The association has grown over the last 35 years from 40 charter members to today’s 1,100-plus. "It’s a testament to our important role as the voice of the demolition industry both in North America and abroad," says Michael R. Taylor, executive director. At the 35th annual convention in February 2008, a number of changes in the Board of Directors were voted upon. Coming onto the Executive Committee for the first time as treasurer is Jeff Kroeker of Kroeker Inc. Demolition & Recycling Contractors, Fresno, Calif.
The association has also appointed a number of new members to its Board of Directors. They are Alfred Gorick Jr., Gorick Construction Co. Inc., Binghamton, N.Y.; Robert Klotzbach, ERM Inc., Exton, Pa.; Joseph Sweeney, Jos. J. Albanese Inc., Santa Clara, Calif.; Mark Ryan, Carl Bolander & Sons Co., St. Paul, Minn.; and Jeff Slota, J. Harper Contractors Inc., Maple Valley, Wash. International member John Wring, Wring Group, Bristol, U.K. has also joined the Board of Directors.
Serving a second year on the Executive Committee are President Drew Lammers, Cohen Brothers Inc., Middletown, Ohio; Vice President Raymond Passeno, Bierlein Companies Inc., Midland, Mich.; and Don Rachel, Rachel Contracting Inc., Maple Grove, Minn.
More information is available at www.demolitionassociation.com.
USGBC Re-launches Greenbuild356 Online PortalThe U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has re-launched its Greenbuild365 Web site. The revamped site features more educational resources, podcasts and other expanded material, along with year-round access to plenaries and master speaker presentations from the USGBC’s Annual Greenbuild Conference & Expo.
Greenbuild365.org highlights include:
• Course Catalogue: Third party reviewed green building courses featuring the USGBC’s core LEED offerings, as well as courses approved by the Education Provider Program that extend beyond the LEED green building certification program.
• Green Bytes: Free, brief "bytes" of green building education consisting of case studies, best practices and information delivered in the form of short videos, podcasts and articles.
• Greenbuild Conference & Expo Media Library: Videos of Greenbuild keynote speakers, which are live during the event and later archived.
More information is available at www.greenbuild365.org.
Michael R. Taylor Elected President of DVSAEMichael R. Taylor, CAE, has been elected president of the Delaware Valley Society of Association Executives (DVSAE), the Delaware Valley’s only professional association for the leaders of not-for-profit organizations. 
Taylor, a resident of Doylestown, Pa., has served as executive director of the National Demolition Association, headquartered in Doylestown, since 1993.
"As DVSAE president, I have committed myself and the society to providing leadership training and continuing education opportunities for our members, who represent business, industrial, professional, community service and philanthropic organizations," Taylor says. He is a certified association executive (CAE), which is an earned certification held by no more than 20 percent of the American Society of Association Executives membership.
Under his direction, the National Demolition Association has grown its membership from 300 member companies to more than 1,100 today from around the world.
More information is available at www.demolitionassociation.com.
CMRA Announces 2009 Annual MeetingThe Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA) has announced the dates of its next annual meeting. C&D World, the annual meeting of the association, will be March 22-25, 2009, at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla.
For the first time, equipment will be on display at the meeting, which will also include educational programming. Presentations are planned on rail haul of C&D, concrete recycling issues and a discussion on hydrogen sulfide gas and C&D fines. Registration will open later in 2008, and exhibit and sponsorship opportunities will be available.
"The addition of equipment displays to our annual meeting is an exciting development," says James Taylor, CMRA president and CEO of Taylor Recycling Facility. "This will give manufacturers the best venue to reach recyclers with their machinery while adding more value to the meeting for attendees."
National Demolition Association Issues White PapersThe National Demolition Association has identified environmental stewardship as one of its top priorities in the next decade. To communicate its stance on issues such as the recycling of demolition debris and the selective salvaging of materials from a structure for reuse, often called "deconstruction," the association has issued two white papers free of charge that address these issues.
The National Demolition Association makes the case for a successful government-industry partnership in achieving a substantial growth in the percent of demolition debris being recycled in the white paper "Demolition Industry Promotes C&D Recycling." Although demolition providers routinely reuse or recycle approximately 75 percent of the estimated 115 million tons of demolition debris generated annually, the association would like to see that percentage increase. The white paper outlines the current state of C&D recycling in the U.S. and proposes a critical step of developing a national C&D recycling policy.
In the report "Demolition: The First Step of Reconstruction," the association explains the similarities and differences between the process of deconstruction and demolition. Deconstruction, also known as hand demolition, is nothing new to the industry, according to the association. It involves the methodical disassembly of structures to provide the highest possible rate of recovery. However, the realities facing most site owners include tight timelines, stringent financing schedules and difficult security issues. The white paper delves into this controversy, its impact on the safety of workers and the environment and how modern demolition practices achieve an outstanding level of recycling and reuse.
Both papers are available from the National Demolition Association by calling (800) 541-2412 or sending an e-mail to info@demolitionassociation.com. More information is available at www.demolitionassociation.com.
AGC Increases Educational OfferingsThe Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has announced it has been approved as a Registered Provider of learning unit (LU) hours to architects and design professionals seeking certification or state–mandated continuing education requirements.
"By offering LUs through its many education programs, AGC further meets the critical member and industry needs by offering relevant training that also delivers valuable credits," says Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of AGC.
Approximately 35 states and 10 Canadian Provinces require Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) to retain licensure. Most of these states accept AIA/CES LUs as continuing education credit toward MCE requirements.
As an American Institute of Architects/Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) Registered Provider, AGC joins more than 2,500 education providers made up of AIA Chapters, affiliate organizations and government agencies. AGC also is an IACET Authorized Provider, offering Continuing Education Units (CEU) for its professional development and training programs. LU hours are equal to one contact hour or one–tenth of a continuing education credit (CEU).
More information is available at www.agc.org.
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