Jim Grabau honored as “Build Iowa” award winner by the Master Builders of Iowa

The Master Builders of Iowa awarded the “Build Iowa” award to James Grabau at a reception at the Polk County Convention Center on February 2, 2009.  The “Build Iowa’ award was initiated in 1989 as a vehicle to honor one Master Builders member each year and to bring attention to excellence in the construction industry.  The award is presented to an honoree that best exemplifies the tenets of the organization: Skill, Responsibility and Integrity. 

Nominees are judged on contributions to the construction industry, contributions to their own community and professionalism in their business dealings.  Grabau served as the president of R. H. Grabau Construction, Inc. in Boone from 1984 to 2010.  In Boone, Grabau has served as President of Boone’s Future, The Chamber and Boone’s Industrial Development Corporation. He has served on the boards of the Boone County YMCA and the Hawkeye Federal Savings Bank.  He received the Al Kinney Award for distinguished service in the Boone Jaycees, the DMACC Alumni Award, the National Leadership Award presented by the National Republican Committee and served as a global ambassador for the Rotary Group Study Exchange to Australia.  He has also served as a Church Elder and Chairman of the Congregation of the Trinity Lutheran Church.

Grabau served as the President of Master Builders of Iowa in 1987 and during his tenure the MBI was awarded the Chapter of the Year/Chapter President of the Year by the Associated General Contractors of America. He has also served as Chairperson of the Insurance Committee, the Manpower, Training and Education Committee and the Governmental Affairs Committee.

--2007 Masters Award--

R.H. Grabau Construction project wins Masters Award

  The Dobson Organ Building addition in Lake City, Iowa was awarded the Masters award for projects under $1 million at the Master Builders of Iowa Annual Convention held in Des Moines Feb. 8 at the Des Moines Convention Center.
  The award recognizes the planning and building process it takes to take a building project from its planning stage to finished construction.  It recognizes the teamwork involved including the planning stage, design stage, budgeting, as well as the actual construction of the project.
  Dobson Organ Company located in Lake City produces high-end cathedral style pipe organs for cathedrals and churches throughout the United States.  Grabau Construction was selected to do the planning and design work as well as the construction of an addition to their shop facility. Construction began in the spring of 2007 and was completed in the early fall.