The Steel Framing Alliance announced that Mark Nowak will serve as the association’s acting president while its Board of Directors continues a formal search for a permanent replacement. Nowak, who has worked closely with the alliance for several years and has been leading its technology and codes program since 2007, will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations, as well as strategic initiatives that support its mission to facilitate the growth of steel framing in the construction marketplace. Larry Williams, the SFA’s president for the past five years, has taken a market development position with the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) in Brussels, Belgium.

“Mark Nowak is highly qualified to assume the role of acting president, his industry knowledge as well as his long and valuable strategic relationship with the SFA will facilitate a very smooth leadership transition,” said Don Moody, SFA Board of Directors’ chairman.”

Moody added that the selection of SFA’s new acting president comes as the association prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary. “This important milestone represents a decade of impressive accomplishments that the SFA has made to advance the competitiveness of steel framing. With the new leadership, we will also have the opportunity to continue working alongside SFA’s members as we develop a plan for the next 10 years,” he said.

Nowak brings to the SFA more than 20 years of experience in working with the manufacturing sector to evaluate new technologies for adoption by the building industry. In his role with the SFA’s Technology and Codes program, he has provided strategic direction and technical support and has also helped build strategic alliances with other industry groups.

He has been a senior member of Newport Partners LLC, a building technology and market research company in Davidsonville, Md. At Newport, Nowak has worked extensively to support contractors building military housing and service buildings throughout the United States with an emphasis on improving efficiencies such as energy use, water conservation and the use of steel framing.

Previously, Nowak was vice president of contract research for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center, where he was employed for more than 16 years. A U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional, he holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.