Industry Briefing

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NERCA foundation offers scholarships

The North/East Roofing Educational Foundation Inc. is accepting applications for five $1,500 scholarships. Applicants must be North/East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA) members or members' employees or immediate family members who plan to attend postsecondary institutions.

The application deadline is April 1, 2003. For additional information, contact Kimberly Hurley, NERCA's associate executive director, at (617) 472-5590; fax (617) 479-1478; or visit NERCA's Web site at www.nerca.org.

Associations sign agreement

The American Subcontractors Association Inc. and Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Inc. signed a partnership agreement to help construction managers and specialty contractors communicate about project issues and satisfy their customers. The agreement also recognizes CMAA's Construction Management Certification Program and other educational opportunities for construction professionals.

According to the agreement, the groups will discuss issues of concern, support and provide education to construction professionals, and develop and market each others' products and services, as well as other tasks. The Construction Management Certification Institute, Construction Management Association of America Foundation and Foundation of the American Subcontractors Association also signed the agreement.

Request for posters and papers

The Alliance for the Polyurethanes Industry (API) is requesting posters and papers for its Polyurethanes EXPO 2003, which will be held in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 19-22. The deadline for paper submissions is Jan. 31, and the deadline for poster submissions is May 2. Authors of accepted papers and posters will be notified in April. For more information, contact Lisa Smith, API's office manager and project coordinator, at (703) 741-5656 or Lisa_Smith@plastics.org.

BOCA elects officers

Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International Inc. elected the following officers: president—Steven I. Shapiro, director of codes compliance for Hampton, Va.; vice president—Judson W. Collins, programs manager for the Oklahoma State Health Department's Health Facilities Plan Review, Oklahoma City; and secretary/treasurer—Edwin M. Berkel, fire marshal for the Fire Protection District in Mehlville, Mo.

The officers will serve until the integration of BOCA, the International Conference of Building Officials and Southern Building Code Congress International Inc. is complete. Although the consolidated organizations, now known as the International Code Council, were expected to begin operating Jan. 1, BOCA officers reportedly may serve through February. See "Consolidation of model code organizations," page 57.

SMACNA installs new officers

The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) Inc. has installed the following officers to serve from October 2002 to October 2003: president—Jack Desmond, owner of Cox Engineering Co., Canton, Mass.; president-elect—Mark C. Watson, secretary/treasurer of Climate Engineers Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa; vice president—Keith Wilson, co-owner of Miller Bonded Inc., Albuquerque, N.M.; and secretary/treasurer—Kevin Harpring, vice president of Harpring Inc., Louisville, Ky.

NRCA holds Future Executives Institute

Twenty-three students enrolled in NRCA's Education Resource Group's Future Executives Institute, a three-year educational and networking program for those who intend to be company and industry leaders.

The institute's first session was held Oct. 23-26, 2002, at Evanston, Ill.-based Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. The students learned about personal development, legal and financial issues, human resources, business relationships, family-business dynamics and other industry issues.

Students and instructors involved with NRCA's Future Executives Institute.

The 23 participants will attend the institute's next session during NRCA's 116th Annual Convention and Exhibit in New Orleans Feb. 11-14. For a list of participants, click here. For additional information about NRCA's Future Executives Institute, contact Amy Staska, NRCA's director of education resources, at (847) 299-9070, Ext. 207, or astaska@nrca.net.

The Industry Online

BizMat Inc. has launched Expert Advice, a Web-based service that provides industry-specific management advice to business owners. A demonstration is available on the company's Web site, www.bizmat.com.