Contractors in the News

Jan. 1, 2004
Russ Borst, vice president/service operations at Hurst Industries, a West Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association member, has been appointed to the executive board of the Mechanical Service Contractors of America. He brings to the post 15 years of involvement in the mechanical service industry. James Bochat, president of Pro Mechanical Service, Phoenix, was elected president of National Environmental

Russ Borst, vice president/service operations at Hurst Industries, a West Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association member, has been appointed to the executive board of the Mechanical Service Contractors of America. He brings to the post 15 years of involvement in the mechanical service industry.

James Bochat, president of Pro Mechanical Service, Phoenix, was elected president of National Environmental Balancing Bureau at its annual meeting in Memphis, Tenn. Bochat is a founding member of the Arizona chapter of NEBB.

Emcor Group has announced that John McGee, vice president/knowledge and services development, has been elected to the board of directors of the International Facility Management Association. Geoffrey W. Birkbeck has been appointed president and CEO of Comstock Canada, an Emcor Group operating company headquartered in Burlington, Ontario. Birkbeck previously served for eight years as president of Chrysis Construction Service in Victoria, British Columbia.

Whitney Evers and Kayla Hermsen have won Mechanical Contractors Association of Northwest Wisconsin Industry Fund Scholarship Awards in the amount of $2,000 each. Megan Kane, Ashley Roth, Daniel Alteri, Dana Tenpas and Lindsay Webster have all won scholarships of $1,000 each. Competition includes academic achievement, extra curricular activities, character references and other factors.

The Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association of Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin elected its board of directors for 2004 to three-year terms: Dale Cox, Pro-Tel, Pewaukee; Paul Price, Best Price Plumbing, Waukesha; and Chris Horner, Horner Plumbing, Pewaukee.

Shaw Mechanical Services has promoted Theresa A. Gamber to service administrator. She brings more than 17 years of experience in the mechanical contracting industry to the position.

The In-Sink-Erator Cox and Dore Awards for Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors auxiliaries have been presented. Lynn Lamont Heidler of the Metro Washington D.C. Auxiliary was named Lawrence B. Dore Member of the Year and received a $1,000 award and a plaque in recognition of her work. First runner-up was Louise Schumacher of the Illinois PHCC Auxiliary, who received $500. The Metro D.C. Auxiliary also received the Robert M. Cox Image award and an $800 check. The Delaware PHCC Auxiliary received a $450 check as first runner-up. The Delaware Auxiliary also received another $800 for first place in the recruitment competition, and the Pinellas Park, Fla., PHCC Auxiliary received $450 as first runner-up. CONTRACTOR magazine co-sponsored the awards program and its editors served as judges.

J.F. Ahern, Fond du Lac, Wis., has appointed Fred Olsen as estimator. Most recently, Olsen worked as salesperson/estimator for A&R Roofing. Kathy Bowe has been named marketing/communications director for Ahern. She has eight years of marketing experience as a trade magazine editor and free-lance marketing/graphic design professional. Patricia Bolduc has been named materials manager. She brings to the post more than 20 years of purchasing and managerial experience.

Power Process Piping has named Art Espy as chief operating officer. Prior to joining PPP, Espy was general manager for Saturn Electronics and Engineering. Max Murdock has been named vice president/estimating and project management. Before joining the company, Murdock served as manager of construction sales at W.J. O’Neil Co. Jerry Palmer was recently promoted to vice president/strategic relationship management.

Members of the Plumbing and Piping Industry of Northern Illinois recently joined together to present “A Day at the Races” benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Illinois. PPNI committee members, including Gary Hull and Jim Connelly of Mid-Continental Marketing/ Saleslink of Addison, welcomed manufacturers and suppliers to the Arlington Racecourse for sponsorship, a silent auction, dinner and the opportunity to place bets on horses throughout the evening.

The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association Board of Directors has installed its executive committee to serve until Oct. 1. The new officers are: Mark C. Watson, Climate Engineers, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, president; Kevin A. Harpring, Harpring Inc., Louisville, Ky., president-elect; Keith Wilson, Miller Bonded, Albuquerque, N.M., secretary/treasurer; Richard J. Cramer Sr., Dee Cramer, Holly, Mich., vice president; and Jack Desmond, Cox Engineering, Canton, Mass., immediate past president. In addition, SMACNA has elected five new directors to its board. Serving four year terms are: David D. Bultman, Kilgust Mechanical, an Emcor Co., Madison, Wis.; John C. Lindemulder, Amber Mechanical Contractors, Alsip, Ill.; Randy Novak, Novak Heating and Air Conditioning, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Stephen R. Richards, Richards Sheet Metal Works, Ogden, Utah. Serving a one-year term is Lars E. W. Nilsson, Lindab Inc., Stamford, Conn. Susan E. Karr, executive vice president of the Florida SMACNA chapter, received the Peterson-Dunn Award at the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association 60th annual convention.

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials honored three of its members during the association’s 74th Annual Education and Business Conference held recently in Portland, Ore. James O. Weflen of the Copper Development Association received the American Flag Award. The flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 20, 2003, in Weflen’s honor. Weflen is CDA’s western regional manager for tube, pipe and fittings. Diana Corcoran, executive director of the American Society of Sanitary Engineering, was recognized as IAPMO’s Industry Person of the Year. Trini Mendoza, IAPMO’s Government Person of the Year, has 31 years of experience working for county government. He started out in planning in 1972 and five years later was promoted to building safety combination inspector.

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