Arthur began his career in 1972 as an apprentice trainee in the Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 2 Apprenticeship Program. In 1976, Arthur earned the status of journeyman mechanic. By 1981, Arthur had risen to the position of foreman for a large sheet metal company and was eager to demonstrate his leadership skills. From inception, Arthur wanted to make a difference in the sheet metal industry. Always believing success comes from education, hard work and following the “Golden Rule”, Arthur set out to face his next challenge. Arthur’s focus was to become a sheet metal contractor.

After researching contractor opportunities and receiving mentoring support from long time friend and contractor, Dan Cates of Cates Sheet Metal Industries, Arthur felt ready to meet the challenge. Arthur took courses to learn as much as he could about the sheet metal trade. In addition to various college courses, Arthur has completed the SMACNA Advanced Business Management Program, the Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneurial Graduate “Runners’ Club” Program and the Kellogg Advanced Management Program.

Today, Arthur is proud of his many accomplishments and recognitions. Arthur has received the “Contractor of the Year” Award by the Minority Contractors Association of Greater Kansas City, the “Minority Construction Firm of the Year” by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and The Curtis A. Franklin Award for “Outstanding Business Person of the Year” by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. More importantly, Arthur appreciates the opportunity to give back to the construction community, as well as the community in which he lives. He has a firm commitment to the young adults of today. “The youth of our communities are the men and women of our future. As leaders we must lead by example as well as make every effort to educate, train and support them. Together we will succeed.”

The following are Boards & Committee positions Arthur has held or is currently holding: SMACNA Board of Directors, Vice-President - Current SMACNA Board of Directors - Executive Committee - Current Minority Contractors Association Board of Directors, Sec.Treasurer - 1995-Current Sheet Metal Workers’ Local #2 - Joint Apprentice Committee - 1993-Current Concord Fortress of Hope Church – Building Committe - Current SMACNA Board of Directors, Secretary/Treasurer - 2004-2005 SMACNA Industry Fund Committee - 2004-2005 Sheet Metal Workers’ Local #2 - Fringe Benefit Committee - 1998-2000 Centennial United Methodist Church - Board of Trustees Chair - 1998 Centennial United Methodist Church – Senior Usher Board - President - 1993-1998 Heritage Optimist Club of KCMO - Charter Vice-President - 1991-1992

Awards: 2006 Interfaith Worker Justice Employer of the Year and Contractor of the year.

Mr. Robert Zahner, SMACNA Nationals, is a Senior Vice President of A. Zahner Company, a well-recognized Architectural Sheet Metal firms around the world. Mr. Zahner holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado.

Mr. Zahner is one of most respected industry leaders. His leadership helped redefine excellence in Architectural Sheet Metal construction standards. He is the Chairman of the Sheet Metal and Air conditioning Contractors' National Association, SMACNA, Architectural Sheet Metal Council Steering Committee in Washington DC. He serves on SMACNA Task force, appointed to update and revise the Architectural Sheet Metal Manual. He serves on the International Training Institute, ITI, Task Force appointed to develop a soldering certification for the construction industry, which is a joint effort between the SMACNA and the Sheet Metal Workers International Association, SMWIA. Mr. Zahner serves on the ITI Task Force working with the International Training Institute, appointed to develop architectural training curricula for sheet metal workers across the United States. He also serves as a Board member on the Joint Apprentice Training Committee, JATC, in Kansas City.

Mr. Zahner has a history of outstanding contributions to the Sheet Metal Industry. He held many high profile positions and served on many Boards, Committees, Task Forces, and Panels in the construction industry.

Mr. Zahner is also a national speaker in the Architectural Sheet Metal field. His speeches include "The Top Ten Ways to Prevent Major Screw-ups in Construction Projects", " Biological Design", and " Innovation and the Impact of Technology". He is married to Cathy Karlin Zahner a writer of children's books and a part time contributor to the Kansas City Star. They have three wonderful children, and are both actively involved in their lives.

Paul Russell, Jr., SMACNA-KC Past President, is the Executive Vice President and an owner of Cates Sheet Metal Industries is the current President of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association - Kansas City (SMACNA-KC).

Russell joined Cates Industries in March 1996. Before Cates, he was an executive vice president for Huxtable & Associates in Lawrence. He came to Kansas City in 1991 and served as vice president of U.S. Engineeing. Prior to that, Russell was recruited in 1988 to become branch manger of the Detroit division for Limbach Company and worked with there until 1991. He signed on with Milton B. Levy & Son Mechanical Contractors as president in 1982. Before that, Russell worked as vice president and had ownership in Brooks Engineering. His career began with Brandt Engineering in 1971. He was later named vice president of operations.

Russell earned his B.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 1967. The next four years he served as an infantry officer for the United States Army two of those years in Vietnam. After the army, he became a licensed professional engineer and maintains his license in the State of Texas.

He has been a member of the board of SMACNA - KC since 1998. He is also a trustee of the Sheet Metal Local Union No. 2 401K and the Mo-Kan Health and Welfare Fund.

SMACNA was founded in 1950 to address issues of member firms that impact the industry nationally and internationally. It serves members' needs to improve their competitive advantage and business environment through SMACNA standards, industry education, labor relations, and industry marketing and business studies.

Paul Russell is married to his wife Sissy of 35 years they have two grown sons.

Mr. Gary Clevenger, SMACNA-KC Consultant, holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Missouri Western State College and a Master of Science in Safety Management from Central Missouri State University.

Prior to joining CNA, Mr. Clevenger worked for three years as the Safety Director at SMACNA-KC and for five years as a Senior Safety Consultant with the largest Workers Compensation Carrier in Missouri and Kansas providing clients with safety consultation, training and risk management services. During that same period he also worked for Monsanto's contract training division as well as teaching safety to union apprentices for the Northeast Area Vocational Technical School at their Leavenworth Campus. Prior to receiving his graduate degree, he worked in a grant funded position that dealt with domestic violence and convicted drug offenders in Johnson County, KS. Previous work experience also includes law enforcement, education and military.

Currently, he holds authorized instructor cards for OSHA Construction and General Industry certifications. He is First Aid/CPR Instructor Certified, Defensive Driving Instructor Certified and has attended courses at the OSHA Training Center such as: Fall Protection, Confined Space, Machine Guarding, Amputation Prevention, Blood borne Pathogens, Trenching/Excavations and Lock Out/Tag Out.

He adores his family. Mr. Clevenger and his wife have three children and a dog.

Sang T. Duong is an MBA candidate, pursuing her degree at Baker University. Her focus is Business Management with a concentration in Marketing and International Business. She completed her undergraduate studies at Missouri Valley College, a small Presbyterian institution in the heart of Missouri, graduating with a BA in Criminal Justice. She is being mentored by the executive director to develop her leadership and management skills for a more active role in a management position in the Kansas City area.

Sang has nested in the Kansas City area by way of Chicago, and that by way of Texas, her home state. In Chicago, she has held a number of key administrative roles such as Assistant to the Executive with Clark Consulting. In this position she worked closely with the firm's partners in achieving their early goals of attaining MBE (Minority Based Enterprise) status, obtaining city contracts, and writing state grant applications and proposals. Before her position with SMACNA, she worked tirelessly for the Social Security Administration in Kansas City, MO. It has always been her goal to do bigger and better things with her life. Her indefatigable pursuit of doing more is what drives her as well as her ambition to provide for her family.

She is the mother of a son, Isaiah, and a daughter, Angel who both attend Oak Grove Schools and participate in a plethora of activities ranging from competitive baseball to dance. Even with her own activities, Duong makes it a mission to always be there to support her children just as they have championed her. "They are the best support system any parent could have."