JW Mollohan, FCSI, CCPR Candidate â Institute Chair ... AWS
J.W. Mollohan, FCSI, CCPR Candidate – Institute Chair-Elect
Year Joined CSI:
1996
Home Chapter:
Atlanta, GA
Firm:
Dryvit Systems, Inc
Occupation/Position
Strategic Accounts / Business Development Manager
Email:
[email protected]
Education:
Although I have no professional degrees, I’ve participated in many fascinating courses at colleges and universities, and online, as I’ve moved about the country developing my career.
Professional Registrations, Licenses and Certifications:
Construction Document Technologist (CDT) – July, 1997, Certified EIFS Professional (CEP) – December, 2008, LEED Green Associate – February, 2010, Certified Construction Product Representative (CCPR) – June, 2011
CSI Awards:
Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, June, 2002 “For rendering distinguished service to the Kansas City Chapter CSI in advancing the objectives of the Institute as Chair of the Programs Committee, you are hereby presented the Certificate of Appreciation and Merit on the 8th day of June 2002.” Letter of Appreciation, Washington University School of Architecture, March, 2003 “Your participation in our program assists architectural students in understanding the importance of clear and effective specifications in communicating design intent. Your lectures are always among the high points of the semester.” Certificate of Appreciation, June, 2003 “For rendering distinguished service in advancement of the Kansas City Chapter’s Strategic Plan from July 2002 to June 2003, you are presented this Certificate of Appreciation.”
Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May 2004, “For your dedicated and innovative service as Programs Committee Chair for the Kansas City Chapter CSI, you are presented this certificate on 16 May, 2004.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May 2005, “For your dedicated service as Chair of the Kansas City Chapter CSI Membership Committee, you are presented this certificate of appreciation and merit on this 10th day of May, 2005.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May 2006, “For your dedicated service as Chair of the Kansas City Chapter CSI Membership Committee, you are presented this certificate of appreciation and merit on this 9th day of May, 2006.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May, 2007 “For your dedicated service as Chair of the Kansas City Chapter CSI Membership Committee, you are presented this certificate of appreciation and merit on this 15th day of May, 2007 Most Valuable Member Award, May, 2007 “For your devoted and selfless service to the Kansas City Chapter of CSI, you are awarded this Most Valuable Member award on this 15th day of May, 2007. Letter of Appreciation, Johnson County (KS) Community College, April, 2008 “The Construction Management program at JCCC gratefully acknowledges the generous mentorship of our Construction Project Management and Specifications Writing students by J.W. Mollohan, CSI, CDT. Thank you for your support of the JCCC Student Chapter CSI through the years.” Chapter Service Award, May, 2008 “For your ongoing service to the Kansas City Chapter CSI, and your innovative efforts to extend our professional fellowship to the Kansas City design and construction community.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May, 2009 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter while serving as Industry Director to the Chapter Board. You are presented this certificate of Appreciation and Merit on the 15th day of May, 2009. Chapter Commendation Award, May, 2010 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter, July 2009 to June 2010, you are presented the Chapter Commendation Award on the 21st day of May, 2010. Your leadership and motivation in the creation and management of the ‘Procrastinators’ Ball’ educational
forums has brought great value to the Kansas City design and construction community.” Chapter Service Award, May, 2010 “For your devoted and selfless service to the Kansas City Chapter of CSI as 1st Vice President and Product Expo Chair, you are presented this Chapter Service Award on the 21st day of May, 2010.” Chapter Service Award, June, 2011 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter while serving as President-Elect, July 2010 to June 2011, you are presented the Chapter Service Award on the 10th day of June, 2011.” Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2012 “For your devoted and selfless personal contributions to the Institute and your chapter while serving as president of the Kansas City Chapter, 2011 - 2012.” President’s Service Award, June, 2012 “In grateful recognition of your outstanding service as President of the Kansas City Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute.” Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2012 “For rendering distinguished service in advancement of the Chapter’s goals and values from July 2011 to June 2012, you are presented this Certificate of Appreciation.” Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2013 “Recognizing your outstanding service to the Kansas City Chapter, and advancing the objectives of the Institute, while serving as Immediate Past President from July 2012 through June 2013.” Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2013 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter while serving as Product Expo Committee Chair from July 2012 through June 2013.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, June, 2014 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter while serving as Product Expo Committee Chair from July 2013 through June 2014.” Certificate of Appreciation, June, 2014 “For your outstanding and ongoing service as Chair of the Institute Membership Committee from July 2012 to June 2014, you are presented this certificate of appreciation.”
Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2015 “For your devoted and selfless personal contributions to the Institute and your region while serving as president of the North Central Region of CSI, July 2013 to June 2015.” President’s Service Award, June, 2015 “In appreciation of your innovative and highly effective leadership as President of the North Central Region of the Construction Specifications Institute July 2013 – June 2015.” Certificate of Appreciation, June, 2015 “For your devoted and selfless personal contributions to the Institute while serving as Chair of the Institute Membership Committee from July 2014 through June 2015.” Certificate of Appreciation, June, 2017 “For your devoted and selfless personal contributions to the Institute while serving as Director from the North Central Region July 2015 to June 2017” Elevation to Fellowship in the Institute, September, 2017 “For your dedication and commitment to continually educate, encourage, and elevate your professional peers at the Chapter, Region, and Institute level; for your outstanding leadership and support of new members through mentoring and recognition; for your constant ability to recognize opportunities; for your vision to see solutions for the betterment of your Chapter and Region; and for your service to the Institute, you are advanced to Fellowship in the Institute on the 14 th day of September, 2017” Other Professional/Civic Organizations and Awards:
U.S. Army BSA Cub Scout Pack 3050 BSA Boy Scout Troop 358
Staff Sergeant – Honorable Discharge 5-year Den Leader 7-year Assistant Scoutmaster Leadership Committee Secretary Order of the Arrow–Arrowman Tribe of Micosay – Warrior
Building Enclosure Council Kansas City Chapter Leadership Team Atlanta Chapter Member Roof Consultants Institute Member Air Barrier Association Member Nat’l. Inst. of Bldg. Sciences Member
Current/Previous Experience as a Board Member for Organization(s) other than CSI:
Boy Scout Troop 358 Building Enclosure Council Harrogate Condo. Assoc. Atlanta CSI Foundation
Leadership Committee Secretary Leadership Team (Kansas City Chapter) Committee Chair Secretary
Candidate Statement: My professional success during thirty-five years in our industry, and twenty-one years in our Association, continues to be in direct proportion to the measure of service I provide my clients and my fellow members. My motivation in seeking your approval for election is the need for an innovative and responsive servant leader as the Chair-Elect of the Institute Board. Presidents Robert Simmons and Lane Beougher, Board Chair Ron Geren, and their respective Boards have set CSI on a forward path with policies designed to facilitate a continuity of attentive leadership and responsive action. Under the management of Mark Dorsey, CEO, great strides have been made by our professional Staff in creating an online community center; in revitalizing our committees to refine and prioritize those member-driven ideas and requests; and in hiring, tasking, and overseeing our professional Staff to better produce the desired results. CSI needs leadership continually dedicated to the best interests of our Members - as defined by our members! With all confidence in Mark and our Staff’s ability to implement the means and methods of the Board’s directives, it remains the responsibility of our members, voiced through their elected representatives, to communicate their owners’ requirements and design intent. We need at the head of our Institute Board an articulate ambassador with national scope and awareness to serve as a bridge between the CSI member identity being created by Institute, and the foundational relationships of our local community chapters. An advocate to meet with and listen to our members, and communicate to our communities the news of our reinvention and our influential and prosperous future.
