During preparation for Convention this year, it was communicated multiple times regarding seats opening up on the CFA Board of Directors for 2019 – 2022 terms.  A total of five seats became available this year.  

Departing the Board this year were individuals serving a broad range from one term to a whopping six terms. The Board and CFA Staff ask that you join us in congratulating and thanking the tireless service of Chris Ward (Western Forms, 3 years) as National Associate member; along with Doug Doggett (Doggett Concrete, 6 years), Kirby Justesen (SCW Footings & Foundations, 12 years), Mary Wilson (Michel Concrete, 8 years) and Jim Bartley (Bartley Corp, 18 years including Board President).  See the article in this next month’s magazine that talks about these leaders that have helped to shape recent years of success and leave great platforms for the next contributors.

This year, CFA Board President, Phil Marone has given an impassioned plea to those who might feel the time is right for them to participate in new leadership ways. Seven individuals have responded with an interest in stepping into these roles. Four seats will be offered to at-large members, the contractors, consultants and design professionals while one is offered to the National Associate membership category as part of their rotational three seats.

The following nominees have expressed their desire to serve three- or one-year terms depending on their category of membership seat.  In order to help CFA members get to know these persons nominated for these elections, CFA Staff asked each nominee two questions. Below are the profiles and responses to each question for your consideration. The candidates are in alphabetical order by last name within the category of membership seat with At-Large (Contractor) seats first and Associate seats last.

Nominations for At-Large (4 seats)

Shannon Dwinnell – Doggett Residential Services, Charlotte, North Carolina

Joined the company having worked as a project manager for home builders. He now runs the residential division for Doggett Concrete and is an ACI/CFA Residential Foundation Technician.

Shannon Dwinnell – Doggett Residential Services, Charlotte, North Carolina – Joined the company having worked as a project manager for home builders. He now runs the residential division for Doggett Concrete and is an ACI/CFA Residential Foundation Technician.

• What is the number one reason why you would consider serving on the CFA Board?   Education. To educate myself with the collective experience and shared knowledge of the other members. To share my knowledge and experience in building in the Carolinas for the past 20+ years with others. Looking forward to the future and educating the new generations coming up in the trade with classes and training like the Rocky Geans class I attended and other impactful lessons we can hopefully provide to the guys who put their boots on every morning to make it happen out in the field.
• What do you feel you can bring to the CFA Board in your service?  A broad-based experience in the building trade, most of which was in the high-end residential area. My experience has included coastal Charleston building where flood, seismic and wind codes, regulations and ordinances all came into play. The more recent part of my career has been in the Raleigh and Charlotte markets where codes and regulations are similar but not identical. This experience has given me an appreciation for knowing the code and how it can affect our business in the most subtle of ways. I have a curious nature and tend to enjoy asking questions and finding answers. Whenever possible I want to clarify what I have learned and if possible, help change things that can be improved.  Every day I ask myself how do we improve our Safety, Consistency and Profitability?

Tim Eckert – Weber Concrete, Zionsville, Indiana

Has been part of the team at Weber Concrete, a 35-year organizational member, since 2002. Prior to coming to work on the contracting side of the industry he served in the ready mix industry since 1978. He has considerable experience working for non-profit boards including the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (3rd term), Builders Association of Greater Lafayette (2nd term), Indiana Builders Association (8 years), Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation (1st term), Hancock County Builders Council (3rd term) and an appointment to the Indiana Housing Board.

• What is the number one reason why you would consider serving on the CFA Board?  The main reason to serve on the CFA Board is the positive impact one can have on the entire residential housing industry. The foundation cost must be considered in attainable, affordable housing production so more people, families can purchase a new home. Using innovative ideas and collaborating with experienced peers to address America’s housing issues we can have a huge influence in addressing our housing needs.
• What do you feel you can bring to the CFA Board in your service?  With my experience serving on related boards, I’ve heard and seen the current issues and dilemmas facing our businesses. I can help identify, enunciate and explain the problems of housing affordability, workforce development and integration of new techniques in the concrete industry relating to residential construction as a whole.

Andy Renner – Bartley Corp, Silver Springs, Maryland

Joined the team at Bartley Corp, a founding member organization of the CFA, as a concrete laborer and steadily grew through the stages of experience and management. Frequently attends CFA Conventions and regional events.

• What is the number one reason why you would consider serving on the CFA Board?  I want to share my experience with our industry!  I started as a laborer in concrete foundations, made it to wall foreman, commercial superintendent, residential project manager, and VP of Residential with Bartley Corp. I’m excited to work with you all, share ideas and make a difference.
• What do you feel you can bring to the CFA Board in your service?  I feel that I can bring new ideas to the board meetings and events. But my passion is to make our industry better, and our world better while I am at the top of my game! With me you get what you get

Russ Talpey – Talpey Construction, Westbrook, Connecticut

Joined the CFA as a contractor member in 2015 and quickly became one of the most consistent voices in and around networking circles. His projects have been submitted for and recognized with multiple awards and he is the recipient in recent years of the Kick-Start Member of the Year (2017) and Contractor of the Year (2019).

