Awards
Each year at the annual conference, MECA recognizes outstanding individuals and projects. If you know of someone or some project that deserves recognition, please submit a nomination form which includes a description of the project, person or company's work, the award category, and why the award should be given. For more information, please download the nomination form and the annual awards description.
Congratulations to our past award recipients
2009 MECA Award Recipients
Innovation Award: Dakota County SWCD
Industry Leadership Award: Mat, Inc.
Industry Leadership Award: Blair Jenson, T.A. Schifsky & Sons, Inc.
Industry Leadership Award: Enebak Construction Company
Environmental Excellence Award: Janelle Riley, Syvantis Technologies
2008 MECA Award Recipients
Innovation Award: Stearns County
Industry Leadership Award: Land & Water Magazine
Environmental Excellence Award: TH36 Reconstruction Team
Environmental Leadership Award: Mark Nelson
2007 MECA Award Recipients
Innovation Award: Helen, Kris & Amy, Erosion Control, Inc.
Contractor Excellence Award: Kraemer Trucking and Excavating
Annual Recognition Award: Tom Schueler
Environmental Excellence Award: Emmons & Olivier Resources
2006 MECA Award Recipients
Innovation Award: Brian Wimberger, WIMCO
Industry Leadership Award: Dan Larsen, Brock White
Environmental Excellence Award: Chris Neaton, Neaton Brothers Erosion Control
Environmental Leadership Award: Ron Harnack, Board of Water and Soil Resources
MECA Annual Recognition Award: Jay Michels
Charlie Parnell Memorial Scholarship The Charlie Parnell Memorial Scholarship was established by the Minnesota Erosion Control Association (MECA)
in 2007 to recognize the outstanding work and enthusiasm Charlie Parnell contributed to the erosion and sediment
control and stormwater field. MECA wishes to award this $500 scholarship to an individual who wants to pursue a
degree in civil engineering or natural resources with an interest in erosion and sediment control or stormwater
management. To apply, download the application materials and form. The application deadline is listed in the application materials. The scholarship will be awarded annually. If you have any questions regarding the scholarship program, please contact MECA staff.
Charlie Parnell Memorial Scholarship Recipients
2008 - Micah Meyer, University of Minnesota, Crookston
Natural Resources
2009 - Catherine Bach, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management
In Memory of Charlie Parnell
By Rick Kruger and Dan Larsen
Remember the date. July 12, 2006. Maybe not a 9/11 or a December 7, but a significant date within our industry. For 7/12 is the date we lost a friend, Charlie Parnell, founder of Partek Supply. Our subset of population in the Upper Midwest has several notable leaders-Charlie was one of them.
Although, in Charlie's case, "notable" would be an understatement. His laugh and smile were infectious and engaging. The combination of the two was powerful and very effective on all he communicated with. Contractors and engineers a-like had no defense for this one-two punch. To me, Charlie was a "what if" guy. While most of us accept the norm as being pretty darn good, Charlie would ask "What if?" "What does the customer want that is different, yet better?" "What can I do over here that will save him time and money over there?" There was no scenario Charlie would not give his best effort to find a more logical solution, and he often did.
He thought, he challenged, he succeeded. Charlie knew what the true meaning of "Thinking outside the Box" was.
But, the bacterial infection was too much, even for a man as strong as Charlie. Our industry has lost a great one, but his legacy will live on.
Remember the date. Remember Charlie.
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