Construction Writers Association Awards Highest Honors to Longtime Industry Journalist and Retiring Executive Director
May, 2008
(Buffalo Grove, IL) The Construction Writers Association (CWA) has announced it is presenting its highest annual honor, the Silver Hard Hat Award, to Walt Moore, Senior Editor of Construction Equipment magazine, for Service to the Industry, and Sheila Wertz, Executive Director of CWA, for Service to the Association. Both are retiring in the near future. Moore and Wertz received their honors at an Awards Dinner May 1 during CWA’s Annual Meeting April 30-May 2 in Alexandria, Virginia.
Moore has garnered more than 50 journalism awards in his decades-long career at Construction Equipment, which is part of U.K.-based Reed Business. Among his notable accomplishments are creating an outstanding series on Rebuilding America in the 1980s and developing the magazine’s Field Test, in which the suburban Chicago-based magazine conducts the industry’s only independent testing of new models of construction equipment. In addition to his professional accomplishments and technical skill, the award recognizes Moore’s exemplary leadership, mentorship and humanity. An unprecedented nine passionate testimonial letters from members of the construction equipment industry accompanied the nomination.
“We have often referred to Walt as the ‘Godfather’ of our industry, because to us he is the one to whom many turn to for advice, input, clarification and understanding,” said Sharon Holling and Johnny Campos, Corporate Trade Press Relations Managers for Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL, in their nomination of Moore.
Moore’s response to being informed that he was receiving the prestigious Silver Hard Hat Award was typically humble: “I can’t think of a greater honor than to be recognized by one’s peers as having done an okay job.”
Wertz’s award comes as CWA members reluctantly bid farewell to her as she retires after 12 years of service to the association. Since 1996, under her guidance and support, CWA’s membership has quadrupled, from 75 to 300 members, and the budget is now five times larger. She leaves the association in healthy shape and growth mode for her newly named successor, Deborah Hodges.
A background in both magazine journalism and association management made Wertz perfectly suited to CWA, which is the only organization in the industry – and unique in any industry – in which journalists and marketers, who are not natural allies, work together to further the skills, knowledge and ethics of the industry.
“Sheila Wertz has been the heart and soul of CWA for many years,” said Silver Hard Hat Committee Chair Judy Schriener in her nomination of Wertz. “She has kept the organization going, thriving and growing. She has truly been the glue that has held the group together..Sheila does the work of three people, and she’s been just part time for CWA.”
Wertz, when informed that the CWA Board voted unanimously for her to receive the award, said, “I humbly and gratefully accept. I am very honored to receive it.”
The Construction Writers Association was founded in 1958 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008. CWA is a non-profit, non-partisan, international organization for professional journalists, writers, editors, photographers, marketers and publicists serving the information needs of the construction industry. In addition to its journalism, photography, marketing communications and website/electronic communications awards programs, CWA provides educational meetings and networking opportunities for its members. For more information, visit the Construction Writers Association website at www.constructionwriters.org.
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Deborah J. Hodges
Executive Director
P.O. Box 14784
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Telephone 773 687-8726
Fax 773 687-8627
info@constructionwriters.org