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Boston – Kaplan Construction announced it was ranked on the Associated Builders and Contractors’( ABC) 2026 Top Performers list, an annual publication established in 2018 that recognizes its contractor members’ outstanding achievements in health and safety, quality and project excellence, ranked by number of hours worked.

“ Being named an ABC Top Performer underscores the consistency and rigor behind our work,” said Nathan Peck, president of Kaplan Construction.“ This distinction reflects our continuing efforts to elevate performance, strengthen safety practices, and enhance the experience we provide to our clients and partners.”

As an ABC Top Performer, Kaplan Construction achieved Platinum status in ABC’ s STEP Health and Safety Management System, which helps the best-performing contractors achieve incident rates nearly seven times safer than the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average, according to ABC’ s Health and Safety Performance Report. Kaplan is also an ABC Accredited Quality Contractor, which is a status that recognizes excellence in quality, health and safety performance, talent management, craft and management education, and

NEHEXPO is the place to make your 2026 buying decisions with hundreds of landscape and hardscape Exhibitors! community relations.“ Contractors like Kaplan Construction— which build the most enduring, innovative, high-quality construction projects— develop smart strategies that create a clear path for success, regardless of the circumstances,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO.“ ABC Top Performers all share commonalities like participation in ABC’ s STEP Health and Safety Management System and ABC’ s Accredited Quality Contractor credential. They find opportunity amid uncertainty, embrace competition, cultivate positive company

Concord, NH – PROCON announced that the Community College System of New Hampshire( CCSNH) will present the 2026 Walter R. Peterson Award for Education and Public Service to the Stebbins family. Business, civic and political leaders will join CCSNH to honor the Stebbins family at Great Bay Community College’ s 80th anniversary celebration, which will be held on the college’ s campus on April 22 at 5:30 p. m.

“ CCSNH is recognizing the Stebbins family for decades of extraordinary service to the Granite State,” said Mark Rubinstein, CCSNH chancellor.“ Their commitment to community, philanthropy and higher education has left an enduring mark on our colleges and countless lives across the state. This legacy is woven into New Hampshire’ s history and continues to strengthen its future.”

For decades, the Stebbins family has supported nonprofits across New Hampshire, including organizations focused on health and human services, youth and family programming, civic life and community development. The family’ s philanthropy has emphasized opportunity and upward mobility, including a long-standing commitment to higher education that helps expand access for students, strengthen learning environments and support institutional growth.

“ On behalf of our entire family, we are deeply honored to receive the Walter R. Peterson Award. This recognition reflects not only our shared commitment to service, but also the values instilled in us over generations and a belief that strong communities are built through partnership, education and caring for one another. We are grateful for the

March 2026

culture, prioritize safety and total human health, invest in leadership and workforce development and implement new technologies. Congratulations to Kaplan for being an employer of choice.”

ABC’ s 2026 Top Performers are presented by Construction Executive, ABC’ s magazine for the business of construction. The Top Performers were ranked by the number of hours worked in 2024, as reported in their 2025 STEP applications. The rankings also include lists of top-performing companies in 19 market segments, such as airports, data centers, education, health care, industrial, infrastructure, military and sports complexes.

Three generations of the Stebbins family, along with state and community leaders, at the groundbreaking of the Mark Stebbins Community Center in Manchester, held in 2025. / Photo courtesy of the Stebbins family

opportunity to continue this work across New Hampshire, and we accept this honor in the spirit of collaboration that Governor Peterson himself embodied so clearly,” said John Stebbins, fourthgeneration CEO of PROCON.

The Walter R. Peterson Award is presented by The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges and recognizes individuals and families who reflect the late governor’ s values, legacy of public service and commitment to higher education. Peterson served as New Hampshire governor from 1969-73 and remained a strong supporter of higher education throughout his life, including as a trustee of CCSNH.

The foundation provides greater access to educational opportunities through financial assistance for student scholarships, program development and facility enhancements across New Hampshire’ s seven community colleges. It also seeks contributions from public and private sources to create scholarships and program partnerships that prepare students for in-demand jobs and help meet workforce needs.

Canton, MA – Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP, an accounting and business consulting firm based in Canton, has been ranked as the 20th largest accounting firm in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal.

The publication’ s annual rankings are based on the size of the firm’ s professional staff in the state and include both independent firms and regional offices of large national accounting firms. Representatives of Gray, Gray & Gray say the firm is committed to remaining competitive amid widespread consolidation in the accounting industry, citing its 80-year history of success as proof, which has manifested itself in the BBJ ranking.

“ By investing in our team’ s growth and fostering a culture of innovation, we’ ve built something that no ranking can fully capture, a firm that genuinely understands the unique needs of those we work with and delivers tailored solutions that drive real results,” said James DeLeo, leading partner at Gray, Gray & Gray.

Gray, Gray & Gray is ranked among the country’ s Top 200 accounting firms by INSIDE Public Accounting magazine, which also named them to their“ Best of the Best” list as one of the nation’ s bestmanaged firms.