MCA Announces 2016 Triumph Award Winners

Chicago, IL – The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has announced its inaugural group of Triumph Award recipients. The Triumph Awards were introduced in 2016 as a way to honor and celebrate the people and companies that champion the metal construction industry. 

At an awards banquet in Baltimore in late October, held in conjunction with METALCON 2016, individuals and organizations were honored in six categories. The 2016 award winners, with their accompanying nominating descriptions, are as follows:

Scott Kriner (left), with presenter Rob Haddock (right). Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

• Industry Champion of the Year Awards:
Scott Kriner, MCA and Brian Partyka, Drexel Metals Inc.

With 35 years experience in the metal construction industry, Scott Kriner’s career started with Bethlehem Steel and research on hot dip coatings, which then led to international licensing of Galvalume intellectual property, to pretreatments, to paints, and involvement in multiple trade associations, including MCA. He started his own consulting business in 2006 to catch the “Green Wave”, which according to him “was the scariest thing he ever did”. For the past thirteen years he began serving as technical director for MCA on staff and more recently as consultant. During this time he has led or participated on the development of numerous industry papers and studies, including many that have had a major impact on the entire industry.

Brian Partyka (left), receives a congratulatory handshake from presenter Rob Haddock (right). Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

Brian Partyka is a 21-year veteran of the metal construction industry, working with Drexel Metals Inc. from its very early days. He is an elected member of the Executive Committee of MCA. He chairs the Market Development Committee, Statistics Committee, Co-chairs of the Codes and Standards Committee and sits on multiple task groups to help drive and advance growth for the metal construction industry. He is a Board member of the Metal Roofing Alliance and sits on NRCA’s Industry Advisory Board (National Roofing Contractors Association) as well as the CEO Advisory Council for the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce and multiple Board seats for small local businesses. Partyka has published and contributed to numerous technical trade-articles and white papers relating to metal building products. He teaches nationally about sustainable design and the use of metal to reduce heat gain for industrial, commercial and residential structures. He is the inventor of the Drexmet® Paint Pen in 2001, an air-dry Kynar touch up system, which today is the preferred touchup method of the industry.

(L-R) Presenter Randy Allen with Bob Fittro, Shawn Zuver and John Garvey. Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

• Media Executive / Journalist of the Year Award:
Shawn Zuver, Bob Fittro, John Garvey of DesignandBuildwithMetal.com

Recognizing both a need and an opportunity for the metal construction industry to increase its visibility to a large online audience, three long-time industry media veterans, Bob Fittro, Shawn Zuver and John Garvey, pooled their talents and resources in 2007 to launch a new company, Unlimited Reach Media Inc., and a new website, DesignandBuildwithMetal.com.

DesignandBuildwithMetal.com is updated daily to be an always-current source of metal construction industry news and information for the design community, contractors, metal construction industry professionals, and building owners. The website features over 1,500 projects, showcasing virtually every conceivable use for metal construction products, categorized by both building type and design application. Visitors will also find thousands of industry news items, hundreds of columns by leading market segment experts, and a wide range of related resources about metal products.

With one million visits expected this year, the website can be considered The Online Home of the Metal Construction IndustrySM with visitors from every state in the union and all corners of the globe. In addition to the continually evolving website, DesignandBuildwithMetal.com is recognized and respected for its widely circulated and highly read weekly newsletter, delivered to nearly 28,000 email inboxes every week, and for its monthly e-zines, which were introduced in 2008.

The PSMJ Resources Inc. team accepts their award. From left to right are: Claire Kilcoyne, Frank Stasiowski, Suzanne Maher, Lismany Medina and Paulo Gomes da Costa. Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

• Corporate / Individual Citizen of the Year Award:
PSMJ, Resources, Inc.

For the last 14 years PSMJ Resources, Inc., producers of METALCON, has spent many hours coordinating fund raising before, during and after each METALCON show, as well as donating to local organizations on the behalf of the Metal Industry.

Among those organizations: Homes for Our Troops, Tampa, Baltimore and Las Vegas; Habitat for Humanity, Washington, DC and Chicago; The Journey, 2day Walk for Breast Cancer, Atlanta; Canstruction, Tampa; Carmen House, Foster Home for Kids, Rome, Georgia; The Spring, Tampa; Home for Battered Women in Indiana; and scholarships to Purdue University, Chicago, IL and Emily Griffith Vocational School, Denver, Colorado.

Each contribution allowed METALCON to leave behind a lasting impact in each venue where METALCON held.

(L-R) Presenter Karl Hielscher with Jonathan Rider, Dustin Haddock, Josey Parks, Mark Bus. Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

• Young Movers and Shakers Awards:
Jonathan Rider of D.I. Roof Seamers; Dustin Haddock of S-5!; Josey Parks of Metal Roofs of Texas; Mark Bus of ATAS International, Inc.;

Jonathan Rider serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of Developmental Industries, the parent company of D.I. Roof Seamers. The third generation of this family-owned business, he plays a key role in the metal roofing industry by servicing clients in the areas of engineering, product development and component manufacturing. His broad experience, collaborative leadership style, and years of working closely within the industry have positioned him for this role. Rider is active in community organizations and volunteer efforts and currently serves in various roles within the industry, including: MCA Accessories Council Co-Chairman and member of the MBMA Associate Member Advisory Council. He is also the author of multiple industrial publications and travels frequently speaking at events across the United States.

