Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry Logo

Our History

AWCI is highly regarded by members of our industry as providing valuable technical and product information, education and training, industry contacts and the collaborations essential to operating a successful business, and is the principal organization advocating the interests of contractors, suppliers and manufacturers in the wall and ceiling industries.

Twenty-six lathing and plastering contractors assembled March 11, 1918, to form the Contracting Plasterers International Association. The founders of this new organization planned for the CPIA to perform two important functions: to establish friendly and cooperative interests among the members and to provide service to the building public.

As time passed, the CPIA would change its name four times to mirror a change in the industry or in the association’s membership. The first name change occurred in 1955. In an effort to oppose any effort to separate the lathing from the plastering trade, the new name became the Contracting Plasterers’ and Lathers’ International Association. In 1969, when the volume of drywall/acoustical tile being contracted by CPLIA members had increased significantly, the association changed its name to the international association of the Wall & Ceiling Contractors. After a successful merger with the Gypsum Drywall Contractors International, iaWCC’s name was changed to a combination of the two merging organizations, iaWCC/GDCI. The two associations consolidated July 1, 1976.

Finally, after the merger had “settled,” the name was changed to the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industries International, and more recently, the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry.

Today, more than 100 years since its founding, AWCI continues to provide benefits for acoustical, ceiling, drywall, EIFS, fireproofing, insulation, plaster, steel framing and stucco contractors, suppliers and distributors, manufacturers and those in allied trades.

Featured Video

AWCI’s 100th Anniversary!

After decades of service, having given out many awards, the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry has achieved a pinnacle of its own. AWCI is 100 years old. Few organizations survive a whole century. So, how did this happen?

One, it was bound to happen. Wall and ceiling construction is a basic service, and always has been. Ancient wall and ceiling “contractors” built the pyramids and the Parthenon. Their modern counterparts, our members, worked on the Chicago Merchandise Mart, the Pentagon and countless other jobs. Despite facing some tough times, our members generally had work.

Two, AWCI filled a need. It was something new under the sun. At AWCI’s birth, in 1918, plasterers had unions. Plastering contractors had local associations. But, to our knowledge, no international plastering contractors’ association had ever existed. The Contracting Plasterers’ International Association, which became AWCI, was a forum for unity and direction. It transformed early 20th century contracting into an industry—setting standards, negotiating union agreements, protecting and promoting the trade. From the start, take-charge folks put AWCI at the highest levels of influence with government and industry. These Web pages will show how it was done.

Celebrating 100 Years of Industry Growth

After decades of service, having given out many awards, the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry has achieved a pinnacle of its own. Today, AWCI is 100. Few organizations survive a whole century. Even fewer thrive. So, how did this happen?

Centennial Book
Travis Vap
Colorado
2022-2023
Shawn Burnum
Kansas
2021-2022
Chip McAlpin
Mississippi
2020-2021
Nancy Brinkerhoff
California
2019-2020
Jerry Smith
Texas
2018-2019
Ed Sellers
Ohio
2017-2018
Mike Taylor
Tennessee
2016-2017
John Hinson
Texas
2015-2016
Scott Casabona
New Jersey
2014-2015
Craig Daley
California
2013-2014
Jeffrey Burley
Florida
2012-2013
Tim Wies
Missouri
2011-2012
Brent Allen
Ohio
2010-2011
Michael Weber
New York
2009-2010
Jim Keller
Kentucky
2008-2009
Kevin Biddle
New York
2007-2008
Michael Heering
Mississippi
2006-2007
Burke Nicholson
California
2005-2006
Bruce Miller
Colorado
2004-2005
Ken Navratil
Ohio
2003-2004
Patrick Boyd
Texas
2002-2003
Lawrence J. Cooley
New York
2001-2002
Mikel Poellinger
Wisconsin
2000-2001
Robert Geyer
Florida
1999-2000
Mark E. Nabity
Kentucky
1998-1999
R. Gabe Reitter II
Ohio
1997-1998
Stephen R. Baker
Texas
1996-1997
Thomas McCartney
New Hampshire
1995-1996
Michael Chambers
Ohio
1994-1995
James M. Cassidy
Illinois
1993-1994
William Bell
Kentucky
1992-1993
Michael R. Boyd
Texas
1991-1992
Steven J. Watkins
Florida
1990-1991
Ronald P. Brady
California
1989-1990
Burton Fisher
New York
1988-1989
William C. Scott
Texas
1987-1988
Jimmie U. Crane
Mississippi
1986-1987
Harry J. Vernetti
Illinois
1985-1986
William A. Marek
Texas
1984-1985
Robert L. Whittle
Missouri
1983-1984
James E. Biddle
New York
1982-1983
Vernon L. Raymer
Colorado
1981-1982
Ray Boyd
Texas
1980-1981
Robert F. Watkins
Florida
1979-1980
John C. Craig
Hawaii
1978-1979
Richard M. Conner
New Hampshire
1978-1979
E.F. Brady
California
1978-1978
Donald J. Chambers
Ohio
1977-1978
Robert S. Mitchell
Colorado
1977-1978
Vito J. Arsena
Ohio
1976-1977
Al J. Ricca
Michigan
1975-1976
Ted J. Vogle
Oklahoma
1975-1976
Herbert Reisenfeld
Ohio
1974-1975
E.M. -Bus- Ratliff
California
1974-1975
Frank J. Krafft
Virginia
1973-1974
Wayne Mullin
California
1973-1974
Edward J. Schalk
New York
1973-1973
Jack D. Dillard
Texas
1972-1972
L. Vernon Cagle
Nebraska
1971-1973
J. Munroe McNulty
Illinois
1971-1971
Mervin A. Smith
Alberta
1970-1971
Thomas J. McGlone
New Jersey
1970-1970
Bill Carroll
New Mexico
1969-1969
Gerold B. Reed Jr.
Massachusetts
1968-1969
Virgil Knotts
California
1967-1968
Jeremiah Burns
New York
1967-1968
James Britton
Colorado
1966-1967
William J. Goodson
Michigan
1966-1967
Robert W. Bolster
California
1965-1966
Max O. Jensen
Washington
1965-1966
John Cather
Florida
1964-1965
George Brueggeman
Texas
1964-1965
Robert L. Maidt
Illinois
1963-1964
C.E. -Doc- Kallem
Illinois
1963-1964
Charles Valdini
New York
1962-1963
John W. Thomson Jr.
Florida
1962-1963
George K. Newman
Illinois
1961-1962
Walter B. Lyle
Ohio
1960-1962
Granville Waggoner
Tennessee
1960-1961
E. Davis McNulty
Illinois
1959-1960
M.R. McColley
California
1959-1960
J. Carroll Duncan
California
1957-1959
Wayne W. Vaughan
California
1957-1959
Loyd G. Peterson
Minnesota
1955-1957
R. Floyd Jennings
Maryland
1954-1955
Terry Blazier
Illinois
1953-1954
Edmond F. Venzie
Pennsylvania
1946-1953
John H. Hampshire
Maryland
1945-1946
Oscar A. Reum
Illinois
1918-1945