What leadership skills do you possess that you could apply as a member of CSI’s Board? CSI’s challenges are real and pressing; our opportunities tangible and attainable. The achievable rewards for our Association and our members warrant every effort and will challenge your Board to be both proactive in pursuit of specific internal goals, and responsive in adaptation to external trends. Through two decades of service to CSI I have developed skills of innovation and collaboration, and more importantly, the understanding of when and how to apply them – with empathy or enthusiasm. I have earned my calluses as I climbed the ladder of leadership from Chapter, to Region, to Insitute. I led the effort of a magnificent team of volunteers to revitalize the Kansas City Chapter, culminating in earning the coveted Chapter Cup for the greatest percentage growth in new Members. As president of the North Central Region, I marshalled the support of a diverse Board to reconfigure a broken succession plan; add representation for our members-at-large; recruite new regional leaders; and personally travel to, consult with, learn from, and build relationships with the leaders and members of all twenty-one chapters of CSI’s largest region. At Institute, I have served on Paul Betram’s GreenFormat Task Team, as liaison to the Air Barrier Association of America, and for three years, as the chair of the Institute Membership Committee. As MemComm chair, I directed and coordinated the efforts and activites of a large Board in my first year, and successfully morphed the Committee to a laboratory for micro-voluteering in the second and third years. I recruited and directed enthusiastic volunteer task teams with appropriate project-specific skill sets to survey our approximately 2,000 unafiliated members-at-large, design and implement an expansive campaign to increase CSI’s social media presence, investigate the business and membership models of competitive construction industry associations, and develop the Healthy Chapter Checklist to aid region leaders in addressing the needs of their respective component chapters. During my service on the Institute Board of Directors, I served as Board liaison to the Awards Committee, and as Chair of the Institute Investment Oversight Committee. I was privledged to be a part of the Board that interviewed and hired CEO Mark Dorsey, and have developed a strong working relationship with Mark and his outstanding professional Staff. I worked with Lane Beougher as a member of his Board to implement the new policy governance model of Board
operations. The new model allows for flexible direction and oversight by our members via their elected representatives while encouraging new and expanded programs toward those desired outcomes. I aided Mark in negotiations for the sale of a majority share in our subsidiary BSD, reviewing and making recommendations on each successful proposal to protect our members’ interests. Off the Board this past year, I’ve kept my hand in by creating a digital newsletter for the Southeast Region, serving as CoChair of the SE Region Membership Committee, chairing the Membership Committee for the Altanta Chapter, and as secretary of the Atlanta CSI Foundation. CSI, after all, is where my friends are! I have faced the same challenges you face as leaders of our Association. I’ve earned recognition for innovative solutions that leverage collaboration between members, committees, and industry stakeholders both inside and outside our membership body. The hard-learned lessons from my leadership roles at the Chapter, Foundation, Region, and Institute are fresh in my mind as I approach this new challenge. Service to CSI over the course of my professional career has given me the opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills. I ask for the opportunity to continue to ply those now polished skills while working for your benefit as Board Chair-Elect.
What skills and experience make you uniquely qualified for the position for which you are a candidate? • • • • • • • • • • • •
Above all, a passion for our Association, and a commitment to see it and its members flourish; A multi-decade career of immersion in this industry and an appreciation for its critical importance; An understanding of the roles and challenges of the many parties to the delivery of a construction project; Admiration and empathy for the women and men who put their resources and their reputations at risk every day to create our built environment; Recognized performance in leadership at Committee, Chapter, Region, and Institute; Experience in the establishment and maintenance of the policy governance model of board operations; Strong knowledge and experience in investment oversight and budget management; A personal relationship with many of CSI’s Leaders, at all levels, and across the nation, nurtured over many years; A personal working relationship with the current Institute Board, and CSI’s professional Staff; The ability to travel nationwide in my professional role; to personally represent the Institute to our Members; An informed belief that as a member of the Institute Board, I represent every CSI Member; and, A sincere desire to serve.
