Many regular participants in the CFA’s networking community will remember Lance Jordan, a past board member and frequent participant at Concrete Foundations Convention. On Friday, February 11, 2022, Stephens and Smith Construction hosted a retirement party to celebrate his 43 years of dedication, leadership, and service.

Larry Niles, vice president for the company, offered these words of recognition:  Congratulations on reaching your retirement. Your hard work and dedication for 43 years of work at Stephens and Smith have served you well. You have left you fingerprints on transforming an entire way of residential foundation construction in the city of Omaha and the surrounding area. I hope you look back on your career and feel extremely proud of the work your team has accomplished, the relationships you have made, and the changes you have instituted in the Poured Wall industry.

You strived to make your employees, your division, and the company better your entire career. Your forward thinking of new and better ways to improve your Stephens and Smith Team has led all other poured-wall contractors in the surrounding area to follow your vision as a leader of the industry. Wherever you look in this town, you can see the followers of your innovation and lead. 

As friends, colleagues, and co-workers, we wish you nothing but the best in health and happiness. Now that you no longer have the daily grind of running a company, go and enjoy your retirement with Vicki, your children, and your grandchildren.

Among the numerous gifts, including a plaque of recognition, given by the company, Lance and his wife, Vicki, were presented with a framed letter of appreciation from the Concrete Foundations Association for his years of participation. In this letter, Executive Director Baty offered these reflections:

There are three primary areas I can fondly attest to your imprint on your peers and this association over the years.

Board Leadership – You served one term to the CFA Board of Directors. This was during the most difficult stretch of years where participation waned greatly and the health and security of the Association was at great risk. While the Great Recession had this industry in its grip, the Association needed stability, patience, and calming leadership. Your role became the embodiment of those necessities and you continually anchored us amidst the struggles and the great stress we all created.

Convention Presence – At the heart of this Association and the benefits we deliver to our members is the annual convention. This event also remains the most difficult for most of the members to attend, let alone attend with regularity and consistency. Your presence at this signature and most important event, along with your active participation, has set the stage for many to be welcomed into the value of networking and the confidence for sharing collective work experiences.

Fall Protection – This Association has had a substantial impact on membership and the industry in advocating for and defending best practices and compliance for fall protection. During a time when vast ambiguity and significant threat from a ramping up of inspections existed, you played an instrumental role in leading the Association to an affirmed and defensible position for educating contractors. The work your company brought to light has helped countless companies understand risks and elevate their training for a safer workplace as well as setting a stronger foundation for defending values.

On behalf of the hundreds of member companies and thousands of colleagues and peers; the CFA Board of Directors and the Legacy Committee; and our past Executive Director you served under, Ed Sauter, we say congratulations! Well done, good and faithful servant. We thank you for who you are and all you’ve done!