ARTBA honored Oberhelman during its annual national convention in Tucson, Arizona. The award was established in 1960 to recognize “outstanding contributions that have advanced the broad goals of the association.”
The award has gone to more than 25 U.S. senators or representatives, several governors, two U.S. secretaries of transportation and “dozens of top leaders and executives from government and the private sector of the transportation construction industry.”
“In volunteer leadership positions, speeches, and media interviews, Doug Oberhelman stands out as one of the business community’s most forceful and articulate advocates on the need for boosting federal investment in transportation infrastructure,” ARTBA President and CEO Pete Ruane says.
Oberhelman was recognized for his role as chairman of the Business Roundtable (BRT) and in the development of BRT’s September 2015 report titled “Road to Growth: The Case for Investing in America’s Transportation Infrastructure,” which ARTBA says “helped keep the heat on Congress to complete action on the December 2015 highway and transit law—the FAST Act.”
ARTBA also recognized Oberhelman for his “distinguished service” and volunteer leadership roles, which includes serving as past chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers. Currently, he serves as vice president of the Wetlands America Trust, is a member of the Nature Conservancy’s Latin America Conservation Council and is chairman of the Easter Seals Foundation of Central Illinois.