VMW Spirit Award Winners 3rd Quarter 2025

 

This award highlights five nominations that best exemplify each of the core values.

 

Be Professional – Holden Lewis (Golden Triangle)

On his way to work, Holden witnessed a harrowing incident where a Port Arthur police officer was struck by a vehicle and thrown into the air. Holden immediately stopped, called emergency services and rushed to the officer’s side, providing aid and reassurance until first responders arrived. His quick actions and steady presence during a critical moment reflected the highest standards of professionalism and integrity as well as the kind of leadership and character that strengthen our teams and communities.

 

Live Teamwork – Jim Chirdo (Brazos Valley)

Jim is based in the Brazos Valley but has been supporting our Austin team on a project that has grown significantly in scope. When offered the opportunity to return home, he recognized that the project team could still use his assistance and volunteered to stay another two months. This gesture, made in the spirit of living teamwork, was greatly appreciated by the team, especially because it meant keeping Jim away from family and friends longer.

 

Be Passionate – Ben Horton, Emmanuel Mena, Jordan Salazar (South Texas)

One of our projects in Corpus Christi involved the placement of concrete silos scheduled as a 24/7 operation for approximately 10 days, including the Fourth of July, with well over 100-plus workers onsite daily. The project team, led by Ben, Emmanuel and Jordan, rotated shifts day and night to ensure the appropriate coverage for the silo pour. Although the silo contractor started to encounter issues about halfway through the pour, which caused a delay, the team continued to stay on top of site operations and ensured the silos were completed successfully and safely.

 

Build Trust – Saul Rojas Chavez and Jaime Castro Oviedo (Houston)

While operating an excavator in a public park, Saul and Jaime responded quickly when a mother and her child entered the active work zone. Recognizing the immediate safety risk, Jaime signaled Saul to stop, and Saul safely escorted the mother and her child out of the area. Saul and Jaime then respectfully explained the dangers of being in an active construction zone, turning a safety hazard into a learning opportunity. The mother explained that her daughter has a passion for heavy machinery and hopes to become an operator one day. They were then able to observe from a safe distance, outside of the construction area. Saul and Jaime’s proactive approach and professionalism kept everyone safe and built trust with the public.

 

Think Like an Owner – Matthew Thorne (North Texas)

Soon after joining the SpawGlass-North Texas Building Services team, Matthew took on a challenging assignment at a high-security site. While this involved an extensive daily commute, he accepted the role with a positive attitude and maintained strong communication with trade partners and stakeholders. His leadership and attention to detail earned praise from both the client and campus owner, making a strong impression on his first project with our team.