Columbia, Maryland, April 24, 2008 – The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) has presented its highest honors for innovation in restoration and reconstruction to two member firms. The Phoenix Awards are presented each year to recognize achievement in the areas of restoration and reconstruction. Winning projects exemplify the complement of skills required to restore a project to pre-loss condition.

This year, two projects were recognized from a field of 12. Three-time Phoenix Award winner Kelmann Corporation of Wauwatosa, Wi., won the Phoenix Award for Innovation in Restoration for its work on Saint Patrick Church near Milwaukee. This 114-year-old church suffered an electrical fire, which destroyed most of the basement and first floor. The work required ranged from new electrical systems to stained-glass restoration.

“We are proud to be a member of RIA and humbled to receive the Phoenix Award for the 4th time. We thank and credit God for blessing us with the skilled and dedicated employees that made this possible,” said Dick Niggemann, president of Kelmann Corp.

Crawford, Smith and Sharp, LLC., located in Barlett, Tenn., was the winner of the Phoenix Award for Innovation in Reconstruction. The company was contracted to help reconstruct an apartment building in Nashville that was in danger of collapsing. Building “B” of the Hickory Creek Apartments was built to complement the variation in elevation on the hill where the building was located. Framing issues at the time of construction resulted in the overloading of some piers in a lower corridor, causing uneven settlement that could cause the building to collapse. Crawford, Smith and Sharp corrected the problem by lifting the existing building and permanently securing large portions of the foundation, with minimal displacement to the residents.

“At Crawford, Smith & Sharp, LLC, we have built our business on the cornerstones of integrity, excellence and partnership with our clients,” said Dale Sharp. “We are honored to be recognized for accomplishment in those areas. And we are truly proud to be selected at the international level by a panel of our peers for this year’s Phoenix Award for Excellence in Reconstruction. Thanks to the RIA and the positive impact it has on our industry every day.”