Masonry Magazine February 2008 Page. 52
News
application, and hazardous waste remediation; and wetlands delineation and mitigation.
University Professors'
Masonry Workshop to be
Held in Philadelphia
The 2008 University Professors Masonry Workshop (UPMW) will be held March 27 through 29 in Philadelphia. The workshop will feature a number of new discussion topics from those presented at past workshops. The workshop is designed to assist architectural, construction management and engineering educators who teach masonry courses or hope to incorporate masonry courses or portions of courses into their curriculum. Topics to be discussed at the workshop will include educational issues in general; how individual professors teach masonry; course curricula at various universities; performance of masonry and case studies on masonry projects.
Registration for the 2008 UPMW is $285 prior to March 5, 2008, or $350 afterwards. The 2008 UPMW will be hosted at Drexel University. For more information, visit www.masonrysociety.org.
Proposed Legislation
Supports Building Safety
Sen. Mary Landrieu (La) and Rep. Dennis Moore (Kan.) introduced legislation on Capitol Hill in December, the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2007, to provide federal grants to building departments to enhance public safety. The grant would provide $100 million over five years to help local governments hire, train and equip code officials, including buikling and fire inspectors.
If approved by Congress, the act would aid communities that see their resources stretched when they face building booms or major rebuilds after a disaster. Studies show that every dollar invested to build stronger and safer results in savings of 54 to 57 in reduced damages when a disaster occurs.
Co-sponsors of the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act are Reps. Melissa Bean (III), Timothy Bishop (N.Y.), Earl Blumenauer of (Ore.), Ginny Brown-Waite (Fla.), Ruben Hinojosa (Texas), Ron Klein of (Fla.), Doris Matsui (Calif.) and Christopher Murphy (Conn.). The Community Building Code Administration Grant Program Act now awaits consideration by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and House Committee on Financial Services.
Spider Hires Chicago
Sales Rep
Spider has hired James Ferland as district sales representative for the Chicago operation center. Ferland will be responsible for solving contractors' suspended access and safety challenges in the Chicago area. In his most recent position as account manager with Hilti, he sold, serviced and promoted its complete mechanical and electrical product lines.
New Hires, Retirement at
Power Climber
Power Climber, a division of SafeWorks, LLC, has hired Eric Thormann as managing director. Thormann brings to Power Climber extensive international business credentials. Most recently, he was VP of after sales services for Trane Europe with the Trane group. Thormann also held general management and sales and marketing roles with Carrier, Volvo and Union Carbide.
The company also has hired Christopher Mediate as East regional sales manager. Mediate will be serving existing customers, developing new distribution and managing selected national accounts. He brings 25 years of sales experience to Power Climber and has broad-based experience with large residential builders and commercial developers, wholesale distribution, and the architectural and specifying communities.
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