Commercial construction icon and retired president of Harbison-Mahony-Higgins Builders Inc., David M. Higgins Sr. has been named the 2009 Sacramentan of the Year by the Sacramento Metro Chamber.

Higgins, who retired in 2003 from HMH, will receive this lifetime community award Friday, Feb. 5, at the Metro Chamber’s 115th Annual Dinner & Business Awards at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento.

A native Sacramentan, Higgins has dedicated his life’s work and philanthropy to the region. He has been actively involved in the leadership of HMH Builders, a general building contractor, for more than 40 years. During that time, he advocated for quality growth, most recently as past president of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO).

2007 Sacramentan of the Year Dave Lucchetti, CEO of Pacific Coast Building Products, called Higgins an “icon” in the region’s commercial construction business.

“He is well respected for the outstanding restoration of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament—one of our region’s landmark and historic buildings,” Lucchetti said. “He was in charge of that and they did a fantastic job.”

Higgins also has been widely recognized for his local charitable endeavors, including longtime support of Jesuit High School. In addition, support of health programs, social services, the arts and youth activities is a continuing commitment for HMH Builders to this day.

The Metro Chamber will also honor Chairman & CEO of Waste Connections, Inc. Ron J. Mittelstaedt as Businessman of the Year and CEO of VIP – Visionary Integration Professionals – Jonna Ward as Businesswoman of the Year. These awards are given annually to recognize contributions to the growth of an enterprise over a five-year period.

Mittelstaedt founded Waste Connections in 1997. When he took the firm public the following year, it had approximately $40 million in revenue and about 400 employees. Today, the Folsom-based company serves about 2 million business and residential customers throughout 26 states, employs nearly 5,400 and has reported revenue of more than $1 billion.

Ward started VIP 12 years ago out of her spare bedroom and has grown it to be not only the largest woman-owned businesses in our region, but one of the fastest growing businesses in the country—making the Inc. 500 list for the past two years running.

The Metro Chamber distinguished business awards recognize business people for their civic, industry and entrepreneurial contributions to the region. Awards will be given in nine categories at the 2010 event. They also include:

AL GEIGER MEMORIAL AWARD
—Robert V. Tobin, MPA, President & CEO, Cottage Housing Inc.

PETER McCUEN AWARD FOR CIVIC ENTREPRENEURS
—Rick Fowler, President & CEO, The Community College Foundation

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
—Mulvaney’s B&L

BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
—Centennial Inductee: Lionakis
—Hall of Fame Inductees: Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard, Owen-Dunn Insurance Services, SAFE Credit Union and Western Contract

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
—Martha Clark Lofgren, Partner, Brewer Lofgren LLP

AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR
—Steve Raymond, Advisor, 20/20 Financial Advisers

The Annual Dinner will also pay tribute to the leadership of outgoing chair of the board, Linda Cutler of GenCorp Inc., and welcome the 2010 chair, Randy Sater of StoneBridge Properties.

Tickets are $155 for Metro Chamber members and $225 for nonmembers and can be purchased online at metrochamber.org or by calling Chantal LeFevre at 916-319-4260. Sponsorship opportunities are available. To secure your sponsorship, contact Susan Harris at sharris@metrochamber.org or 916-321-9144.