Whaley Construction became the first Pike County business to receive a “Small Business Award” from Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Whaley representatives were invited to attend an award ceremony in Orlando last week, where businesses from across the country were recognized for the honor. But not all of the deserving individuals made the trip, so the group had a celebration of its own earlier this week.

“You avoided it. You tried to stay out of the limelight,” said Alex Whaley II to Charles Ingram, vice president of operations. “That’s where the recognition belongs.”

But even when the “limelight” came to him, Ingram still wouldn’t take much of the credit.

“These are the guys that do the job,” he said pointing to his maintenance crew gathered for the honors.

Mel Schubert, site director of Lockheed Martin’s local operations, said the maintenance crew might as well be a part of their team.

“Without you guys we can’t do what we do delivering…missiles,” Schubert said. “They make sure our facilities are always ready to build.”

Since Whaley Construction Company has had the general maintenance contract for Lockheed Martin, the facility’s monthly completion rate has increased from 70 to 97 percent.

“Whaley Construction exceeded all contract requirements in 2009 with an excellent overall performance,” the recognition letter reads.