WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION – CONCRETE PUMPING INDUSTRY
ACPA executive director Christi Collins
discovers opportunities and professionalism
in the concrete pumping community
Florida Construction News special feature
O ver more than 20 years with
the American Concrete Pump-
ing Association (ACPA), Christi
Collins has grown from a part time
assistant to the association’s
current executive director. She
has helped grow and evolve the
association and its focus, and
committed to a new level of pro-
fessionalism for both the associa-
tion and the industry.

Collins says her expertise in ac-
counting, operations and systems
initially led her to work for the as-
sociation’s former executive direc-
tor at a time when ACPA was just
getting started. “We were very
lean, didn’t have many programs,
few members and a small budget.

My role was to implement sys-
tems and processes, to get book-
keeping and so on set up. As we got
organized, I started taking on more
roles. The executive director at the
time was semi-retired and said that if
I was interested in taking over one
day, he would help me along.”
She says he proved an excellent
mentor, teaching her all about the in-
dustry and its people. Gradually, mem-
bership and programs doubled, the
budget grew five-fold and in 2001,
Collins took the helm as executive di-
rector. Collins’ take over coincided with
other changes that were happening
within the association and she says it
was both a challenging and exciting
time. While she was concerned ini-
tially about her relative inexperience
with the industry, she said the board
was confident in her ability to learn
and even more so in her ability to run
the association which was key.

“We took that opportunity to bring
in some new people, to elevate the
level of our magazine and to focus on
20 – SPRING 2017 — Florida Construction News
increasing the level of professionalism
within the national office, and the in-
dustry as a whole.”
She also took the opportunity to
begin attending events at other asso-
ciations, increasing ACPA’s presence.

Collins says she initially felt she
had to work to earn the confidence
of her peers, but says this was
more about inexperience in the in-
dustry than her gender. “I have al-
ways found the industry to be
respectful. There are places for
people with such diverse interests
and skills, whether they be in mar-
keting, technology, organizing….

The industry is open to us all.”
The diversity of opportunities
and within each day’s work pro-
vides opportunities for everyone to
find their niche and to grow from
one role into others, she said. “I
would encourage anyone inter-
ested in an exciting and rewarding
career to consider the construction
industry. Don’t let old labels get in
your way.”
She says the concrete pumping
sector in her experience is a small,
cohesive group representing a mix
of all ages, levels of experience and
genders, which welcomes newcom-
ers. For more information
about ACPA, visit
http://www.concretepumpers.com. 2XU5HQWDO
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APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS
Moss & Associates promotes Jason Clark
to vice-president/project executive
Moss & Associates has promoted Jason Clark to vice-president/project executive. Clark, who
has more than 15 years of experience in construction management, first joined Moss in 2005 as
an assistant project manager.

In his new capacity, Clark will supervise multi-million dollar projects from the conception
phase through completion. Previously, as a project executive, he managed the construction of
three high-rise condominiums in Miami-Dade County: 400 Sunny Isles, 1010 Brickell and The
Harbour. “Jason is an incredible asset to our team,” Moss & Associates president Scott Moss said in a
statement. “His extensive knowledge of the construction industry, positive attitude and business
savvy made him the perfect candidate for this position.”
Before joining Moss, Clark held the positions of assistant project manager and assistant
superintendent at Bovis Lend Lease in New York City.

Clark earned an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in building construction from the University
of Florida. He is LEED accredited and a Florida certified licensed general contractor. Clark
resides in Coconut Grove.

Miguel Lopez Jr. asphalt maintenance names
Yahaira Parrales as chief of staff
Miguel Lopez Jr. Inc., a Miami asphalt and concrete maintenance firm, has promoted Yahaira
Parrales to the newly created position of chief of staff. Parrales has been with the company for
10 years, most recently in the position of executive director responsible for office operations.

“We realized the need to have a strong professional who will oversee our realignment and
expansion,” said president and CEO Miguel Lopez, Jr. “Yahaira is the ‘go to’ person for our staff,
clients and vendors, so it was only natural to name her chief of staff.”
Chad Ward to seek Florida sales footprint for
Construction Industry Allies
Construction Industry Allies (CIA), a Dallas based construction site service provider, says it
has appointed Chad Ward as vice-president of sales and operations to oversee business
development of new suppliers and customer relations in Florida and Georgia.

The company says Ward has a 25-year background in the construction industry playing a key
role at two of the world’s largest construction suppliers, 17-years of which he spent in Florida
and Georgia.

His focus in construction has been technology, energy and equipment. “His expertise in
project and account management, engineering solutions, product development as well as
leadership in training and support is exactly what our company needed for our new expansion,”
says CAI president Angie Ellis. “Ward’s proven track record leaves me completely confident that
he will more than exceed the key objectives on the horizon.”
“I’m excited to be joining the team at Construction Industry Allies and honored to be involved
on the cutting edge of bringing the construction site consolidation services to Florida and
Georgia,” Ward said in a statement. “Angie has developed this business from the ground up and
I’ve already seen tremendous expansion and opportunities in a short amount of time. I am
determined and committed to the continued growth and improvements to make this company’s
future even brighter.”
Florida Construction News — SPRING 2017 – 21