A metal architecture industry association underwent a change of guard on its board of directors. The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Board of Directors elected Jeffrey E. Dave, P.E., president and CEO of Dave Steel Co. Inc., Asheville, N.C., as its new chairman, and James G. Thompson, CEO of Palmer Steel Supplies Inc., McAllen, Texas, as its new vice chairman at its annual meeting in Cape Elizabeth, Maine in December.
The steel industry will continue to experience quick advancements in opportunities to use models throughout the design fabrication processes, Dave says.
“As we push the edge of this technology, and its use on steel construction projects, it will be very important for all to exercise due diligence in transitioning from research – to case studies – to normal use and implementation on projects,” Dave says. “One of my goals during my tenure as chair is to make sure this transition process occurs in a manner that assures we continue to achieve our mission of increasing the market-share of steel by making structural steel the material of choice on construction projects.”
Dave succeeds William B. Bourne III, president and CEO of Universal Steel, Inc., Lithonia, Ga., as chairman of the 27-member board. Bourne says he is excited about AISC’s future.
“Our next chair, Jeff Dave, is a proven volunteer, an AISC board member since 2003, and a successful businessman,” Bourne says. “He has led his company, Dave Steel, for more than 20 years and is an important part of the Virginia Carolinas Structural Steel Fabricators Association.”
Thompson takes over from David L. Harwell, president of Central Texas Iron Works Inc., Waco, Texas. Both positions have two-year terms.
Dave was COO of Dave Steel Co. from 1992 to 2004, when he became president and CEO, and has worked in the steel fabrication business since 1985.
Dave graduated from North Carolina State University with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. In his early career he worked for several years at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va. He also worked for a structural engineering firm on contract at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Va., and an engineering firm in Raleigh, N.C.
Dave has served on Virginia Carolinas Structural Steel Fabricators Association’s board of directors since 1989, including a term as president. He joined the AISC Board in 2003 and served three years as chairman of the Certification Committee and as vice chairman.
Joseph Dave, Dave’s grandfather, served on the AISC board from 1959 to 1965, and his uncle, Bernard Dave, sat on the board between 1970 and 1976.
Thompson has more than 30 years of experience in steel fabrication and erection. His expertise includes sales, estimating, production management, operations management and administration management. He joined Palmer Steel Supplies, an AISC-member fabricator and AISC-certified fabricator, as a management trainee and ascended to general manager and vice president.
In 1984 Thompson became president at Palmer Steel Supplies, and currently serves as CEO. Thompson’s son, Palmer Thompson, is now the president of the company and represents the third generation of family management.
Thompson graduated from Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 1969. While at the university he enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and, upon graduating, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He entered pilot training and, after 53 weeks, earned his wings. Thompson served on active duty for the next four years as an instructor pilot in Mississippi and Texas. Following his departure from the U.S. Air Force, Thompson moved to McAllen, Texas, and began his career at Palmer Steel Supplies. Thompson joined the AISC board in 2007.