The International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), an association in the concrete industry devoted solely to repair and restoration, recently revealed the winners of its first 40 Under 40 Award. Western Specialty Contractors announced that Minneapolis Assistant Branch Manager David Grandbois, 31, was among the announced winners.

“I am extremely appreciative and humbled to receive this award. It is very gratifying to be a part of a volunteer organization for so many years and to receive an award like this,” said Grandbois.

The prestigious award recognizes 40 individuals who exemplify dedication to the concrete repair industry. A peer nominated award, the ICRI 40 Under 40 recognizes individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to continued professional growth, high potential for continued success in leadership roles, and a strong passion for — and commitment to — the mission of ICRI.

Grandbois is the 2020 immediate past president of the ICRI Minnesota Chapter. He has been a member of the ICRI chapter since 2015, having previously served on the chapter’s education committee, then as its vice president, and its president in 2019. His goals and accomplishments with ICRI have not gone unnoticed by his peers.

“My main goal during my 2019 presidency was to increase our point value in the chapter awards form and win ‘Chapter of the Year.’ We increased our point total by almost 20% from the previous year,” said Grandbois. “I am hopeful that this will help propel us to the top. The main contributor to this was the addition of local chapter awards, which was a new thing our chapter added in 2019. Personally, I wanted to achieve better leadership traits to help further my career, and what better way to do that than to lead a group of volunteers.”

Grandbois started his career in construction as a civil construction management engineer for Kiewit in Omaha, Neb. before accepting a project manager position with Hans Hagen Homes in Fridley, Minn. He joined Western Specialty Contractors’ Minnesota Branch as a project manager in 2015 where he held the position for nearly five years before being promoted to assistant branch manager in February 2020.

Grandbois has a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Minnesota State University, Moorhead. He is also a certified concrete surface repair technician — tiers 1 and 2 through ICRI and an associate constructor through the American Institute of Constructors. He has also achieved OSHA 30 certified training.