Northwest Construction launched the Legacy Awards at the 2009 Best of breakfast, to recognize individuals who have made a lasting change in the local construction industry. The 2009 award went to Jack Rafn, Rafn Co., Bellevue, who sat on the original steering committee that contacted Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) National and requested chapter-in-formation status.
Rafn Company lost a job they had been low bidder on, solely because of their open shop status. This discrimination energized Rafn Company and its subs to seek assistance from ABC National. The electrical contractor on the bidding team was an at-large member of ABC. Now the company is a merit-shop general contractor delivering a broad range of construction services and products to the metropolitan Seattle area. The majority of Rafn’s work is negotiated, commercial projects ranging from $1,000 to over $35 million.