Allen Named to 2007–2008 AWCI Executive Committee
C. Brent Allen, vice president of sales and engineering at South Texas & Lone Star Drywall, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, was appointed to the Association of Wall and Ceiling Industry’s Executive Committee as its secretary during last month’s Industry Executives Conference & Committee Week in Colorado Springs, Colo. His term begins July 1, 2007. Currently serving the AWCI board of directors as an ex-officio as the chairman of the Construction Technology Council, Allen will work his way up through the chairs of the Executive Committee to become AWCI’s president on July 1, 2010.
In addition to the above, Allen is an original and current member of the EIFS Curriculum & Examination Committee for the EIFS—Doing It Right education program, a part of the Expert Oversight Group for the Steel—Doing It Right education program and the sole contractor liaison to the American Iron & Steel Institute’s Committee of Framing Standards for their Code of Standard Practice for Cold-Formed Steel Structural Framing.
“First and foremost, I am extremely honored and somewhat humbled by this appointment, and I embrace the opportunity to serve the construction and wall and ceiling industries. I am most excited about such a position enabling my personal and our corporate commitment shared with AWCI to better educate and disseminate information in our business,” Allen said.
South Texas Drywall is a founding Lifetime Member of the association, joining in 1956. Contrary to the name, South Texas Drywall has conducted business solely in the Midwest since 1953 when its founder, C.A. LaFon, followed a northern migration of the “wallboard” market from Texas. The company is the past recipient of two Excellence in Construction Quality awards from AWCI.
Beginning a wall and ceiling career with South Texas in 1986, Allen currently oversees all aspects of engineering and technical issues for the company and has headed estimating and sales since 1992. He is an active member of the central Ohio American Subcontractors Association, Associated General Contractors, the Construction Specifications Institute and the Builders Exchange. He is also involved with the Steel Framing Alliance, the local American Institute of Architects and has degrees in civil engineering and construction management.
He and his wife, Cassie, have three teenage children, and are all active in outdoor activities, sports and the arts.
In addition to naming Allen to the executive committee, John Hinson, division president of Marek Brothers Ssytems, Inc. (Dallas), was named to the AWCI board of directors as a contractor at-large, representing the Southwest Conference.
Chris Murphy of Kobrin Builders Supply, Jacksonville, Fla., is the new supplier at-large on the board.
Both will serve three-year terms beginning July 1, 2007.
Conference Attendees Enjoy Blizzard
AWCI’s Industry Executives’ Conference & Committee Week in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the end of October saw rooms filled to capacity during the education sessions, which were about immigration law changes and protecting your assets, your family, your business and yourself from lawsuits. Also, the chairmen of the committees that met during this week all reported good discussions. Highlights include the following:
• The Supplier & Manufacturer Members Committee would like AWCI to collect the best practices for long-term bidding of work. This committee also named USG’s Steve Bjorklund as its 2006–2007 secretary.
• The union craft committees reported that the Painters will be increasing their training programs, and the Plasterers will be equalizing standards across the country.
• The Association Executives discussed how AWCI could track information to improve labor productivity.
• Steve Klamke, executive director of the EIFS Industry Members Association, told the EIFS & Related Products Committee that the results of an independent study regarding the thermal and moisture performance of walls are highly favorable for the EIFS industry.
• Terrie Miller, who heads the AWCI Cares program, spoke to several groups to remind them that grants are readily available for those members who are experiencing hardship.
• In his financial report, Treasurer Jim Keller told the board of directors that AWCI is doing very well. The AWCI Executive Committee will be evaluating new programs to serve the membership.
The first blizzard of the year hit Colorado Springs when AWCI members were gearing up for the Foundation Golf Tournament. But the afternoon was not a total loss: Those who were registered for the tournament were treated to an indoor golf skills challenge that included one-on-one time with The Broadmoor’s golf pros. (Temperatures during the rest of the week and just prior to the blizzard were in the mid-60s, under bright blue skies.)
AWCI thanks its conference sponsors: Aligo, National Gypsum Company, Steeler, Inc. and USG.
