June 19, 2026
At T.W. Frierson, our mission is to “create a foundation for people to thrive.” We are committed to showing up for our employee-owners, our jobs, and our partners. That commitment was recently recognized when Innovative Captive Strategies (ICS) named T.W. Frierson the recipient of their 2026 ICS Innovator Award.
ICS is an Iowa-based captive insurance management company that has been doing business boldly since 1999. Their Innovator Award was established to highlight the groundbreaking efforts of captive members who are actively working to strengthen safety, manage risk, and drive meaningful innovation within their organizations. Award categories span safety enhancements, technological advancements, employee engagement and retention, sustainable practices, and process improvements, recognizing that innovation shows up in many forms.
At T.W. Frierson, innovation shows up everywhere.
A Safety Record That Needs No Explanation
While our safety record speaks for itself, safety isn’t just a number, it’s a way of life. In 2025, we logged over 366,000 hours and ended the year with zero recordable incidents. That doesn’t happen by accident.
Before employee-owners and subcontractors set foot on a jobsite, they complete a job-specific safety orientation with our Safety Manager and Superintendent. From there, every day begins with a safety debrief. This daily practice keeps safety top of mind from the first moment of the workday. Each month, we celebrate safety with a lunch to discuss relevant topics, share lessons learned, and reinforce our shared commitment to going home safe.
Our Construction Safety Advancement Program (CSAP) structures the onboarding of every new employee-owner. During their first 90 days, new hires wear a yellow hard hat, allowing tenured team members to identify them from a distance and offer mentorship when needed. During this period, they complete MEWP and Fall Protection certifications, weekly audits, Job Safety Analysis, Toolbox Talks, and OSHA 10 training. Any safety violation resets the clock. Upon successful completion, employee-owners receive their CSAP Certification and a standard white hard hat.
Safety doesn’t stop at the jobsite. Each month, our safety committee, made up of both field and office employee-owners, meets to review incidents, discuss new equipment, and stay ahead of emerging trends. The committee has identified and addressed several key issues including training opportunities, setting expectations with subcontractors early, employee-led jobsite audits, peer group benchmarking, increased safety communications, and implementing new policies that make our jobsites safer.
T.W. Frierson also communicates monthly through safety emails and our Safety Spotlight podcast, keeping every team member informed regardless of role or location.
Body, Mind, and Spirit
We believe that safety starts at home. Employee-owners who show up to work tired, stressed, or distracted are more likely to make mistakes. While we can’t erase stress, we have worked hard to implement services designed to support whole-body health. Through chaplain services, First Stop Health, and Reboot Recovery, we give our people access to the mental health and wellness resources they need, because when people are well, they work safely.
We also recognize that rest is part of safety. After eight years of continuous employment, employee-owners are eligible for a fully paid 30-day sabbatical, offering an opportunity to step away from daily responsibilities and recharge. In addition, T.W. Frierson has added an additional five days of PTO for our hourly field employees and 60 hours of inclement weather pay, and continues to close operations for a full week during the Christmas holiday, ensuring our workforce stays rested, recharged, and ready. These benefits also contribute to employee-owner retention. We maintain a lower-than-average turnover rate and take pride in our high number of long-tenured employee-owners.
And when life gets hard, we show up. The Joe Street Care Fund provides emergency financial assistance to T.W. Frierson employees and their families during unexpected hardships. Employee-owners can apply completely anonymously, creating space for support without embarrassment or judgment.
Building With the Future in Mind
Innovation isn’t limited to safety and training, it’s part of everything we do. Our Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) capabilities allow us to identify and resolve potential issues before they ever reach the field, reducing risk before the first shovel hits the ground. (Interested in learning more? Check out “VDC: Solving Problems Digitally Before They Reach The Jobsite” by Matt Jacobson.)
On the jobsite, we utilize thermal drone imaging, robotic total stations, and more. We partner with Epicore Biosystems to help keep our people hydrated through real-time data and dehydration notifications. Recently, we introduced exoskeletons, wearable support systems that assist with heavy lifting and repetitive motion, helping reduce the risk of injury and physical strain.
More Than an Award, A Reflection of Our People
We’re honored to be recognized alongside some of the construction industry’s most forward-thinking companies, and we’re grateful to ICS for championing the kind of innovation that protects people and strengthens the industry as a whole.
This recognition belongs to every member of the T.W. Frierson team. We’re proud of the company we’ve built, and we’re committed to raising the bar every single day.
