Stellar earns ABC quality credential for 12th year

Stellar said Associated Builders and Contractors has again named the Jacksonville design-build firm an Accredited Quality Contractor, marking its 12th straight year with the credential. The recognition highlights quality, safety and workforce development at a time when ABC says only a small share of contractors earn the designation.

Why it matters: - The ABC Accredited Quality Contractor credential signals a contractor has documented strength in quality, safety, talent management and community relations. - Stellar’s 12th consecutive year with the designation reinforces its standing in the merit shop construction market. - The credential can influence client confidence because ABC says it is backed by clients and third-party references.

What happened: - Associated Builders and Contractors again named Stellar an Accredited Quality Contractor on July 14, 2026. - Stellar is an integrated design-build firm based in Jacksonville, Florida. - Stellar said the recognition is the 12th year it has earned the credential. - Stellar Chief Executive Officer Brian Kappele called the 2026 designation a significant achievement.

The details: - ABC’s AQC credential recognizes construction firms that document commitment in five areas: quality, health and safety performance, talent management, craft and management education, and community relations. - Only 832 of the nation’s elite merit shop construction contractors earned the credential in 2025. - AQC members must achieve Gold, Platinum or Diamond level in ABC’s STEP Health and Safety Management System. - STEP was established in 1989 and gives contractors and suppliers a no-cost framework for measuring safety data and benchmarking against peers. - ABC says top STEP performers have incident rates nearly seven times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average. - AQC is reaccredited annually. - AQC members pledge to provide clients with high-quality construction services and to equip employees with the skills needed to work safely and productively. - AQC is recognized by the Construction Users Roundtable. - AQC members are eligible for ABC’s Top Performers lists, which rank contractors based on work hours. - ABC members have exclusive access to the AQC list and related tools on FindContractors.com. - More information is available at the AQC page.

Between the lines: - The award highlights a broader industry push to link project delivery with safety metrics, workforce training and client-facing accountability. - Stellar used the announcement to emphasize its culture of quality, customer service, sustainability and safety. - ABC framed the credential as a marker of an employer of choice and a benchmark for market value, compensation and benefits.

What's next: - Stellar will need to renew the credential annually to keep the designation. - ABC members can continue using the accredited contractor list and ZIP code finder to identify qualifying firms. - Stellar is likely to keep citing the credential in client and recruiting conversations as it competes for design-build work.

The bottom line: - Stellar’s 12th straight ABC quality credential puts the Jacksonville firm in a small national group recognized for safety, workforce development and construction quality.