In 2024, Indiana Constructors, Inc. (ICI) is marking 100 years of support for the Hoosier highway, heavy, and utility construction industry. From its humble beginnings of 25 member contractors to the 200 diverse businesses that make up the industry today, ICI has played a defining role in the horizontal construction industry.

Throughout its history, the association has gone through several name changes — from the original Indiana Municipal and Highway Contractors Association of Indiana to the Indiana Highway Constructors, Inc. to the Indiana Construction Association and now Indiana Constructors, Inc. — but the mission has remained constant. It promotes, protects, and advances the well-being of Indiana’s civil construction industry.

ICI provides its members with safety services, legislative advocacy, labor relations, member communications, networking events, educational opportunities, and a robust workforce development program. Plugging local road builders into the national industry, the association serves at the Indiana highway, heavy, and utility chapter of Associated General Contractors of America and the Indiana affiliate of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. In addition, ICI is a member of Build Indiana Council, which helps ensure long-term, adequate, and stable funding for Indiana’s system of highways, roads, and bridges.

In 2019, ICI President Richard H. Hedgecock, CAE, developed a Centennial Steering Committee to guide the association’s efforts in recognizing its 100th anniversary.

Members of the Centennial Steering Committee include current and former industry leaders: Don Adamson, Fox Contractors Corp.; Kip Bancroft, West Side Tractor Sales Company; Philip Beer, USI Consultants, Inc.; Jason T. Dapp, Gradex, Inc.; Spencer DePoy, Rogers Group, Inc.; Harold Force, Force Construction Company, Inc.; David Heyde, E&B Paving, LLC; James P. Hughes, Hughes Group, Inc.; Kim Jones, Willow Marketing; Kevin Kelly, formerly Walsh & Kelly; Joseph Leone, Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP; Gene Lindley, James H. Drew Corporation; Cheryl Melancon, The Hoosier Company, Inc.; Derek Merida, Milestone Contractors, L.P.; Terry L. Morgan, HIS Constructors, Inc.; Doug Pierce, Milestone Contractors, L.P.; Larry J. Simons, AssuredPartners; Mark Thompson, Milestone Contractors, L.P.; and Amy L. Zakutansky, Indiana Sign & Barricade, Inc.

ICI’s Centennial Steering Committee developed three foundational concepts for ICI’s centennial: 

• Educate the public about the Hoosier highway, heavy, and utility construction industry
• Celebrate 100 years of association and fellowship
• Motivate people to become a part of the industry for the next 100 years

Once the committee established that foundation, ICI staff set to work gathering information, scanning old documents and photos, creating the ici100.org website, and developing a plan to carry out the committee’s vision.

Key to meeting the educational goal is a strategic partnership with the Indiana Historical Society that includes publication of the book, “Creating the Crossroads: 100 Years of Civil Construction in Indiana,” (available for purchase through the Indiana Historical Society) and production of a digital and traveling exhibit on roads and road building for use by local historical societies, public libraries, and units of government.

To address the second goal, ICI hosted INRoadCon100 at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, where 300-plus industry leaders attended the annual convention that dates back to the association’s founding year. Originally hosted at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis, then later at the French Lick Resort, and now rotating through locations that are warm in the off season, this annual convention provides an opportunity to meet industry colleagues and competitors in a friendly, educational, and entertaining environment.

In 2024, the convention hosted a roaring ‘20s costume welcome party that harkened back to the association’s 1924 founding and a luau-themed sponsors’ party that gave a nod to its 50th anniversary. INRoadCon100 also featured a leadership panel that included 18 of the association’s past Presidents/Chairmen, representing 159 years of board service.

Throughout the year, ICI will host a slew of networking events that will shed light on the organization’s history and build relationships for the future, including golf outings, happy hours, a holiday gala, and more.

To motivate the next generation of road builders, ICI is the presenting sponsor of National History Day in Indiana, offering the Indiana Constructors Centennial Crossroads of America Prize award to a student or group with an outstanding project related to Hoosier highways, roads, or bridges. ICI staff members have been to each regional competition and will be on hand, along with Centennial Chair David Heyde, to award the statewide prize. In addition, Work IN Roads, ICI’s workforce development program, is writing historical lesson plans featuring “Creating the Crossroads: 100 Years of Civil Construction in Indiana,” as well as the IHS Destination Indiana digital journey into its Civil Construction Pathway curriculum for high school students.

Finally, tying all three foundational goals together, ICI will be in this space for the remaining months of its centennial year, sharing stories, photos, and memories of Indiana’s roads and the dedicated and dynamic people who built them. Watch for leadership profiles, industry partnerships, safety innovations, and more.