WASHINGTON, DC — The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) presented James Asbury of Bell Products Inc. (Napa, CA) with the organization’s Legislative Contractor of the Year Award during its recent annual legislative awards dinner.

“When we talk about bringing our Campaign for Quality Contracting to the Hill, this contractor is one who began doing that many years ago demonstrating exceptional effort and unsurpassed leadership in legislative action before we started giving awards,” said SMACNA’s legislative committee chairman John Ilten about Asbury. “He gets personally involved in political campaigns.”

SMACNA also recognized Gary Shwenk, executive vice president of the Bay Area Association of SMACNA Chapters, as the Chapter Executive Legislative Advocate of the Year. According to Ilten, Shwenk has encouraged chapter members to participate in SMAC PAC. He also says that Shwenk “has generated an impressive number of new Congressional Insiders Club members and spouses in a very short time. No one has done more to develop and energize members into action.”

Finally, Robert and Anita Kuechenberg of R.B. Hayward Company in Shiller Park, IL, received the Distinguished Legislative Service Award.

Publication date: 05/13/2002