EUCA Installs Ehler as President, Names 2006 Board of Directors

At the recent 36th annual Installation Dinner at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, the Engineering & Utility Contractors Association installed Fred Ehler of Oakley-based H.F. Ehler Co. Inc. as its 2006 president and named its new board of directors.

More than 400 people attended the event. Steve Geney, president of North Bay Construction Inc. of Petaluma, was the installing officer for the evening.

Ehler was born in Lakeport, educated in engineering at Oregon State University, and holds a masters degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

His company was founded in 1961 by his father and installs underground utilities for commercial and industrial projects in the East Bay. He joined H.F. Ehler Co. in 1993 as the chief operating officer, acquired all stock ownership in 1999, and is currently the president. Ehler became involved initially with the EUCA on the government relations committee and was elected to the board of directors in 2003. The company has been involved with the association for 20 years.

The 2006 board of directors include: Sharon Alberts, Talus Construction Inc., Castro Valley; Michael Bauman, Bauman Landscape Inc., Richmond; Robert Chrisp, Chrisp Co., Fremont; Fred Ehler; Mike Fuller, Mountain Cascade Inc., Livermore; George Furnanz, Stacy and Witbeck Inc., Alameda; Dave Harris, Heffernan Insurance Brokers, Walnut Creek; Rusty Hoseley, R & L Brosamer Inc., Alamo; JoAnn K. Leonard, Ignite Marketing, Los Gatos; Ricky Serrano, R.E. Serrano Inc., Martinez; Hal Stober, Gordon N. Ball Inc., San Francisco; Andrew Vasconi, A.J. Vasconi General Engineering, Concord; and Christian Young, D.W. Young Construction Co. Inc., Alamo.

Mark Breslin, EUCA executive director, introduced the new 2006 EUCA Rewards Program that will promote the growth and development of EUCA in recruiting new members to the association. The member who recruits the most contractor companies in 2006 will be awarded the grand prize trip to Sydney, Australia.

Special awards were also given out during the evening. The Associate of the Year Award was presented to Gary Heath of San Leandro-based Shanahan Equipment Co., for his representation of unity among the entire membership, both contractors and associates, and for his ultimate tribute of confidence and support.

The Digger Award was presented to Mike Bauman of Bauman Landscape for earning the respect of the contractor members as a leader and a peer and for his never-ending commitment toward the political fight for EUCA. Finally, the We Dig California Award, presented to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, for his focus on the construction industry, his commitment to funding of Proposition 42, and his active work on the largest state construction infrastructure bond in the history of California.

Outgoing president, George Furnanz of Stacy and Witbeck, was also congratulated on a job well done and reflected on his leadership experiences through his year.