The Georgia Utility Contractors Association Inc. presents the Golden Shovel Legislative Service Award once a year to the Georgia state representative or senator who exemplifies character and initiative to help make productive changes to improve the quality of the environment, stimulate the economy, provide jobs and play an integral role in passing favorable or opposing oppressive legislation that affects the utility construction industry. This year Sen. Ross Tolleson was instrumental in introducing and passing SB 122 which helps provide investments for water infrastructure and in turn will help create utility construction jobs and address Georgia’s water needs.

This award was presented during the 2011 GUCA Annual Conference, June 17 to 19, 2011, at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, Fla. Tolleson was the keynote presenter during the Saturday Awards Breakfast where he highlighted the benefits and ramifications of SB 122 and spoke on Leadership Skills.

Tolleson stated: “This bill is entirely about local control. It simply gives local governments another tool to finance an infrastructure project to meet that community’s water needs. The Water Supply Act complements the conservation bill we passed last year and puts Georgia on the path to ensuring we can maintain the water resources needed to keep up with a rapidly growing state.”

Tolleson was elected to the Georgia Senate in 2002, where he has served nine years representing Georgia’s 20th District.

He serves as the chairman of the Natural Resources and Environment committee, serves as a member of the Rules, Appropriations and Transportation committees and is an ex-officio member of the Regulated Industries committee. He is a financial advisor for UBS Paine Webber in Macon, Ga. Tolleson and Lowell Shepley are the founding partners of the Shepley Tolleson Financial Group.

Tolleson was a founder of Crossroads Bank of Perry, Ga. which was chartered in 1986. He served on the board of directors for 12 years. He presently serves on the board of directors of Security Bank of Houston County. He is a member of the Perry Chamber of Commerce and was a former director of the Chamber Board. Tolleson also served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Westfield Schools in 2000-2001.

Georgia Utility Contractors Association Inc. is a non-profit state trade association located in metro Atlanta. Representing more than 300 utility contractors and affiliated firms statewide, GUCA members provide the materials and workforce to build and maintain the state’s network of water, sewer, gas, telecommunications and other utility systems.

For more information, visit www.guca.com.

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