In a powerful moment that brought industry leaders to their feet at BUILD26: AWCI’s Convention + Expo, the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI) presented its most prestigious honor, the 2026 Pinnacle Award, to Scott Casabona.
The Apex of Professional Achievement
The Pinnacle Award is far more than a trophy for a successful fiscal year. It represents the absolute apex of professional achievement within the wall and ceiling industry, reserved for those who have spent a lifetime bettering the wall and ceiling community through unselfish dedication of their time, energy, and vision. For Scott Casabona, the chief executive officer of New Jersey-based Sloan & Company, this recognition serves as a testament to decades of leadership and an unwavering commitment to the association.
Support to AWCI
AWCI member company since 1997. | Board member for 5+ years
- 2011–2012: AWCI Board of Directors, Secretary
- 2012–2013: AWCI Board of Directors, Treasurer
- 2013–2014: AWCI Board of Directors, Vice President
- 2014–2015: AWCI Board of Directors, President
- 2015–2016: AWCI Board of Directors, Immediate Past President
- 2015–2016: Past Presidents Committee
- 2025–Present: AWCI Nomination Committee, Chair and Member for several years
- 2012–Present: Carpenters Craft Committee, Chair
The award is unique for its “peer-to-peer” nature; candidates are nominated and selected by a committee of professionals who intimately understand the complexities of the field. Beyond business success, it honors the “whole person,” including character, civic contribution and roles within the recipient’s family man and community.
A Legacy of Service and Leadership
The criteria for the Pinnacle Award are notoriously rigorous, requiring long-term dedication to AWCI, excellence in business management and deep community commitment. Scott has checked every box with distinction:
- AWCI Leadership: A past president of the AWCI (2014–2015), he has served in nearly every executive capacity, including secretary, treasurer and vice president.
- Continued Mentorship: He currently chairs the Carpenters Craft Committee and the Nominating Committee, as well as serving as a member of the Past Presidents Committee.
- Local Industry Leadership: In addition to AWCI, Casabona is a past president of the Drywall and Interior Systems Contractors Association (DISCA), an AWCI chapter.
- Community Impact: He has served for years as a board member for the Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation of New Jersey, co-chairing major fundraisers for families in need.
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats
Peers frequently cite Scott’s “open-door” philosophy and his willingness to share technical expertise for the benefit of the entire trade. “Scott hasn’t just participated in this industry; he has helped shape its future,” noted Mike Taylor, AWCI past president and chair of the Pinnacle Award Committee.
In his acceptance speech, Scott characteristically shifted the spotlight toward the collective. “Receiving the Pinnacle Award is the greatest honor of my professional life,” he remarked, “but the real reward has been the friendships made and the challenges we’ve overcome together as an industry.”
With a reputation as both a premier businessman and a “statesman-quality” leader, Scott Casabona now joins an elite circle of construction industry legends.
