2003-2004 SMACNA president Mark Watson (right) is all smiles after taking the gavel from 2002-2003 president Jack Desmond.
WASHINGTON - Mark Watson said it will be a balancing act, working as the new 2003-2004 president of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), as well running his Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based firm, Climate Engineers, Inc.

"I think we've got some good things in place," said Watson of SMACNA's programs. "I think we're doing some great things with the SMWIA (Sheet Metal Workers' International Association) and market expansion."

Watson said he would also like to see SMACNA do more to get some of its business and education tools into the hands of its members. He also is looking for ways to meet the challenge of bringing future leaders into the association.

"I fear too often the products SMACNA offers end up on a contractor's bookshelf," he said. "If used properly, the information in the association's financial survey, as well as the ‘Sheet Metal Made Lean and Clean' guide can save a contractor a lot of money through improved performance of his operations."

In addition to Watson, new officers elected at the 2003 SMACNA convention are:

  • President-Elect: Kevin A. Harpring, Harpring Inc., Louisville, Ky.

  • Secretary/Treasurer: Keith Wilson, Miller Bonded Inc., Albuquerque, N.M.

  • Vice President: Richard J. Cramer Sr., Dee Cramer Inc., Holly, Mich.

  • Immediate Past President: Jack Desmond, Cox Engineering Company, Canton, Mass.

    SMACNA also elected five members to its board of directors. The elected directors serving four-year terms are David D. Bultman, Kilgust Mechanical Inc. - an EMCOR Company, Madison, Wis.; John C. Lindemulder, Amber Mechanical Contractors Inc., Alsip, Ill.; Randy Novak, Novak Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., Cedar Rapids; and Stephen R. Richards, Richards Sheet Metal Works Inc., Ogden, Utah. Serving a one-year term is Lars E.W. Nilsson, Lindab Inc., Stamford, Conn.

    Kevin Gill (right) accepts the SMACNA Contractor of the Year award from former president Jack Desmond.

    More Awards

    SMACNA handed out plenty of awards at its annual convention.

  • Kevin Gill, president of McCusker-Gill Inc., Hingham, Mass., received the SMACNA Contractor of the Year award.

    "Kevin championed the cause of elevating his fellow contractors to the level of high-performing contractor," said 2002-2003 SMACNA President Jack Desmond.

    "Not only did he take a leading role in publishing SMACNA's ‘Creating the High-Performing Contracting Company-Best Practices for SMACNA Contractors,' he negotiated the services of a prominent industry consultant to assist SMACNA members in pursuing, achieving, and maintaining increasingly higher levels of company and individual competence."

    In addition to his work on the High-Performing Contractor Task Force, Gill is an active participant on the Convention Sponsorship Task Force and the Associate Advisory Committee.

    His service to SMACNA also includes membership on the board of directors from 1999 to 2003, the Convention Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee, Multi-Service Chapter Application and Selection Committee, the Building Services Committee, Duct Design Committee, and Human Resources Task Force.

  • Susan E. Karr, executive vice president of the Florida SMACNA Inc. chapter, received the Petersen-Dunn Award. The award is presented annually to the chapter executive making a substantive contribution to the local chapter and SMACNA.

    "Susan was the catalyst in bringing all of the independent chapters in Florida under one roof and forming one efficient statewide organization," said Desmond. "This is an economic coup for SMACNA and will result in increased clout in both the legislative and industry codes arenas."

    Karr was honored with the Petersen-Dunn award in 1997 for her work with SMACNA of Milwaukee.

  • Mark Nelson, of Los Angeles Air Conditioning Inc., La Verne, Calif., was named Legislative Contractor of the Year. For the Distinguished Legislative Service Award, SMACNA chose Richard Buckley, of Anderson, Rowe, and Buckley Inc., San Francisco. The Chapter Executive Legislative Advocate of the Year Award went to Tony Adolfs, executive director of the Chicagoland Sheet Metal Contractors Association.

  • First-place finishers in the Safety Excellence Award Program were also honored. The breakdown includes:

    - Over 500,000 hours category: H.T. Lyons Inc., Bethlehem, Pa.

    - 400,001-500,000 hours: Streimer Sheet Metal Works Inc., Portland, Ore.

    - 300,001-400,000 hours: Heating and Plumbing Engineers, Colorado Springs, Colo.

    - 200,001-300,000 hours: Frank Millard and Co. Inc., Burlington, Iowa.

    - 100,001-200,000 hours: Buffalo Sheet Metals Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.

    - 50,001-100,000 hours: AireMasters Air Conditioning, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

    - 25,001-50,000 hours: Steers Heating & Cooling Co., Parkersburg, W. Va.

    - 1-25,000 hours: Hunter Mechanical, Philadelphia.

    - Chapter Participation Award: Sheet Metal Contractors Association of Philadelphia and Vicinity.

    Publication date: 11/10/2003