At the young age of 27, Josey Parks is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, owning several companies with different specialties including J Wales Enterprises, which includes Metal Roofs of Texas, J Wales Construction, Designer Glass Specialties, and Think Unlimited. He is one of the youngest recipients of the Inc. 5000 award. He also received an award for unprecedented nationwide sales of Interlock® Roofing, an exclusive distributor within the state of Texas. Technology plays a key role in his strategy. By developing and leveraging software to facilitate smart business growth, he has streamlined and maximized the value of his team’s sales efforts.

Parks serves as an educator of business owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth and as a mentor to employees. He has been featured on television shows like CNBC’s Blue Collar Millionaire, and a guest speaker at national conferences like Corporate Millionaire Minds and Vistage Executive Summit, and is a recurring guest on One Life Radio.

Mark Bus is the National Sales Manager for ATAS International, Inc, a major manufacturer, brand leader and significant industry player. Bus has earned the respect of his national sales team as well as his peers and management. He brings his knowledge of industry initiatives and association activities into his daily communication with staff and customers. His next phase of growth will be an increased presence in the industry associations on a national level. Bus’ customer base has realized his value and expertise as evident from the following statement from customer, Allan Brock, Brock Associates, LLC:

“During my forty year tenure in the commercial metal roofing and siding industry, I have rarely crossed paths with a young professional as competent as Mark Bus. As a long term ATAS distributor, I have seen Mark successfully evolve from an inside technical salesperson, to a regional product representative, to management. At each level, he radiated professionalism along with impeccable product and technical knowledge. He developed many exceptional relationships with major architects leading to dominant ATAS specifications generating increased sales for distributors such as myself.”

Dustin Haddock was 8 years old when he worked his first job, packaging S-5! clamps, one of the few his age with 20 years of experience. During this time he has developed over 40 new products and has filed and secured numerous patents. Haddock has worked for the Metal Roof Innovations division of S-5! since 2006, where he has contributed to several International Code and Standard groups to draft test methods to receive German code acceptance. He also has worked with the University of Adelaide in drafting performance test methods for use of standing seam clamps within cyclonic regions of Australia. Further, he has worked with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Roofing Work Group in the United Kingdom to develop relevant standards relating to rooftop mounted PV. Within the US he has worked with the ICC to develop a relevant evaluation for standing seam-clamping systems. Haddock serves on the UL 2703 and 1703 Standard Technical Panels and has developed the first draft of the PV Racking and Attachment Criteria for Effective Low Slope Metal Panel Roof System Integration. Haddocks has also served on the Board of Directors 2013-2016, is currently the Chairman of the UL Non-Combustible Roof Group and the Chairman of the Mounting Systems Manufacturers Committee (MSMC) at SEIA.

Donn Couch (left). Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

Sales Person of The Year Award:
Donn Couch, SFS intec, Inc.

Donn Couch of SFS intec, Inc. has been awarded the sales person of the year award. A seasoned veteran with SFS for 38 years, his customers know him to have a sincere buyer focus, as he has developed close personal relationships with many of his customers. Over his tenure with SFS, he has developed an unprecedented extensive product and application knowledge. He has been the recipient of several awards within the SFS organization over the years, which has included highest sales volume, highest percent increase sales over prior year, and outstanding achievement award. He is highly respected amongst his peers as well as the metal building industry.

Oded Shemla (left) accepts his award from Todd Miller (right). Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

• Entrepreneur of The Year Award:
Oded Shemla, iRoofing

Oded Shemla is CEO of Applosophy, the mobile app entrepreneurial enterprise that created iRoofing, a leading software development company with expertise in manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing, consumer behavior, award winning designers, and an in-house software development team.

iRoofing has developed an all-inclusive suite of technical tools for roofing and siding contractors designed to help increase efficiency, productivity and closing ratios, while reducing costs, and increasing profitability through the use of the cutting edge technology. iRoofing continues to develop even more exciting tools and capabilities for manufacturers and contractors to grow their business. In the past five years iRoofing has grown from a concept to currently providing an evolving solution for thousands of contractor users and leading manufacturers of building products across the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Shemla has spent 6 years as CEO of Applosophy, located in New York, New York. Prior to this he was the president and owner of My Roof Tile, a roofing distribution business located in Florida. Shemla gained his technology expertise while serving in the Israeli Air Force.

Nominations for the 2017 MCA Triumph Awards are open to anyone in the metal construction, metal building, metal roofing and metal erection industry. Nominations can be made on the MCA or METALCON websites. Winners for 2017 will be voted on and selected by the MCA members and members of other metal construction related trade groups by popular vote.

The awards will be presented at a marquee event designed to celebrate honorees at METALCON 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will feature live entertainment and dinner at the Westgate Hotel on October 18, the opening night of this leading industry show. Tickets will go on sale when registration opens. Sponsorships are available.

The idea for the commendation was initiated by Keith Lipps, Vice President of Marketing and Sales from MCA Member Company, S-5!. “So many people do great things everyday at various levels in their career using many different skill sets, and it’s their achievements that make this industry thrive,” said Lipps. “We want to celebrate these contributions with a premier award because it’s everyone working together that makes us strong.”

About The Metal Construction Association

The Metal Construction Association brings together a diverse industry for the purpose of expanding the use of metal in construction through marketing, research, technology, and education. Companies involved in MCA benefit tremendously from association activities that focus on research, codes and standards, market development, and technical programs. MCA’s market development efforts increase the use of metal in construction by educating the building and design communities about the benefits of metal. For more information about MCA, visit www.metalconstruction.org.