Safer Buildings Coalition Elects New Board

Posted on August 27, 2019
Eric Toenjes, Graybar & Dennis Burns, ADRF join the Board; Kevin Persing moves to At-Large role

The 2019 Election for the Safer Buildings Coalition Board of Directors has concluded, and we are pleased to announce that Graybar’s Eric Toenjes was elected as the new SBC Vice President, while Dennis Burns, of ADRF, will be the Coalition’s next Secretary. Kevin Persing, Cobham Wireless, who has been serving as Board Secretary, will take on the role of At-Large board member next. Current SBC Vice President, Patrick Lau, Comba, becomes President.

Toenjes, the new VP, has the following messages to the Safer Buildings Coalition’s members:

“It is with great anticipation that I accept the opportunity to help lead the board of the Safer Buildings Coalition as Vice President. I can’t tell you how much it means to Graybar and to me personally that you put your trust in me as we look to take SBC, its membership and the industry to the next level. We have an unprecedented opportunity and responsibility to drive codes, standards, certifications and education of all constituents, through the efforts of all the members of the coalition. Together, we can ensure the growth of this industry and the safety of the buildings we all occupy. Thank you for your support!”

“We have an unprecedented opportunity and responsibility to drive codes, standards, certifications and education of all constituents, through the efforts of all the members of the coalition.”

Eric Toenjes, incoming Vice President

 

Like Toenjes, the new SBC Secretary is looking forward to getting to work on behalf of the Coalition and its members:

“Thank you for your support and putting your trust in me to be elected as the new SBC Board Secretary. I am excited to join the board and getting more involved with the coalition to help drive our mission forward," Dennis Burns says.

Chief Alan Perdue, the Safer Buildings Coalition’s Executive Director, is delighted to welcome the new board members:

“I would like to congratulate Eric, Dennis and Kevin on their election to the SBC Board of Directors. Accepting a leadership position into a volunteer organization requires dedication and commitment, and these three individuals have definitely shown through their past service to the SBC that they are prepared for the task at hand. These gentlemen have proven that they are leaders who work with others to identify necessary changes, have the ability to create a vision to guide the change through inspiration and can execute their vision by working as a team to advance our great organization to the next level. I look forward to working with each of them in an effort to serve our members.”

The role of SBC Vice President is actually a three-year commitment. Eric Toenjes will serve as VP for one year before stepping up to become Board President. At the end of his one-year term as President, he will then step into the role of Immediate Past President. Accordingly, current VP Patrick Lau now becomes President while Jeff Hipchen will serve as Immediate Past President for the next year.

“I want to thank Jeff Hipchen for his leadership, service and guidance for the last several years. I am especially thankful for his behind-the-scene work. Jeff has been integral to the important advances we have made over the last year in membership growth and visibility. I’m excited to work with a group of outstanding leaders in our industry and continue the mission to make SBC more relevant in the public safety space,” the next Board President says.

“I’m excited to work with a group of outstanding leaders in our industry and continue the mission to make SBC more relevant in the public safety space.”

Patrick Lau, incoming Board President

 

 

The outgoing President is convinced that the transition to the new board will be seamless:

“It has been a pleasure representing the Safer Buildings Coalition Members as Board President for the past two years. Patrick Lau and Kevin Pershing who, like me, have been part of the Board for two years, will assure the initiatives underway will be seen through and will bring new initiatives to the strong organization we have put in place. Eric Toenjes and Dennis Burns have been very active within the organization, and it will be great to have them bring their insights and perspectives to help make Safer Buildings even bigger and better,” Hipchen says.

The Safer Buildings Coalition would like to thank all of the nominees for stepping up. Your dedication and hard work are among the key reasons why the Safer Buildings Coalition is able to continue its growth and reach an ever-larger audience.

The next year brings great challenges and opportunities for the Coalition. With the new board in place, SBC will continue to work with members, lawmakers, industry and other players in the space to spread our important message so that the nation’s buildings continue to become safer for occupants, visitors and first responders.

Here is your next Safer Buildings Coalition Board of Directors:

President: Patrick Lau
Vice President: Eric Toenjes
Immediate Past President: Jeff Hipchen
Secretary: Dennis Burns
Treasurer: Seth Buechley
At-Large: Kevin Persing