This month I wanted to stop down again and talk about some of the great individuals who have worked in this industry. It wasn’t my idea….well, not completely. After a few of the articles I penned about some of the guys that haven’t received due recognition, I started getting a lot of suggestions about more leaders who I should take time to recognize. So, here we go.
I am going to start by showing this guy’s official bio and then talk about him.
Frank Woeste, P.E., Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus and Adjunct Professor of Sustainable Biomaterials. Frank conducted wood engineering research and taught wood design courses throughout his 26-year tenure at Virginia Tech. Since 1977, Frank has conducted research with several departmental faculty and graduate students interested in the engineering design of wood components and structures. From 1994 through 2007, he served on project committees responsible for the revisions of the ANSI/ TPI 1 wood truss design standard. He also serves on the AF&PA/AWC Wood Design Standards Committee responsible for revisions to the National Design Specification for Wood Construction and the Wood Frame Construction Manual. He continues to offer continuing education programs for structural engineers and others involved in the design, construction, and inspection of wood buildings.
Whew! That is a lot right there. I have known Frank for a very long time and known of him even longer. Frank and I were both on the ANSI/TPI 1 committee for a few years back in the early 2000s. And, before anyone gets the wrong idea, Frank and I have disagreed on issues and had discussions in which we could not sway each other to the other’s point of view. We didn’t get mad at each other. We remained friends and continued to work for the betterment of the component industry. That is Frank. He is a brilliant man and a passionate man. He will not be moved by suggestion. If you are going to change Frank’s mind on something you must have irrefutable evidence. I like that! I like a guy who is going to examine the evidence and base his position on engineering. Frank is the kind of guy who, if someone challenged him on something, he would test it. This guy probably done more testing than anyone in the industry. He has answers to questions that haven’t even been asked yet…lol.
Anyone who thinks Frank is just some Brainiac that doesn’t know how to have fun is wrong. He is one of my favorite people with whom to have a cocktail and a discussion. But, if you ask a question, be prepared. There are no short answers with Frank. It could be about anything. The depth of his knowledge in so many areas is astounding. He is what we used to call a “EWP”. Most people see those letters and think engineered wood products, but to me it is an Engineer With Personality. Attending that class was really awesome. You could tell by the others who attended that Frank is a very highly regarded resource in this industry. Many of us became friends and still remain so after all these years. Many of those attendees have become highly regarded as well. Terrific engineers who have helped this industry grow and become what it is today. Frank has a way of bringing out the best in people by challenging them to be their best. He provokes thought and analysis. Frank has been offering the truss repair course for many years and it always seems to fill up. One reason is the quality of attendees. They are generally really smart guys who are interested in sharing and receiving information.
The company that Frank has kept over the years is pretty cool too. Names like Dolan, Bender, Crawford and Suddarth readily come to mind. He runs in circles that most of us will never be a party to. The published papers are too great to list and the work he has done is invaluable. Frank has my deepest respect.
This next guy is probably someone most of you have never heard of, but has had an impact in our industry. Although indirect at times, he has helped me and others solve problems.
Mark Crawford, P.E., S.E. is one of the really great human beings on our planet and a really bright engineer. I first met Mark in 1996 in Visalia, CA. He was the VP of Engineering at a large truss manufacturing plant. Mark is another one of those guys who will make you better by being around him and because of the way he makes you think. The other thing I really like about Mark is that he always asks questions. An engineer who asks questions can be rare, but refreshing. Most of the time when he asked me questions he already knew the answer, but it made me feel good to be included in the solution.
Mark mastered the component industry (as much as anyone can master it) and caught the attention of the largest construction hardware company and was hired away. He spent a brief amount of time getting his legs under him and quickly rose to VP of Engineering there. During his time there he made his mark (no pun intended) by testing and developing many groundbreaking solutions. Many of those solutions have become standards in the industry and are now on their second or third generations and all based on the work he was doing. Even though he was busy with smart guy stuff he would stop down from time to time to help me solve a problem. He would go to the lab and witness tests and offer suggestions to maximize performance. Mark had a staff of smart young engineers and EITs who he mentored on a daily basis. He was preparing the next generation to lead by his example. It was there that he was named one of the “25 Most Influential Engineers in America”….I think that was the title…..it should have been king of all things engineering related. Mark is just that smart. Mark still resides firmly in my lifetime Top 5 Smartest Guys on the Planet…..but, we will get to that in another article.
Mark did and continues to influence people, further earning that title. One of the greatest things about Mark is his loyalty and friendship. Mark and I haven’t worked together in more than a decade, but we still stay in touch. He is one of those guys who is a true pleasure to know. He is always sincerely interested in other people and what is going on in the world they travel in. Mark was the first man who I tested a new social solution on. It worked. That is a subject for another article as well.
I will say here that if you have a chance to interact with Mark Crawford either on a professional or personal level, you will be better for it. Well, unless he asks you to be his workout partner at the gym. I have never been so sore in my life. That guy can really sling the iron around.
There you have it. My first installment of Smart Guys. I will continue this until something else (like something shiny) catches my attention. You may email me suggestions. I always enjoy the input.