What do you think should be changed about CSI or what changes would you make? What shouldn’t change about CSI? There are programs under development that I believe will greatly benefit our members, and which I will enthusiastically support. There are additional programs that I would like to see funded and implemented, but it is very important to keep in mind that the role of an individual Board member, even the Board Chair, is not to change CSI. Change for our Association comes in the form of adaptations to societal trends, and to new technologies, codes, products, and innovations in workflow from our industry and our members. The proper role of the Board is to review and prioritize, in collaboration with our committees and volunteers, those adaptations and innovations, to produce results in line with the desired outcomes as stated by our members and codified in our Institute policies. We enjoy a wealth of great ideas from our members – professionals who create innovative change to improve our industry every day. The appropriate role of your Board is as ‘purchasing agent’ for our members, marshalling the funds, and Staff and volunteer hours in pursuit of innovative ideas, products, and services that promote a robust professional environment for the success of our members. Some of the programs and initiatives that I think will facilitate that success are:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The National Science Grant will inform the next generation of CSI by disseminating the CDT curriculum to twoyear college programs in construction management. Critical to the success of the NSF grant is demonstrating the value of the program by seeding those schools with CSI-educated professionals to implement the curriculum and mentor the students; Upgrading the CDT certificate to a truly valid and defensible certification. Promotion of CSI’s certifications as the “Gold Standard” for knowledge and dependability; The development and implementation of more powerful and more accessible communication tools to elicit and meet the needs of our members in a workplace of mobile devices. Utilization of those digital tools to engage our unaffiliated members-at-large. Education and support for regions and chapters which wish to implement the policy governance model of board operations. Events such as the revitalized Academy and the expanded Master Specifier Retreat that will take our message to the wider design and construction community. Regional versions of those exciting events to reach more of our nationwide members and communities; perhaps in conjunction with our regional conferences. Creative funding tools to incentivize enrollment and engagement of new members with their local chapters, and with our certification regimens. Develop the Building Technology education program to instill constructability knowledge in our emerging CSI professionals. Drive knowledge of CSI standards and formats to the sub-contractors who rely upon our specifiers’ work product when wagering their own resources on a new project. Create CSI-branded digital learning platforms for delivery of the building technology, standards and formats, and career development curriculum – our own and that of others – to our members and to the community. Leverage the combined financial muscle of our Chapter, Region, and Institute Foundations to empower local programs, and underwrite high-profile national initiatives. Develop a CSI-owned successor to the CONSTRUCT show, and empower local chapters to again host our annual CSI Convention.
Change is inevitable. Our entire membership will turn over at some point. Although future members and leaders of CSI will work in a very different business environment, our beloved Association will thrive as long as those whom you elect to your Institute Board listen to you and adroitly respond to your rapidly changing needs.
What do you see as critical to CSI’s future success? Local Boards and Committees empowered to experiment in creating value for our members and communities in CSI’s 127 local and 10 regional laboratories of innovation. Sharing their successes and best practices through the CSI Community forums, groups, and discussion boards so all may rise. Leaders emerging to serve in the growth of our Association and for the benefit of our members. Critical to our future success are an attentive and responsive leadership, a focused and organized Staff, and most importantly an engaged and optimistic membership. I respectfully ask for your support in helping to build that future as your Institute Board Chair-Elect. At your service,
J.W. Mollohan, FCSI, CCPR
Year Joined CSI:
1996
Home Chapter:
Atlanta, GA
Firm:
Dryvit Systems, Inc
Occupation/Position
Strategic Accounts / Business Development Manager
Email:
[email protected]
Education:
Although I have no professional degrees, I’ve participated in many fascinating courses at colleges and universities, and online, as I’ve moved about the country developing my career.
Professional Registrations, Licenses and Certifications:
Construction Document Technologist (CDT) – July, 1997, Certified EIFS Professional (CEP) – December, 2008, LEED Green Associate – February, 2010, Certified Construction Product Representative (CCPR) – June, 2011
CSI Awards:
Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, June, 2002 “For rendering distinguished service to the Kansas City Chapter CSI in advancing the objectives of the Institute as Chair of the Programs Committee, you are hereby presented the Certificate of Appreciation and Merit on the 8th day of June 2002.” Letter of Appreciation, Washington University School of Architecture, March, 2003 “Your participation in our program assists architectural students in understanding the importance of clear and effective specifications in communicating design intent. Your lectures are always among the high points of the semester.” Certificate of Appreciation, June, 2003 “For rendering distinguished service in advancement of the Kansas City Chapter’s Strategic Plan from July 2002 to June 2003, you are presented this Certificate of Appreciation.”
Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May 2004, “For your dedicated and innovative service as Programs Committee Chair for the Kansas City Chapter CSI, you are presented this certificate on 16 May, 2004.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May 2005, “For your dedicated service as Chair of the Kansas City Chapter CSI Membership Committee, you are presented this certificate of appreciation and merit on this 10th day of May, 2005.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May 2006, “For your dedicated service as Chair of the Kansas City Chapter CSI Membership Committee, you are presented this certificate of appreciation and merit on this 9th day of May, 2006.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May, 2007 “For your dedicated service as Chair of the Kansas City Chapter CSI Membership Committee, you are presented this certificate of appreciation and merit on this 15th day of May, 2007 Most Valuable Member Award, May, 2007 “For your devoted and selfless service to the Kansas City Chapter of CSI, you are awarded this Most Valuable Member award on this 15th day of May, 2007. Letter of Appreciation, Johnson County (KS) Community College, April, 2008 “The Construction Management program at JCCC gratefully acknowledges the generous mentorship of our Construction Project Management and Specifications Writing students by J.W. Mollohan, CSI, CDT. Thank you for your support of the JCCC Student Chapter CSI through the years.” Chapter Service Award, May, 2008 “For your ongoing service to the Kansas City Chapter CSI, and your innovative efforts to extend our professional fellowship to the Kansas City design and construction community.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, May, 2009 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter while serving as Industry Director to the Chapter Board. You are presented this certificate of Appreciation and Merit on the 15th day of May, 2009. Chapter Commendation Award, May, 2010 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter, July 2009 to June 2010, you are presented the Chapter Commendation Award on the 21st day of May, 2010. Your leadership and motivation in the creation and management of the ‘Procrastinators’ Ball’ educational
forums has brought great value to the Kansas City design and construction community.” Chapter Service Award, May, 2010 “For your devoted and selfless service to the Kansas City Chapter of CSI as 1st Vice President and Product Expo Chair, you are presented this Chapter Service Award on the 21st day of May, 2010.” Chapter Service Award, June, 2011 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter while serving as President-Elect, July 2010 to June 2011, you are presented the Chapter Service Award on the 10th day of June, 2011.” Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2012 “For your devoted and selfless personal contributions to the Institute and your chapter while serving as president of the Kansas City Chapter, 2011 - 2012.” President’s Service Award, June, 2012 “In grateful recognition of your outstanding service as President of the Kansas City Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute.” Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2012 “For rendering distinguished service in advancement of the Chapter’s goals and values from July 2011 to June 2012, you are presented this Certificate of Appreciation.” Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2013 “Recognizing your outstanding service to the Kansas City Chapter, and advancing the objectives of the Institute, while serving as Immediate Past President from July 2012 through June 2013.” Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2013 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter while serving as Product Expo Committee Chair from July 2012 through June 2013.” Certificate of Appreciation and Merit, June, 2014 “For your devoted and selfless personal contribution to the Kansas City Chapter while serving as Product Expo Committee Chair from July 2013 through June 2014.” Certificate of Appreciation, June, 2014 “For your outstanding and ongoing service as Chair of the Institute Membership Committee from July 2012 to June 2014, you are presented this certificate of appreciation.”
Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, June, 2015 “For your devoted and selfless personal contributions to the Institute and your region while serving as president of the North Central Region of CSI, July 2013 to June 2015.” President’s Service Award, June, 2015 “In appreciation of your innovative and highly effective leadership as President of the North Central Region of the Construction Specifications Institute July 2013 – June 2015.” Certificate of Appreciation, June, 2015 “For your devoted and selfless personal contributions to the Institute while serving as Chair of the Institute Membership Committee from July 2014 through June 2015.” Certificate of Appreciation, June, 2017 “For your devoted and selfless personal contributions to the Institute while serving as Director from the North Central Region July 2015 to June 2017” Elevation to Fellowship in the Institute, September, 2017 “For your dedication and commitment to continually educate, encourage, and elevate your professional peers at the Chapter, Region, and Institute level; for your outstanding leadership and support of new members through mentoring and recognition; for your constant ability to recognize opportunities; for your vision to see solutions for the betterment of your Chapter and Region; and for your service to the Institute, you are advanced to Fellowship in the Institute on the 14 th day of September, 2017” Other Professional/Civic Organizations and Awards:
U.S. Army BSA Cub Scout Pack 3050 BSA Boy Scout Troop 358
Staff Sergeant – Honorable Discharge 5-year Den Leader 7-year Assistant Scoutmaster Leadership Committee Secretary Order of the Arrow–Arrowman Tribe of Micosay – Warrior
Building Enclosure Council Kansas City Chapter Leadership Team Atlanta Chapter Member Roof Consultants Institute Member Air Barrier Association Member Nat’l. Inst. of Bldg. Sciences Member
Current/Previous Experience as a Board Member for Organization(s) other than CSI:
Boy Scout Troop 358 Building Enclosure Council Harrogate Condo. Assoc. Atlanta CSI Foundation
Leadership Committee Secretary Leadership Team (Kansas City Chapter) Committee Chair Secretary
Candidate Statement: My professional success during thirty-five years in our industry, and twenty-one years in our Association, continues to be in direct proportion to the measure of service I provide my clients and my fellow members. My motivation in seeking your approval for election is the need for an innovative and responsive servant leader as the Chair-Elect of the Institute Board. Presidents Robert Simmons and Lane Beougher, Board Chair Ron Geren, and their respective Boards have set CSI on a forward path with policies designed to facilitate a continuity of attentive leadership and responsive action. Under the management of Mark Dorsey, CEO, great strides have been made by our professional Staff in creating an online community center; in revitalizing our committees to refine and prioritize those member-driven ideas and requests; and in hiring, tasking, and overseeing our professional Staff to better produce the desired results. CSI needs leadership continually dedicated to the best interests of our Members - as defined by our members! With all confidence in Mark and our Staff’s ability to implement the means and methods of the Board’s directives, it remains the responsibility of our members, voiced through their elected representatives, to communicate their owners’ requirements and design intent. We need at the head of our Institute Board an articulate ambassador with national scope and awareness to serve as a bridge between the CSI member identity being created by Institute, and the foundational relationships of our local community chapters. An advocate to meet with and listen to our members, and communicate to our communities the news of our reinvention and our influential and prosperous future.
