Businesses are built on people, and successful businesses are built on successful people. Stephen R. Covey famously defined the attributes of successful people in his grounding-breaking book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” The habits include such axioms as “be proactive,” “begin with the end in mind” and “seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
I have no doubt that the six honorees in the 2013 class of the Metal Construction Hall of Fame all exhibit every one of those habits, but they show other features as well. They are innovative. They are devoted. And they have each had an impact on all of our lives in the metal construction industry through their purpose and drive.
In this issue, we are thrilled to profile the six honorees in the 2013 class of the Metal Construction Hall of Fame:
- Duane S. Ellifritt, University of Florida
- Mary Farrar, All Pro Construction
- Donald L. Johnson, P.E., Butler Manufacturing
- Tem McElroy, McElroy Metal
- Ted S. Miller, The Miller-Clapperton Partnership
- Clark Prudhon, Varco Pruden Buildings
These people have improved our lives through their industry, their innovation and their excellence.
Spanning the breadth of the metal construction industry, they represent all aspects of our success, from great product development to safety to education to superior construction. But it is not just our lives that are improved by these people. Through their influence on the built environment, the lives of all Americans have been impacted. The buildings that stand as their legacies, serve our communities as schools, churches and cultural centers. They house businesses that provide careers and, perhaps, the stability for others to excel in their own industries. What we do in the metal construction industry is important to our country and the world. What these people have done for us is equally important.
At METALCON International, we recognized these honorees at a reception. S-5! served as our platinum sponsor, and Firestone Building Products and Umicore Building Products USA Inc. supported us as gold sponsors. I want to thank all of them for their collective devotion to our industry and backing.
Our partners in this venture who served as the judging panel are the Metal Construction Association, the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association and the Metal Building Manufacturers Association. Thanks to all the judges for their time and effort.
To read more about the Hall of Fame and profiles of the honorees, please go to page 18. I look forward to receiving nominations for next year’s class and learning about a new group of people who have proved to be so important to all of us.