• What is the number one reason why you would consider serving on the CFA Board?  It seems like an opportunity to expand.  This is what we do, it’s nice to know people in a similar role. I think it may be good to get representation from a smaller company on the board. From the northeast as well.  Dennis [Purinton] has done a great job representing small companies from the area, would be nice to continue on that path. Networking is a reason too. You don’t see really any big companies in this area so unless my sons decide they want to be part of the business, moving into a managerial role probably will never happen. You can only do this for so long, it’s just a reality. It would be foolish to not create potential new pathways.
• What do you feel you can bring to the CFA Board in your service?  I’m relatively young and I love the business. I’ll be doing this for a good while longer, I have some concerns about things I think CFA could help with. 

John Yakovich – Solid Concrete Walls, Salt Lake City, Utah

Began in the construction industry in 1990 and will soon celebrate his 30^th year, working in various positions in construction including concrete footings and foundations, for three different and unique companies. giving me a broad perspective of this industry.  First at a very small company in the early 90’s where he learned the basics of concrete construction management on entry level production homes. Second, he spent time in the Carpenter’s Union, which became a great learning opportunity expanding into bigger markets with higher walls, water tanks, and bridges for the interstate highway as well as the dynamics of working for a collective bargaining group.  Finally, he came to work for long-time CFA member, Formco Foundations, now SCW Footings & Foundations, working through various positions at the company. He has been part of a foundation wall crew for some of the most complex buildings in the country; a crane operator; managed a weld shop and became Purchasing Manager.  Now a Project Manager, he is responsible for all types of work, small jobs to large multi-million-dollar contracts of various levels of complexity and oversees all aspects of the company’s projects and operations and was recently invited and joined the ownership of the company as a partner.

• What is the number one reason why you would consider serving on the CFA Board?  I have attended a few board meetings in the past couple of year. Even though the primary topics discussed were budget issues and attracting new members, my attendance has given me some insight of how ideas are deliberated, hashed out, debated, and negotiated to create a great plan for each issue.  I have seen SCW benefit from the ideas, safety, training, and collaboration that have come from the leadership of the board of the CFA.
• What do you feel you can bring to the CFA Board in your service?  I am confident that I could bring to the CFA board innovative ideas, infield experience, hands-on expertise and a hard and smart work ethic. I am a hands on guy always ready to pick up the welder to make a prototype, or try a new system, or hop on the computer to determine the best approaches for a new project, or collaborate with a group of experts to come up with the best way to do something.

Nominations for National Associate Seat (1)

Hal Cassidy – Prinsco/PROFORM HD, Willmar, Minnesota

President and founder of Prinsco, recently recognized as with an MIP at World of Concrete for their innovative solutions to system for forming, drainage and ventilation in footings and foundations. He has run for election to the Board of Directors each of the last three years.

• What is the number one reason why you would consider serving on the CFA Board?  I want to continue to learn more about the industry; its opportunities, its challenges, and provide creative input to help advance the organization and its members.
• What do you feel you can bring to the CFA Board in your service?  I’ve been in the drainage industry for nearly 30 years and believe that drainage itself is a very critical component to a quality and long-lasting foundation.  I’m also a highly creative individual and like to think “outside the box” and challenge others to do the same.  These combine for lending my passion and energy to CFA direction and growth.

Aaron Witmer – GCI Slingers, Zionsville, Indiana

A growth and expansion minded professional, has been in concrete foundations his entire life, beginning with his grandpa at age 7. Joined the GCI team when it was a $1.8 million company. Today it is three companies that do over $20 million a year, with five divisions and seven revenue streams.

• What is the number one reason why you would consider serving on the CFA Board?  The number one reason I would like the opportunity to be on the board of the CFA’s is because I believe in the CFA. The CFA has been a huge resource for me during my time with GCI Slingers, not only an information resource, but also a relationships resource and I can tell you that there is no other resource that offers or compares in any way to the CFA. Education.  Simply put, every seminar, education hour, or course that I have sent my guys, Travis Pettijohn the owner, or have taken myself have shown true value, meaning that we take things away each time that we can apply in our business.
• What do you feel you can bring to the CFA Board in your service?  I have served on 4 other boards, and dozens of committees.  (Currently on one board and 1 committee).  I am a growth and expansion minded professional.  I believe that you are either growing or you are dying in business.  I am also a systems guy.  I am Lean Six Sigma obsessed.  Metrics and math truly control everything.  That being said, I believe that properly applied metrics is the key to growth.  Experience is also a key.  I have worked on everything from one crew companies and I have ran the largest jobsite in the United States.  I know foundation companies and I understand what the business owners go through on every scale.  Finally, growth again.  I truly believe my unique skill set can help the CFA board achieve their goal of increasing memberships along with participation.  I have many ideas (opinions) on this.  Growth has been the focus of my career for the last decade. As my mentor Jim Mizes says, “Growth is always the key to every business, without it, the fast followers of the world will repeat your business, grow their business, and take yours away from you.