WALL – Utility and Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA) Chief Executive Officer David Rible has been named a 2026 Silver Gull Award Recipient by the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council. The award recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations whose leadership and service have strengthened the economic vitality and quality of life in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

“This is a tremendous honor, especially to be recognized with so many other incredible individuals and organizations,” said Rible. “I am thankful that I have been able to give back, in some small way, to the area where I was born and raised. I would not trade my experiences here for anything and appreciate the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council providing this recognition.”

Rible served as the UTCA’s Executive Director starting in 2019 before becoming CEO on January 1 of this year. In his time at UTCA, he has focused on a variety of issues critical to the industry, including renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund, strengthening the state’s infrastructure and bringing heightened awareness to mental health within the industry. Prior to joining UTCA, he was the Director of the New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC).

In 2007, Rible was elected to the New Jersey Assembly, where he served until 2017. In his decade in the Legislature, he was known for reaching across the aisle to achieve bipartisan consensus on critical issues. Rible was the prime sponsor of bipartisan legislation that reauthorized the state’s Transportation Trust Fund, which pays for critical transportation infrastructure projects.

The Monmouth-Ocean Development Council is a nonprofit business advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the economic health of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The Silver Gull Awards have celebrated excellence across business, government, nonprofit, and community sectors for over 60 years. Rible is being recognized for his work in government relations. Those being honored alongside Rible include:

Economic Development Award: Anna Mayer, Eatontown Industrial Park Association; David Schoner, The NJ Film & Television Commission

Community Service Award: Marilee Pettit, Press Communications; Dr. Pamela Monaco, Ocean County College; and James Davis, FC Monmouth

Nonprofit Award: Interfaith Neighbors

Tourism Award: Jersey Shore BlueClaws

President’s Award: Senator Robert Singer

The honorees will be recognized at the Silver Gull Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 6, at South Gate Manor, 260 South Street, Freehold, New Jersey.

About UTCA

UTCA of New Jersey is a non-profit trade association headquartered in Wall, New Jersey. UTCA represents approximately 1,000 member firms in the public and private sectors, active in all phases of heavy, highway, utility, and marine construction, as well as site work including remediation of brownfields and contaminated sites. For more information, log on to http://www.utcanj.org and follow on Twitter @UTCANJ.