence in Construction Awards Gala — Photo by ABC National

Across the company, JFC’s culture is reinforced through long-term employee relationships and generational trust. Families such as the Votta family in El Paso and the Acuña and Rivas families in Austin represent multiple generations working within the organization, reflecting the confidence employees place in the company’s commitment to protecting its workforce. Operationally, JFC has expanded the definition of a Safety process by creating a common safety leadership language that transforms project execution. Programs such as the company’s Field Safety Leader initiative identifies future leaders and elevates experienced craft professionals to serve as safety advocates within their crews, strengthening peer accountability and real-time hazard awareness on jobsites. Project teams also leverage advanced digital platforms to reduce risk, strengthen knowledge transfer, and improve field communication. The integration of AI enables a shift from reactive safety management to a predictive, data-driven approach. Through the strategic use of data to identify potential risks and reinforce best practices, JFC continues to elevate safety performance, delivering more efficient, effective, and modern solutions aligned with the evolving demands of today’s construction environment.

“Our clients entrust us with complex projects and high expectations,” said Tricia Kagerer, EVP of Risk Management. “When safety is integrated into how projects are planned and executed, it strengthens schedule reliability, quality outcomes, and overall project performance.”

36th Annual Excellence in Construction Awards Gala — Photo by ABC National

Green Pastures has been a fixture of Austin’s cultural and architectural landscape since the late 1800s. Originally built as a family farmhouse in 1895, the property evolved over the decades into a gathering place, a symbol of local values, and one of the region’s most recognizable heritage sites. The expansion honors that legacy by purposefully integrating new construction into the estate’s historic architecture, ensuring it continues to serve the community while adapting to Austin’s ongoing growth.

Executing an expansion of this scale on a historic site required a high level of engineering judgment, planning, and environmental sensitivity. Early in the project, Jordan Foster Construction identified that the existing street utilities, particularly the sanitary and storm systems, were substantially higher than documented, making them incompatible with the city’s updated building codes, requiring the team to lead a complete redesign and replacement of the storm sewer, extending nearly a quarter mile beyond the property. This improvement not only enabled the Green Pastures expansion but also strengthened infrastructure for the surrounding neighborhood, providing long-term community benefits. Jordan Foster Construction’s ability to manage this unexpected challenge, while maintaining alignment with safety standards and project goals, reflects the expertise required on a site of this historical significance.

The completion of the new development reflects the long-standing partnership between Jordan Foster Construction and the property’s ownership group, who have spent nearly a decade planning phased improvements to the Green Pastures campus. With this milestone now in place, planning is underway for future phases, including a forthcoming spa and an additional lodging component expected to begin development in 2026.

Safety Stand Down — Photo by Jordan Foster Construction

In recent years, Jordan Foster Construction has also expand its commitment to safety by integrating mental health awareness and suicide prevention into its core EHS strategy. Through initiatives such as Mind Saver, a CPR-aligned mental health awareness program, and VitalCog, a construction-specific suicide prevention training embedded within OSHA 30, Field Safety Leader, and leadership development programs, JFC equips employees with the tools to recognize warning signs, support one another, and access critical resources. Further strengthening this commitment, JFC has established a dedicated Mental Wellness Manager role to ensure mental health awareness is intentionally woven into all aspects of safety training and workforce development. This holistic approach reflects JFC’s Culture of Care, supporting employees not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally, both on and off the jobsite.

“Safety lives in the daily decisions our teams make from planning work to supporting one another in the field,” said Asma Bayunus, EHS Operations Manager-Mental Wellness Manager. “Through the integration of field engagement, data-driven insights, and mental wellness initiatives, our EHS team is committed to building a culture where every employee feels safe, supported, and empowered to speak up.”

By combining operational discipline, workforce engagement, and technology-driven insights, Jordan Foster Construction continues to strengthen a culture where protecting people supports stronger projects and long-term value for clients. This recognition reflects years of intentional investment in people, innovation, and culture, positioning JFC at the forefront of safety leadership in the construction industry. At its core, JFC’s philosophy is simple: when people are supported physically, mentally, and professionally, stronger teams and safer jobsites follow. Through continuous innovation and a Culture of Care, JFC is not only enhancing safety performance today, but helping shape a more resilient and sustainable future for the industry.

About Jordan Foster Construction

Jordan Foster Construction is a Texas-based construction firm with more than 50 years of experience delivering civil infrastructure, commercial, and multifamily projects across the state. The company’s commercial portfolio includes millions of square feet of completed office, retail, industrial, and warehouse space, as well as the construction of over 22,000 parking garage spaces and more than 30,000 hospitality units. Jordan Foster’s infrastructure work spans extensive TxDOT, federal, and public-sector projects, including the placement of millions of yards of concrete and the installation of elevated concrete decks for highways, bridges, and airfields. In the multifamily sector, the firm has delivered over 80,000 apartment units, 22 HUD communities, and more than 10,000 student housing beds.  Across all divisions, Jordan Foster Construction is recognized as one of the nation’s safest construction companies, known for its technical expertise, self-performance capabilities, and commitment to safety, accountability, and long-term community impact.