What leadership skills do you possess that you could apply as a member of CSI’s Board? CSI’s challenges are real and pressing; our opportunities tangible and attainable. The achievable rewards for our Association and our members warrant every effort and will challenge your Board to be both proactive in pursuit of specific internal goals, and responsive in adaptation to external trends. Through two decades of service to CSI I have developed skills of innovation and collaboration, and more importantly, the understanding of when and how to apply them – with empathy or enthusiasm. I have earned my calluses as I climbed the ladder of leadership from Chapter, to Region, to Insitute. I led the effort of a magnificent team of volunteers to revitalize the Kansas City Chapter, culminating in earning the coveted Chapter Cup for the greatest percentage growth in new Members. As president of the North Central Region, I marshalled the support of a diverse Board to reconfigure a broken succession plan; add representation for our members-at-large; recruite new regional leaders; and personally travel to, consult with, learn from, and build relationships with the leaders and members of all twenty-one chapters of CSI’s largest region. At Institute, I have served on Paul Betram’s GreenFormat Task Team, as liaison to the Air Barrier Association of America, and for three years, as the chair of the Institute Membership Committee. As MemComm chair, I directed and coordinated the efforts and activites of a large Board in my first year, and successfully morphed the Committee to a laboratory for micro-voluteering in the second and third years. I recruited and directed enthusiastic volunteer task teams with appropriate project-specific skill sets to survey our approximately 2,000 unafiliated members-at-large, design and implement an expansive campaign to increase CSI’s social media presence, investigate the business and membership models of competitive construction industry associations, and develop the Healthy Chapter Checklist to aid region leaders in addressing the needs of their respective component chapters. During my service on the Institute Board of Directors, I served as Board liaison to the Awards Committee, and as Chair of the Institute Investment Oversight Committee. I was privledged to be a part of the Board that interviewed and hired CEO Mark Dorsey, and have developed a strong working relationship with Mark and his outstanding professional Staff. I worked with Lane Beougher as a member of his Board to implement the new policy governance model of Board
operations. The new model allows for flexible direction and oversight by our members via their elected representatives while encouraging new and expanded programs toward those desired outcomes. I aided Mark in negotiations for the sale of a majority share in our subsidiary BSD, reviewing and making recommendations on each successful proposal to protect our members’ interests. Off the Board this past year, I’ve kept my hand in by creating a digital newsletter for the Southeast Region, serving as CoChair of the SE Region Membership Committee, chairing the Membership Committee for the Altanta Chapter, and as secretary of the Atlanta CSI Foundation. CSI, after all, is where my friends are! I have faced the same challenges you face as leaders of our Association. I’ve earned recognition for innovative solutions that leverage collaboration between members, committees, and industry stakeholders both inside and outside our membership body. The hard-learned lessons from my leadership roles at the Chapter, Foundation, Region, and Institute are fresh in my mind as I approach this new challenge. Service to CSI over the course of my professional career has given me the opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills. I ask for the opportunity to continue to ply those now polished skills while working for your benefit as Board Chair-Elect.
