Former Varco Pruden Buildings president Chuck Haslebacher passed away on February 4. He served as president of VP from 2007 to 2018, retiring from BlueScope Buildings North America in 2019. He was inducted into the Metal Construction Hall of Fame in 2020.
Chuck Haslebacher
Haslebacher started at VP in 1980, holding numerous management positions in engineering, sales and administration. He will be remembered by his calm and enduring leadership, and his depth of knowledge of the industry and the VP business, where he brought an engineer’s perspective and experience to help find solutions and connect with builders.
Over the course of his career, Haslebacher built many lasting relationships with builders and coworkers. He was known for his openness and enjoyed getting to know everyone in the business. “Chuck was always available to listen and share ideas, and he strived to make VP feel like a family,” says Greg Pasley, COO, BlueScope Buildings North America. “We will remember Chuck for his giving nature, as exemplified by his commitment to serving the community through volunteering with Boy Scouts, Little League, and encouraging others to support community service organizations.”
Haslebacher also served on the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) Board of Directors and its predecessor Executive Committee for many years, as well as serving as the association’s chairman in 2011. He also shared his passion for the metal building industry by serving as the chairman of MBMA’s Accreditation Committee for a number of years.
In discussing Haslebacher’s contributions for the Metal Construction Hall of Fame, Craig Edwards, regional sales manager at VP said, “Chuck sets a great example. He’s a great person and you never see him riled up. He never lost his cool. He was our leader, our friend and our counterpart every day.”
Lee Shoemaker, Ph.D., PE, MBMA director of research and engineering and Hall of Fame inductee, added, “Chuck exemplified the MBMA culture, which was very inclusive. Some of the larger members reached out to smaller members to offer help to get accreditation. Chuck was involved in developing workshops to help all members understand what they needed to do. Even though they were competitors, companies understood how important it was to have a strong accreditation program for the industry. Chuck showed that through his leadership.”
Haslebacher is survived by his wife, Janet, their three children and two grandchildren.