Last year, Jeff Rullman attended the ABC TOP Performers Breakfast with other TP team members. As he listened to the panelists share insights about their companies, he thought, “We should be doing this for TP.” With leadership’s blessing, he embarked on the labor-intensive task of pursuing AQC accreditation.
The first step to qualifying as a Top Performer was applying to ABC’s STEP (Safety Training and Evaluation Process) Safety Management System. TP participates in this program annually, and in 2024, we achieved Gold status.
Having already achieved Gold status, Jeff tackled the next challenge: earning accreditation from AQC (Accredited Quality Contractor). AQC is one of the most prestigious recognitions in the construction industry, signifying excellence in quality, health and safety, talent management, diversity, education and community relations. The submission process was extensive, requiring Jeff to collaborate with various departments — including HR, Apprenticeship, and Safety — to detail our hiring practices, apprenticeship curriculum, outreach efforts and more.
Extra points are awarded to companies with Excellence in Construction Awards. TP was honored with a 2024 Eagle Award for our exceptional work on CVG 200 & CVG 300, further strengthening our application.
In January 2025, TP proudly achieved AQC accreditation. This milestone made us eligible for the ABC National TOP Performer categories, where we earned:
- #6 Plumbing/HVAC Contractors
- #26 TOP Trade Contractors
- #51 TOP 250 Performers
Jeff Rullman reflected on the achievement: “More important than winning was seeing how many hands come together to make TP great.” Jeff, Jason Finkbeiner and Mike Schneider attended the Top Performer Conference in Las Vegas to celebrate, connect with industry leaders and gain future insights.
A special thank you to Jeff Rullman, Mayur Kadakia, Holly Welch, Mike Schneider, Web Swain, Kelly Wilson and Jason Finkbeiner for their dedication and support throughout this process.
