IHA names advocacy chief

NAPERVILLE — David Gross will join the Illinois Health Hospital Association as senior vice president of government relations, effective Oct. 3. Gross will lead the agency’s advocacy agenda at the local, state and federal levels on critical issues affecting hospitals and health systems, including sustainable health care funding, access to care, and health care delivery redesign and transformation. Gross served as chief of staff and senior adviser to Illinois Senate President John Cullerton from 2012-2016 before leaving in January to become an independent lobbyist. Previously, he was executive director for governmental and public affairs at Southern Illinois University from 2004-2011, including working with SIU’s two Springfield teaching hospitals. From 1984 to 2004, Gross held several staff positions in the Illinois Senate, beginning in the district office of the late Senator Vince Demuzio of Carlinville. He is a graduate of Illinois State University and received his master’s in public administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield.

MYR Group nets Texas project

ROLLING MEADOWS — MYR Group Inc. has signed a contract with Cross Texas Transmission, an affiliate of LS Power, to construct the new Limestone to Gibbons Creek transmission line, consisting of approximately 68 miles of 345-kilovolt transmission in southeast Texas. The contract is valued in excess of $125 million. Under the contract, The L.E. Myers Co., an MYR Group subsidiary, will provide construction management, material procurement and construction services including right-of-way clearing, environmental controls, foundation installation, structure assembly, and erection and conductor stringing. Construction planning has begun, and construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2016 with scheduled completion in the spring of 2018.“This project, a joint venture between CTT and Garland Power & Light, will ultimately provide much-needed reliability and additional capacity to residents and businesses throughout the Brazos Valley Region and surrounding areas,” said William A. Koertner, chairman and chief executive officer of MYR Group.

Award nominees announced

MCHENRY — The McHenry County Economic Development Corporation announced the nominees for its 2016 Business Champions. In its ninth year, MCEDC recognizes outstanding companies who have made a positive impact on McHenry County’s economy and who are exceptional primary employers. The 2016 nominees are: Division I — Small — less than 24 employees: Crystal Lake Brewery, Crystal Lake; DeMarco Industrial Vacuums, McHenry; Heartland Cabinet, Crystal Lake; Rock Solid Builders, Inc., McHenry; Vo-Tech, Crystal Lake. Division II — Medium — 25 to 100 employees: Burnex Corporation, Ringwood; Chas. Herdrich & Sons, McHenry; Jensen’s Plumbing & Heating, Woodstock; Jessup Manufacturing, McHenry; Miller Formless, McHenry; Rita Corp, Crystal Lake; Serv-All Die & Tool Company, Crystal Lake; Studio 2016/Dougherty Enterprises, Woodstock. Division III Large — Over 100 Employees: General Kinematics, Crystal Lake; JA Frate Companies, McHenry — Over 300 Employees — Centegra Health System, Woodstock; Fabrik Molded Plastics, McHenry; and Follett Solutions, McHenry. The 2016 award winners will be announced at the MCEDC Anniversary Dinner on Oct. 12 by the keynote speaker, Kevin Lobo, chairman and CEO of Stryker Corp. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting MCEDC at (815) 893-0895 or online at www.mchenrycountyedc.com/events.