2025 December SIDE Award Recipients
Congratulations to Our December SIDE Award Recipients
The SIDE Awards were created to recognize excellence and mastery in Peckham values through both exceptional achievements and everyday efforts. Our members live our values and show up the Peckham Way every day, and that dedication is worthy of recognition. This December we were proud to celebrate several outstanding individuals and a team whose work exemplifies Safety, Integrity, Dedication and Efficiency.
Meghan Meyer, Bryan Truex, Mike Crowley, Rob Smith, Nick Falcone, Mark Pugliese, Chris Carter, Joe Ingardia and Owen Ince were nominated for a SIDE Award for their teamwork, innovation and commitment. Together they successfully retrofitted our Bronx HMA plant to run Stone Matrix Asphalt for a CTDOT job, something no producer in Connecticut had ever done before.
This achievement required months of preparation including new QC certifications, extensive mix design development, material sourcing, the addition of a dust silo and blower system, and learning how to run an extremely challenging material through the plant. Much of this work took place during long overnight shifts, and the testing process alone resulted in many extended nights. Despite the difficulty, the team produced a near perfect mix every night with zero rejections or issues.
Their efforts continued well beyond the initial project. To meet CTDOT requirements, the Pleasant Valley team adjusted their plant to produce and maintain 3/8” material specifications for nearly the entire year. Customer service remained exceptional throughout even when Waters Construction requested production nearly every night of the week. The team coordinated asphalt and dust deliveries at all hours without interruption. As a result, Peckham became the first producer to successfully deliver SMA for CTDOT and Waters Construction considered our mix the easiest they had ever paved. They praised the consistency, professionalism and top tier service from start to finish. This team’s work embodied Peckham SIDE values at every step and set a new standard for collaboration and commitment.
Raven Arana was nominated for a SIDE Award because she truly exemplifies Peckham By Your Side and lives our core values every single day. Managing the Bronx plant, one of our busiest HMA facilities on a very small footprint, is no easy task. Raven handles it with impressive skill and composure. With constant truck traffic and tight maneuvering space safety is always a top priority and Raven excels at keeping operations organized, controlled and safe for everyone on site.
Her communication is exceptional. She remains in constant contact with customers, truckers, NYSDOT and fellow members to keep the plant running as smoothly as possible. Raven has a strong understanding of our products and when something seems off, she acts with integrity, checks details, asks questions, and ensures customers receive exactly what they need. She is forward thinking and dedicated, reaching out in advance for customer schedules so the plant can stay efficient and avoid overloads. Even on the busiest days her professionalism clerk skills and positive attitude help move customers through the process with minimal issues. Raven plays a critical role in keeping one of our most demanding facilities running smoothly and consistently demonstrates the values of the Peckham family.
Kiko Gonzalez was nominated for a SIDE Award because he represents exactly what we want our culture to look like every single day. He brings a positive can-do attitude to every shift and remains committed to safety, production, and service. Whether he is supporting customers, coordinating trucking or jumping in to assist with repairs, Kiko approaches every task with dedication and care.
Recently Kiko took ownership of a customer inquiry regarding asphalt needs and pricing. Rather than passing the call along or providing a generic response, he listened offered solutions and made the customer feel confident that Peckham was the right partner. His professionalism and genuine care secured the work and strengthened the customer relationship. What sets Kiko apart is his desire to continuously improve to support his team and to elevate customer experience. He lives on the mindset that it is never ‘not my job’ and understands that every interaction shapes how customers see Peckham.
Each of our December SIDE Award recipients demonstrates what it means to live our values and deliver excellence every day. Their dedication, mastery and commitment reflect the very best of the Peckham Way and we are proud to recognize their outstanding contributions.