Our team recently came together for our 2026 Annual Dinner, a night dedicated to celebrating our people and recognizing another year of accomplishments. We highlighted outstanding work companywide and took time to thank all of our employees for their commitment to serving our customers and supporting one another.
Tradition
Following past years, a key moment from the evening was awarding the 2026 Champions of the Year. These awards were given to employees who have had a meaningful impact on our projects, teams, and communities. Below are this year’s award winners, as well as a little excerpt from their nomination submissions!
Strategic Champion of the Year – Recognition for leading JP Cullen’s strategic initiatives.
Recipient: Andy Books, Director of Preconstruction
Nomination Submission: “Andy has demonstrated exceptional effort while working on a new sales software over the past year. Despite challenges, he overcame these with persistence and played a major role in providing long-term success.”
Whale Hunter Champion of the Year – Recognition for developing strong client relationships and efforts to secure future opportunities.
Recipient: Brandon Tomczak, Project Manager
Nomination Submission: “Brandon has done an excellent job collaborating with key clients and creating a Raving Fan from ProHealth Care. Through his efforts in developing strong relationships through clear communication, he has enabled future opportunities for JP Cullen.”
Preconstruction Champion of the Year – Recognition for contributions to preconstruction services.
Recipient: Brenden Polkinghorn, Preconstruction Manager
Nomination Submission: “Brenden has clearly demonstrated exceptional effort and leadership within preconstruction. Through his knowledge and guidance on high profile projects, he has shown his ability to perform well beyond his role while building trust across teams.”
Process Improvement Champion of the Year – Recognition for showcasing JP Cullen’s process improvement philosophy.
Recipient: Devin Wilson, Carpenter Foreman
Nomination Submission: “Devin has consistently demonstrated a clear focus on improving workflow across various teams and trades on the jobsite. Through a forward-thinking approach, he has reduced inefficiencies and introduced new ways of working at a high standard.”
Support Champion of the Year – Recognition for notable support and team impact.
Recipient: Marissa Gillette, Preconstruction Administrator
Nomination Submission: “Marissa stepped into this role with enthusiasm, and a desire to learn, quickly becoming a key support to the team. Beyond her work, she brought positivity to the team and a willingness to help wherever needed.”
Safety Champion of the Year – Recognition for demonstrating safety leadership.
Recipient: Joe Schwengels, Senior Superintendent
Nomination Submission: “Joe Schwengels has shown what great leadership looks like, in maintaining strong safety culture on a challenging project. Through detailed planning, clear expectations, and enforced accountability, he ensures teams are safe every day.”
Operations Champion of the Year – Recognition for strengthening company operations.
Recipients: Tony Rothschadl, Divisional General Superintendent, Jason Labrinski, Carpenter Foreman
Nomination Submission: “They have shown great leadership and knowledge, while having a meaningful impact across the operations and teams they support every day. Through mentorship and a genuine commitment to guiding others, both of these individuals have gone above and beyond to shape the growth and success of those around them.
Mission Statement Champion of the Year – Recognition for going above and beyond to represent JP Cullen’s mission statement and positively impacting others.
Recipient: Ken Novotny, Senior Superintendent
Nomination Submission: “Ken has embodied our mission statement to its core, demonstrating this in all of his work. His drive for excellence is clear across even the most demanding of projects, including UW Health’s C2 Hospital Expansion, where he has supported growth and development among team members of all experience levels. Through his guidance, he has helped field leaders take on ownership and accountability within their teams. His leadership is rooted in leading by example and demonstrates the values of JP Cullen every day.
As we recognize these individuals, as well as their accomplishments, we are reminded that our greatest strength continues to be our people. Their dedication, leadership, and commitment to our mission are what make JP Cullen successful. Congratulations to all of our Champions of the Year and thank you to every employee for making JP Cullen a wonderful place to work and a trusted partner our customers can count on.
