Butch Ames Wins DCTC Advocacy Award

Butch Ames
DCTC President Ron Thomas, Ames Construction CEO Butch Ames and Ames Superintendent Bob Dellwo reviewing Ames Field plans

Ames Construction CEO recognized for supporting technical education

Raymond “Butch” Ames is the winner of the 2012 DCTC Advocacy Award, a recognition bestowed annually by Dakota County Technical College. Ames traces his start in the construction industry to 1963 when he joined his brother Dick Ames and founded Ames Construction. Today, Ames serves as president, CEO and general manager of a nationwide full-service, heavy civil and industrial general contractor with more than 2,500 employees and corporate offices in Minnesota along with regional offices in several Western and Midwestern states.

Butch Ames has built a lifetime of experience managing the overall direction of a family-owned enterprise ranked as one of the premier large contractors in North America. Ames Construction is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2012, and its CEO credits much of his company’s success to working hard in a team setting, an approach that makes Ames Construction more efficient, versatile and profitable. That success allows the company to purpose valuable resources back into employee families and communities as well as charitable organizations. Ames Construction has enhanced the quality of life for millions of people through transportation infrastructure, clean water delivery, and housing, commercial and industrial development. That vast output of work will benefit generations far into the future.

Ames with fellow Blue Knights Hall of Fame members, Sheena Henry and Joe LucasOver the years, Ames has proven an extraordinary advocate of technical education as well as a great benefactor to DCTC and the campus community. Ames Constructionsupports the college mission, “Education for Employment,” by hiring DCTC graduates and providing equipment to DCTC instructional programs. Ames was honored with the DCTC Advocacy Award at the college’s first-annual True Blue Gala, which was held April 19, at Brackett’s Crossing in Lakeville, Minn. The event raised funds for DCTC student scholarships.

Ames was inducted into the Blue Knights Hall of Fame at Blue kNight Gala in November 2011. He joined former soccer midfielder, Sheena Henry, and former baseball shortstop, Joe Lucas, as one of the Hall of Fame’s first three members.

Butch Ames | Ames Construction CEOAmes Construction has also provided tremendous in-kind service—earthmoving, site preparation, skilled labor—for two state-of-the-art sports facilities on our Rosemount campus: the Ames Soccer Complex, completed in fall 2009, and Ames Field, scheduled for completion in spring 2012. The total donation in terms of time, equipment, planning and manpower amounts to a sum approaching $3.25 million.

DCTC President Ronald E. Thomas, Ph.D., applauded the selection of Ames for the Advocacy Award, noting that Ames, his company and his workforce bring world-class dedication and expertise to all their projects. Thomas also reported that DCTC works to fill the state’s skills gap by training superb entry-level technicians in the college’s Civil Engineering Technology and Heavy Construction Equipment Technology programs.

“As an industry leader and pioneer, Butch oversees huge projects across the country,” Thomas said. “He  understands the critical importance of technical education. The college’s partnership with Ames Construction represents the best possible collaboration between industry and higher education.”

Ames Soccer Complex Gallery

Ames Field Gallery

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For more information about how to support DCTC academic programs and student scholarships, contact:
  • Tharan Leopold
    Executive Director of Foundation and Alumni
    651-423-8293
DCTC Operations Director Paul DeMuth, Ames Superintendent Bob Dellwo, Ames CEO Butch Ames