It is not too common for a 62-year-old company to still enjoy the involvement of its founder after having raised up successive generations of leaders to carry the company forward. We are fortunate to have our Founding Principal Azer Kehnemui, DSc, PE, as well as Principal Emeritus Marcia Camarda, PE, LEED AP remain engaged with SK&A, contributing their insights, experience, and wisdom. The continuity produced by this form of leadership succession planning provides a dependable experience for our clients and a stable workplace for our staff.
Now, as our leadership team continues to evolve, we celebrate with another team member, David J. Rodler, PE on his transition from Senior Principal to Principal Emeritus.
Looking Back
David inherited his passion for engineering from his grandfather, a civil engineer whose project experience included work on the design of the Hoover Dam. David began his own engineering education at Tulane University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He then went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
David began his career at SK&A in 1989 and was entrusted with the management of SK&A’s Repair + Restoration group in 1993, shortly after the group’s launch. David reflects, “At only 29 years old, I was very young to have been entrusted with so much responsibility and I am grateful to have been given that opportunity.” David’s dedication and determination over the years, together with the support of outstanding teammates, have made the Repair + Restoration group what it is today: a highly-esteemed specialty services division that clients entrust with their most challenging projects.
A Lifetime of Industry Contributions
Over the course of more than three decades in the industry, David has been instrumental in the development of “Repair Consulting” as a professional service. The International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) is an organization in which David has been active since 1990. In 2006, David participated in ICRI’s Strategic Development Council to create Vision 2020: A Vision for the Concrete Repair, Protection and Strengthening Industry. David also served as Chair of the ICRI Guide Specifications Committee from 2007 to 2012 and was instrumental in the creation of the Guide Specifications for Structural Concrete Repair, which is now widely used by professionals as a resource to develop their own contract documents for structural repair projects while still adhering to the many guidelines and established industry standards developed in the other committees of ICRI.
Looking Ahead
David is now stepping into the role of Principal Emeritus. As such, David is transitioning away from serving as the Structural Engineer of Record (SER) on projects and is working a reduced number of hours. He remains engaged in support of select key initiatives and will work closely with our Repair + Restoration team to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. He will also remain active in ICRI, continuing to serve on their Evaluation, Specifications, and Publications committees.
When asked how he would be spending his increased allotment of free time, David said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Jenny, enjoying days at the beach, and diving into his longtime passion of playing the guitar.
