The Association of Crane & Rigging Professionals (ACRP) elected officers serving a two year term:
President: John Hellums, Bishops Lifting Products
Hellums retired from ExxonMobil as lift specialist. He is a past chairperson of the Houston Business Roundtable Crane and Rigging Committee; and the present co-chairperson for the HBR Crane and Rigging committee, alternate commissioner for NCCCO; and a member of the NCCCO Practical Exam Management committee, Rigging Exam Management committee, and Lift Director task force. Hellums is also a member of the Texas Crane Owners Association, SC&RA, ACRP since 2003, and a ACRP board member since 2004.
Vice President: Tom De Soo, I & I Sling/ Slingmax
De Soo is the vice president of the Rigging Institute, LLC. and is the director of sales for I&I Sling/Slingmax Rigging Solutions. He was a member of the Rigging task force for the NCCCO, and is now part of the Rigger Program Management committee. He is a subject matter expert on rigging for NCCCO. Tom is also a NCCCO Certified Rigger Level II, Accredited Rigger Practical Examiner Level II, and CIC certified Rigger/Signal Person.
Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Hairston, RHTC Inc.
Hairston is the owner of RHTC, Inc. He has been appointed as a member of the Board of Adjustments for the City of Monroe, La. He is also a Potentate of Barak Shriners in Monroe, La.
ACRP Board of Directors serving a three year term:
Professional
Jerry Klinke, Acratech
Klinke has a background that includes heavy lifting operations for nuclear power plants; and the development of training programs for the nuclear industry. He is the author of the Rigging Handbook and is the president of ACRA Enterprises. Jerry has served as the ACRP secretary, treasurer, and chairman.
Joe Kuzar, Industrial Training International
Kuzar has 15 years of experience in overhead and mobile crane operation and inspection, light and heavy equipment operation, rigging applications and rigging gear inspection, lift planning, safety management, and crane and rigging accident investigation and auditing. He is an instructor for the Industrial Training Institute International, and previously worked for The Shockey Precast Group.
Mike Riggs, Rigging Institute, LLC
Mr. Riggs has 30 years of experience in the crane and rigging industry and has developed several training programs for the Department of Energy and private industry. He is the manager of the Knoxville branch of I & I Sling as well as the Director of Training for Slingmax and The Rigging Institute. Mike has served as an ACRP board member and is a Past President.
Associate
Tom De Soo, I & I Sling/ Slingmax
David Johnson, SmithAmundsen, LLC
Johnson is a partner in SmithAmundsen’s Chicago office. For 30 years, he has focused his practice on construction law issues, representing commercial and residential owners, developers, architects, construction managers, general contractors, and specialty subcontractors. Johnson has extensive experience in defending personal injury, property damage, and construction defect claims in mediation, arbitration and litigation; and is proficient in OSHA emergency response, compliance, and appeals. He has extensive training in crane and rigging compliance and safety, and is a CIC Certified Rigger/Signalperson.
Corporate
Paul Kuber, Retired from ExxonMobil
Kuber was a 40 year employee of ExxonMobil serving as a site lift specialist in Baton Rouge, La. Kuber is active in ACRP. He has completed nine years as a board member and has served as its treasurer and vice president.
Charles Sager, ExxonMobil
Sager is a site lift specialist for ExxonMobil. He has over 27 years of experience with cranes and rigging and is a NCCCO certified crane operator. He has been a rigging planner for over three years and site lift specialist for two years. He is also a fire team captain, high angle rope rescue world champion and EMT intermediate medical team member.
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