From the Speaker

As many of you know, each year the Council of Representatives holds its annual meeting the day before the January Board of Directors meeting.

While gathered by chapter or groups of unaffiliated members (GUMs) at round tables, the council members elected leaders for each of ten regions. Known as group leaders, these representatives make the commitment to participate in conference calls with the speaker and alternate speaker prior to board meetings and at additional times, as needed. The conversation on the calls gives direction to the speaker to offer at the Board meetings.

This month and next, I have the pleasure of introducing the Alternate Speaker and the group leaders elected at the annual meeting.

Bob Walstead, Alt. Speaker – mentioned he is the “founding father and first president of the Southern Colorado Chapter.” He has been a council member since 2005 and was the Mountain Group leader 2006-09.  In addition, he served on the Governance Task Force, the ASHI Web site and the
Officers Nomination Committees, and chaired the Directors Nomination Committee for the past two years. Bob enjoys spending time with his four children and six grandchildren.

John Clason, South Midwest Group Leader – said he started inspecting in 2004 and believes the best business decision he ever made was to join ASHI and a chapter. He served in various positions in the Great Plains Chapter and on two national committees. He enjoys working with his fellow chapter members and is looking forward to working with representatives from other chapters. When not busy working, John loves fly-fishing and spending time with his wife, Janet, and their two Vizslas.

Alan Balker, Mountain Group Leader – reported that he put his five years in college studying music education to good use when he went out and pounded nails for the next 26 years. Alan founded the Arizona Chapter, served six years on the ASHI Board and has been a member of the council since it was formed in 1994. He has missed InspectionWorld only two times over the past 26 years. Presently serving as the secretary of the Arizona chapter, he trains inspectors through his company, Arizona SunTech, and recently completed his 10,000th inspection.

Jerry Santangini, New York/New Jersey Group Leader – said he’s been inspecting homes for 15 years and has been a member of ASHI for most of those years. He has served on the Southern New Jersey Chapter board for the past five years. Jerry, when the free time comes, enjoys riding his Harley wherever he can. Who knows? Jerry might decide to visit you on one of his excursions.

Skip Walker, Pacific Group Leader – said he lives in the San Francisco Bay area and has performed more than 2,500 inspections since 2003. He is an ASHI Certified Inspector, a CREIA Master Inspector, an ICC-certified residential building inspector, an F.I.R.E.-certified inspector, and he holds a California Real Estate Appraisal Trainee License. Skip held many offices in the Silicon Valley Chapter, and currently serves on CREIA’s Board of Directors.

Ed Massart, Midwest Group Leader – reported he started inspecting back in 1995. He joined ASHI in 1997 at an annual conference, was a member of the Great Lakes Chapter, then was a founding member of the Northern Illinois Chapter. He held a number of the board and officers’ positions, including as a council member and group leader. Ed has been an avid photographer since he was 18 years old. Recently, three of his photos were accepted for a juried art show. He is active in the DuPage Art League, currently sitting on its board.

Phil Smith, Sr., Gulf Group Leader – mentioned that he is a young man of 53. He started his inspection company, Home Sweet Home Inspections, in July 2000. Phil joined ASHI in 2004 and has been a council member of his ASHI-South Chapter for the past three years. Wow!! Phil has 10 grandchildren, but just can’t as see much of them as he would like.

More introductions are coming next month — four more group leaders and Lisa, the council secretary.  Contact information for all of us is listed every month. I sincerely hope you feel free to contact any of the group leaders, Bob Walstead or me. We all are here to serve the needs of the council and, more importantly, the members of our great society … you!

Please join all of us on the ASHI Forum!

Contact Info for 2010 CoR Speaker and Group Leaders

Howard Pegelow, Speaker
414-545-4186
hpegelow@yahoo.com

Bob Walstead, Alternate Speaker
719-495-2652
 rwalstead@aol.com

Glenn Gogal, New England/Canada Group Leader, 416-604-1280
Glen.gogal@sympatico.ca

Jerry Sanangini, New York/New Jersey Group Leader
856-232-6607
jsantangini@comcast.net

Bob Sisson, Mid-Atlantic Group Leader
301-208-8289
bob@inspectionsbybob.com

Ed Massart, Midwest Group Leader
630-514-9207
eemass@comcast.net

Keven Kossler, South Atlantic Group Leader
704-578-9803
keven@NPICarolinas.com

Phil Smith, Gulf Group Leader
205-333-0102
hshinspections@bellsouth.net

John Clason, South Midwest Group Leader
866-427-6962
john@crownhomeinspections.com

John Biegalski, North Central  Group Leader
610-992-1252
jjbiegalski@yahoo.com

Alan Blaker, Mountain Group Leader
602-254-2700
ablaker@hotmail.com

Skip Walker, Pacific Group Leader
650-873-4224
homeinspection@sanbrunocable.com

Lisa Alajajian-Giroux, Council Secretary
homequest1@comcast.net