The Georgia Utility Contractors Association Inc. elected Rich Nudi of Reynolds Inc. as the 2007-2008 president at its annual conference in Amelia Island, Fla.
Nudi began his career in construction by working with a survey crew, but later found that heavy construction was his passion. After several years in the field working for a medium-sized industrial contractor, RIB Construction Inc., he was brought into the estimating department as an intern. Nudi moved up the ranks and was promoted to project manager in 1972. He continued working with RIB until 1978.
After leaving RIB, he started his own company, Mark IV Construction Company, specializing in pouring concrete foundations for the steel mills in and around Pittsburgh, Pa. Mark IV closed in 1984 due to the downfall of Pennsylvania’s steel industry.
In 1985, T&B Scottdale brought Nudi to Georgia as a project manager in its wastewater division. He was employed by T&B until 1993, when T&B was sold.
From 1993 to 1997, Nudi worked for several large concerns, managing projects out of the area. Then, in 1997, he came back to Atlanta to work for Alcon Associates Inc. as a senior project manager. During his tenure at Alcon, he was promoted to vice president of field operations.
In May 2007, Nudi accepted a position as construction manager for Reynolds Inc.’s plant division.
Nudi will serve with First Vice President Ricky Harp of Richard Harp Excavation Inc.; Second Vice President Judy Turpin of Turpin Inc.; Treasurer Bill Consiglio of Western Summit Constructors Inc.; Secretary Mitch Stephens of John D. Stephens Inc.; and Associate Directors Jeff Dexter of HD Supply Waterworks, John Glankler of Financial Federal Credit Inc.
The 2006 to 2008 directors continuing to serve are Michael Corbett of Integral Municipal Services Corporation; Mitch Domit of Willow Construction Inc.; Gary Harber of Reynolds Inc.; Charlie Murren of C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; Stephen Smith of Jan R. Smith Construction Co. Inc.
The 2007 to 2009 directors are Brandon Cooper of Construction Perfected Inc.; Lee Jarvis of Southeastern Clearing Systems LLC; Angela Lance of Peed Bros. Inc.; Josh Moon of P.F. Moon & Company Inc.; and Regina Shelnutt of Robert M. Anderson Inc.
Committee Chairman of the Year
GUCA presented the 2006 to 2007 Committee Chairman of the Year award to Bill Schroeder of Protective Liner Systems Inc.
From an early age, Schroeder’s heart was led by his devotion to give back to others while being a leader. After graduating high school, Bill became a volunteer builder in Papua, New Guinea, from 1955 to 1957.
Protective Liner Systems Inc. began as Waste Engineering in 1981 and became incorporated in Florida as Protective Liner Systems Inc. in 1988. The company relocated to Lithonia, Ga., in 2001.
Protective Liner Systems specializes in rehabilitation and lining of waste water facilities, storage tanks and secondary containment structures. When explaining the challenges they have faced in the past and which they currently face, Schroeder pointed out the following as the most prevalent obstacles: “reluctance to accept new products, politicians, ’good-old-boy’ management, politicians and development of chemical resistant materials for use in wet and gaseous environments, politicians.”
Schroeder described his company’s involvement in the industry “like being the tail on the dog compared to dirt digging initial construction and, consequently, gets little respect. On the other hand, you can’t get by without it for very long.”
Schroeder has served as: co-chairman of the Legislative Committee 2004 to 2005, chairman of the Legislative Committee 2005 to 2007, and GUCA board of directors member 2005 to 2007. His committee involvement consists of: Legislative Committee 2004 to 2007, Community Service Committee 2005 to 2007 and Nominations Committee 2006.
Schroeder believes that “being a member means participating to the extent that your abilities and responsibilities will allow.” He also believes that “GUCA, through its fabulous staff, its dedicated members and the wise leadership of its officers, creates an atmosphere of positive influence that allows the industry to grow and prosper.”
He believes “good practices, especially in Georgia, have made the industry strong and continued good management will keep it this way,” and he also believes that “to an extent, the industry, through the strength and leadership of GUCA, is now the master of its own fate.”
Contractor Member of the Year
Jan R. Smith of Jan R. Smith Construction Company Inc. earned the Contractor Member of the Year award.
After 20 months of service in World War II, Smith returned home and resumed his studies. After a short stint bottling whiskey at Seagram’s, he started working for Harrison-Wright Co. at a job site in Tallahassee, Fla. A nephew of one of the Harrison-Wright Co. owners, Nat Harrison Jr. and Smith went on to form Nat Harrison Associates in 1951. He worked with Harrison until 1960 when he decided to form his own company.
Jan R. Smith’s company incorporated on Sept. 25, 1963, with all $15,000 in funds for incorporation coming from his wife of 52 years, Mary C. Smith.
Jan R. Smith Construction Co. Inc. specializes in water and sewer construction including pump stations. Facing many challenges throughout the years, they have persevered and have become a stronger company in the process. The company is now under the leadership of Jan’s son, Stephen Smith.
Jan R. Smith Construction Co. Inc. has been a member of GUCA since 1986. Smith has written and rewritten the bylaws and has served in all positions of leadership on the GUCA board of directors — capped off by his presidency in 2001 to 2002. He has been to numerous lobby days at the State and U.S. Capitol and testified from these experiences that government works quite differently than he learned in high school civics courses.
Associate Member of the Year
The 2006 to 2007 Associate Member of the Year award went to John Whelchel of American Cast Iron Pipe Company.
In 1958, he joined American Cast Iron Pipe Company, working in its Minneapolis and Kansas City offices before joining their team in Atlanta in 1969.
American Cast Iron Pipe Company was founded in Birmingham, Ala., in 1905 by Atlanta native John J. Eagan. When Eagan passed away in 1927, he left all the company’s stock to his employees. Today, all profits are still distributed to American Cast Iron Pipe Company employees as bonuses. Forbes Magazine has listed American Cast Iron Pipe Company as one of the “Top 100 Companies in America” for the last eight years.
It specializes as a manufacturer of waterworks and related materials such as pipe, fittings, valves, hydrants and gaskets.
For more than 35 years, Whelchel has been a member of GUCA and promotes GUCA membership whenever possible. He said that he has benefited greatly from GUCA over the years and continues to work around the clock for this association and this industry.
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