Serving western Canada's sheet metal industry

According to attendees of SMACNA’s Palm Desert convention in October, the forums and business sessions “really hit the mark.” They were “highly current with good information presented in a way to give a call to action,” noted one contractor.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee opened the convention comprised of highly praised educational sessions, business meetings, awards, and entertainment. SMACNA contractors discussed the industry’s newest ideas and most pressing issues at the four market sector forums: architectural, HVAC, industrial, and residential. Business sessions on Building Information Modelling and LEED building for sheet metal and HVAC contractors were described as fascinating, timely, and very realistic.

Dwight D. Silvia, CEO of D.D.S. Industries Inc., Somerset, Mass., received the SMACNA Contractor of the Year award. Long at the forefront of political and industry issues, Mr. Silvia spearheaded a fundraising effort to help his fellow contractors during last year’s catastrophic floods. The award is presented annually in memory of SNIPS magazine founder Ed Carter and his son Nick Carter, magazine publisher and editor.

Richard Northrup, executive vice-president of the Michigan Chapter-SMACNA in Haslett, Mich., received the Petersen-Dunn Award for Chapter Executive of the Year. This year SMACNA recognized Martha’s Village & Kitchen of Palm Desert, Calif., with a donation of $5,000. Martha’s Village has helped thousands of homeless individuals regain self-sufficiency. It is a SMACNA tradition to recognize a local charity in the convention host city.

Recipients of legislative awards for their work on behalf of SMACNA were Richard “Rick” Spinelli, president and owner of Bryant Air Conditioning Contractors Inc., West Babylon, N.Y., Legislative Contractor of the Year; Ronald J. Palmerick, president of AABCO Sheet Metal Inc., Ridgewood, N.Y., Distinguished Legislative Service Award; Dennis Hogan, chapter executive of the Sheet Metal Contractors of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa, Special Legislative Service Award; and Julie Ann Muller, executive director of the SMACNA Orange Empire Chapter, Orange, Calif., Chapter Executive Legislative Advocate of the Year.

Five members were elected to serve on the board of directors at the annual business meeting Wednesday, October 14. Serving four-year terms are: Stephen J. Doonan of DeKalb Mechanical Inc., DeKalb, Ill.; Steven J. Perrone of Harrington Bros. Corp., Stoughton, Mass.; Stephen R. Richards of Richards Sheet Metal Works Inc., Ogden, Utah; and Howard “Mack” Spears of Reliable Electrical and Mechanical Services Inc., Piqua, Ohio. Serving a one-year term on the board is Jack Knox of R.F. Knox Company Inc., Smyrna, Ga.

At the close of the convention the board of directors installed its executive committee to serve beginning October 14. The new officers are president, John Lindemulder Sr., Amber Mechanical Contractors, Alsip, Ill.; president-elect, James Boone, New England Sheet Metal Works, Fresno. Calif.; secretary/treasurer, Richard Rivera, Key Air Conditioning Contractors, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.; vice-president, Rob Biedermann, J.B. Henderson Construction Company Inc., Albuquerque, N.M.; and immediate past-president, John Ilten, Ilten’s Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The committee will serve until October 2010.

SMACNA’s 67th annual convention is scheduled for the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Ariz., October 10-13, 2010. It will offer a wide variety of educational and self-development sessions presented by industry experts to provide solutions tailor-made specifically to meet the technical and business management needs of sheet metal and air-conditioning contractors.

For more information on SMACNA’s 67th annual convention visit <www.smacna.org> or contact SMACNA’s Meetings and Convention Department at 703.803.2998.