ESA South Earns ABC Accredited Quality Contractor Status, Highlighting Commitment to Excellence

ESA South is proud to announce that we have been named an Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)—our first year achieving this distinguished national credential. Only 591 contractors nationwide earned the designation in 2024, placing ESA South among a select group recognized for exceptional leadership, high standards, and corporate responsibility across the construction industry.

The AQC program honors companies that demonstrate a sustained, documented commitment to excellence in five key areas:

• Quality
• Health and safety performance
• Talent management
• Craft and management education
• Community relations

This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team, whose daily commitment to safe practices, high-quality workmanship, and continuous improvement drives our success. 

“Quality isn’t an outcome—it’s a mindset. It shows up in how we plan, how we communicate, and how we hold ourselves accountable at every stage of a project. This recognition affirms the standards our team commits to daily and the pride we take in doing the job right.”
— Sean Harmon, CEO

ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman also praised this year’s Accredited Quality Contractors, stating:

“This industry-leading contractor has proven they not only provide immense value in the marketplace, but they also prioritize their employee’s health and safety, the company culture and their quality work processes and products. The leaders and employees of ESA South put in the work and make the decisions daily that set the standard for health and safety, culture, workforce development, innovation, market-based compensation, benefits and quality in the contracting community. This quality standard is backed and validated by clients and third-party references. Congratulations to this Accredited Quality Contractor; you are a trusted, respected and transformational leader in the construction industry.”

To earn the AQC credential, contractors must demonstrate measurable, company-wide performance through ABC’s STEP® Safety Management System, which evaluates operational discipline, employee engagement, and continuous improvement efforts. ESA South’s achievement reflects the strength of our internal systems—designed to support consistent quality, reduce risk, and ensure reliability across every project we undertake.

This accomplishment marks a meaningful milestone for ESA South. Being recognized as an Accredited Quality Contractor reinforces the values we strive to uphold every day—integrity, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. It serves as a reminder that the work we put into building quality-focused processes, nurturing talent, and refining our craft has a lasting impact on the clients we serve and the communities where we build.