The LMCI honored Bob Swanson (one of FCA’s founding fathers) with the “Robert Swanson Award for Leaders Among Management” at this year’s Finishing Industries Forum for his exemplary efforts with the IUPAT Helping Hand Program. After retiring from his position as CEO of Swanson & Youngdale, Bob dedicated his efforts to increasing awareness of mental health and suicide prevention in the construction industry in honor of his son Michael, whom he tragically lost to suicide.

The award is the latest testament to the incredible character, integrity and leadership Bob has demonstrated over his time in the industry. His impact is so great that he’s had multiple awards named in his honor. FCA International renamed its “Distinguished Service Award” the “Robert E. Swanson Distinguished Service Award” in 2008 in recognition of the time and effort he volunteered to better the industry through his leadership.

He won FCA’s Robert E. Swanson Distinguished Service Award for his extraordinary effort and leadership on mental health and suicide prevention in 2018. His tireless efforts of advancing mental health awareness and suicide prevention within the construction industry also helped him be recognized as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota chapter’s 2019 volunteer of the year.

FCA will be eternally grateful to Bob for helping develop and launch our “You’re Not Alone” blog to provide information and resources to help contractors understand that there could be members of their organizations struggling with mental illness, how they can recognize those individuals’ challenges and how they can help. FCA is proud to continue the blog’s mission of ensuring all in our industry know that they’re not alone. Visit www.finishingcontractors.org/preventsuicide to read his blogs.

We congratulate Bob on another well-deserved accolade. Our industry will forever be better thanks to his involvement.

More on the IUPAT Helping Hand Program