Rice Earns Prestigious National Credential for Construction Leadership

Rice is again an Accredited Quality Contractor

This is the second year in a row that Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has named Rice as an Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) company. Earning Rice the prestigious credential for its commitment to corporate responsibility.

Only 832 of the nation’s elite merit shop construction contractors earned the credential in 2025.

Established more than three decades ago, ABC’s AQC credential provides recognition to industry-leading construction firms that have documented their commitment in five areas:

Quality
Health and Safety Performance
Talent Management
Craft and Management Education
Community Relations

“Earning the AQC credential for a second year is a reflection of the standards our team holds itself to every day,” said Chris Rice, President/CEO of Rice Companies. “This credential is so much more than only quality. It’s a commitment across our company to build better and be better for each other and our communities. We’re proud of the work our team puts in to take care of each other, serve our clients and make a positive impact in the communities where we live and build.”

In earning the AQC credential, each member company commits to industry-leading health and safety by achieving the Gold, Platinum or Diamond level in ABC’s STEP^® Health and Safety Management System. Established in 1989, STEP provides contractors and suppliers with a robust, no-cost framework for measuring safety data and benchmarking with peers in the industry, with top performers achieving incident rates nearly seven times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average.

“This industry-leading construction company is among an elite group of contractors, proving they are an employer of choice, provide immense value in the marketplace, prioritize health and safety, and curate an outstanding company culture,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and CEO. “The team at Rice Companies puts in the dedicated work and makes the daily decisions that set the standard for health and safety, culture, workforce development, innovation, market-based compensation, benefits and quality in the contracting community. This credential is also backed and validated by clients and third-party references. Congratulations to Rice Companies for earning this prestigious credential and thank you for being a trusted, respected and transformational leader in the construction industry.”

Reaccredited annually, AQC members also make the following pledge: As an Accredited Quality Contractor, our company is committed to providing our clients with the highest-quality construction services, and we care deeply about our employees and the communities in which we build. We are proud to be part of the construction industry and are dedicated to the principles of free enterprise. We commit ourselves to serve our communities and to provide our employees with the skills they need to work safely and productively in order to meet the needs of our clients.

AQC is recognized by the Construction Users Roundtable, an organization founded by leading construction project owners, and AQC members are eligible for ABC’s Top Performers lists, which rank contractors based on work hours.

To learn more about AQC and see the full list of accredited quality contractors, visit abc.org/aqc or utilize the ZIP code finder tool. ABC members have exclusive access to the list of Accredited Quality Contractors and more on FindContractors.com.