From the Chairman
By Mike Hofkin
It is with great optimism and a genuine sense of excitement that I am pleased to announce that the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) has hired Rudolph “Rudy” Garza as the next President & CEO of IAEI, who will begin June 1, 2020. Garza was president of RLG Associates and has over 20 years of association management experience.
The President & CEO is charged with implementing the goals of the board of directors. Among the responsibilities of the position are staff coordination, financial management, strategic planning and execution, department oversight, and corporate leadership. Our President & CEO is the captain of the ship, reporting to the board of directors while steering the association towards ever-greater success. The International Board of Directors is confident that we have selected the best person to chart our course into the future. Mr. Garza will continue the mission of our retiring President & CEO David Clements.
“I am honored and humbled to become the next President and CEO of the IAEI,” Mr. Garza said. “I fully appreciate the huge shoes I’m filling as Mr. Clements ends his tenure, and I am ready for the challenge and look forward to getting to work.”
Rudolph “Rudy” Garza spent thirteen years serving as the executive director of the Texas Masonry Council, a statewide association representing the largest brick, block, and stone manufacturers in the world as well as the masonry contractors of Texas. He has also acted as the executive director and chief executive officer of the Temple Area Builders Association, San Diego Housing Federation, and Galveston Community Development Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Texas A&M University and a master’s and Ph.D. of pastoral studies/counseling from Life Christian University.
Garza has extensive experience with all aspects of association management, including financial planning, curriculum development, public relations, strategic planning, lobbying activities, trade show execution, and marketing & advertising. He is an accomplished public speaker and was complimented by several people for his interpersonal skills and work ethic. He also has extensive experience with local and state lobbying activities and relationship building with municipal building officials, elected officials, and municipal staff members across Texas.
From the board’s perspective, finding a new President & CEO was a task of great importance that will impact the association for years to come. Throughout this process, I have been humbled by the dedication to the task shown by the committee members. This dedication is a testament to the commitment of the IAEI International Board of Directors to the wellbeing of the association.
The committee charged with locating and selecting a suitable candidate worked diligently through these trying times to successfully narrow down the pool of candidates. We began our search in early 2020. Much to our surprise, we received over 150 applications! Sorting through the résumés and selecting the candidates that would appear for interviews was a herculean task that lasted for almost two months. The next task was to develop the interview questions that would best convey the candidates’ qualifications to the committee members. We then conducted the interviews via videoconferences. The final interviews were conducted with three very capable candidates. Lastly, the members of the selection committee met to discuss the qualifications, credentials, and professional presence of each of the three candidates. After thoroughly considering which candidate would best pilot the ship going forward, the committee voted to extend an offer of employment to Mr. Garza.
I would like to thank the committee members for their time and their stellar efforts. Our membership has good cause to salute the work done by Jeff Fitzloff, Steve Jones, Dan Langlois, David Williams, and our chairperson Jim Rogers. I would also like to thank outgoing President & CEO David Clements for his work aiding and supporting the committee during the selection process.