What skills and experience make you uniquely qualified for the position for which you are a candidate? • • • • • • • • • • • •
Above all, a passion for our Association, and a commitment to see it and its members flourish; A multi-decade career of immersion in this industry and an appreciation for its critical importance; An understanding of the roles and challenges of the many parties to the delivery of a construction project; Admiration and empathy for the women and men who put their resources and their reputations at risk every day to create our built environment; Recognized performance in leadership at Committee, Chapter, Region, and Institute; Experience in the establishment and maintenance of the policy governance model of board operations; Strong knowledge and experience in investment oversight and budget management; A personal relationship with many of CSI’s Leaders, at all levels, and across the nation, nurtured over many years; A personal working relationship with the current Institute Board, and CSI’s professional Staff; The ability to travel nationwide in my professional role; to personally represent the Institute to our Members; An informed belief that as a member of the Institute Board, I represent every CSI Member; and, A sincere desire to serve.
What do you think should be changed about CSI or what changes would you make? What shouldn’t change about CSI? There are programs under development that I believe will greatly benefit our members, and which I will enthusiastically support. There are additional programs that I would like to see funded and implemented, but it is very important to keep in mind that the role of an individual Board member, even the Board Chair, is not to change CSI. Change for our Association comes in the form of adaptations to societal trends, and to new technologies, codes, products, and innovations in workflow from our industry and our members. The proper role of the Board is to review and prioritize, in collaboration with our committees and volunteers, those adaptations and innovations, to produce results in line with the desired outcomes as stated by our members and codified in our Institute policies. We enjoy a wealth of great ideas from our members – professionals who create innovative change to improve our industry every day. The appropriate role of your Board is as ‘purchasing agent’ for our members, marshalling the funds, and Staff and volunteer hours in pursuit of innovative ideas, products, and services that promote a robust professional environment for the success of our members. Some of the programs and initiatives that I think will facilitate that success are:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The National Science Grant will inform the next generation of CSI by disseminating the CDT curriculum to twoyear college programs in construction management. Critical to the success of the NSF grant is demonstrating the value of the program by seeding those schools with CSI-educated professionals to implement the curriculum and mentor the students; Upgrading the CDT certificate to a truly valid and defensible certification. Promotion of CSI’s certifications as the “Gold Standard” for knowledge and dependability; The development and implementation of more powerful and more accessible communication tools to elicit and meet the needs of our members in a workplace of mobile devices. Utilization of those digital tools to engage our unaffiliated members-at-large. Education and support for regions and chapters which wish to implement the policy governance model of board operations. Events such as the revitalized Academy and the expanded Master Specifier Retreat that will take our message to the wider design and construction community. Regional versions of those exciting events to reach more of our nationwide members and communities; perhaps in conjunction with our regional conferences. Creative funding tools to incentivize enrollment and engagement of new members with their local chapters, and with our certification regimens. Develop the Building Technology education program to instill constructability knowledge in our emerging CSI professionals. Drive knowledge of CSI standards and formats to the sub-contractors who rely upon our specifiers’ work product when wagering their own resources on a new project. Create CSI-branded digital learning platforms for delivery of the building technology, standards and formats, and career development curriculum – our own and that of others – to our members and to the community. Leverage the combined financial muscle of our Chapter, Region, and Institute Foundations to empower local programs, and underwrite high-profile national initiatives. Develop a CSI-owned successor to the CONSTRUCT show, and empower local chapters to again host our annual CSI Convention.
Change is inevitable. Our entire membership will turn over at some point. Although future members and leaders of CSI will work in a very different business environment, our beloved Association will thrive as long as those whom you elect to your Institute Board listen to you and adroitly respond to your rapidly changing needs.
What do you see as critical to CSI’s future success? Local Boards and Committees empowered to experiment in creating value for our members and communities in CSI’s 127 local and 10 regional laboratories of innovation. Sharing their successes and best practices through the CSI Community forums, groups, and discussion boards so all may rise. Leaders emerging to serve in the growth of our Association and for the benefit of our members. Critical to our future success are an attentive and responsive leadership, a focused and organized Staff, and most importantly an engaged and optimistic membership. I respectfully ask for your support in helping to build that future as your Institute Board Chair-Elect. At your service,
J.W. Mollohan, FCSI, CCPR
