NCCER awards two new Construction Education Champions

Words: Jennifer WilkersonNCCER's Construction Education Champion Award is given to industry professionals with at least 10 years of service to NCCER and who have made significant contributions to construction education and workforce development efforts. This year, NCCER recognizes the following individuals for their exemplary service and contributions to education within the construction industry:

Dr. Roger Liska

Chair of Clemson University's Construction Science and Management Department

Dr. Roger Liska has over 30 years of experience in construction education and has taught at College of DuPage, Auburn University, University of Maryland and Clemson University. Dr. Liska has developed and taught over 300 professional development courses for the construction industry and authored three books, a dozen training manuals and numerous professional articles.

Dr. Liska is an NCCER certified management education instructor who oversaw the following NCCER training academies at Clemson University from 1986-2012: Project Supervision, Project Management, Safety and Women's Leadership.

He and his wife, Judy, reside in Pendleton, South Carolina, and have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Dr. Bob Piper, center, receives the NCCER Construction Education Champion award.
Dr. Bob Piper, center, receives the NCCER Construction Education Champion award.

Bob Piper

Retired Past Vice President of Workforce Development for ABC National

For over 20 years, Bob Piper was owner of Piper Electric Company near Denver, Colorado, where he was also a past chairman of the ABC Rocky Mountain chapter.

At the national level, Piper was a member of ABC's national board of directors and served as chairman of multiple ABC committees. In 2004, he was named ABC National's vice president of workforce development where he oversaw ABC's workforce development programs.

Piper is an NCCER auditor and certified Master Trainer and administrator. He was also a member of NCCER's Workforce Development Committee from 2004-2010.

He and his wife, Ladonna, live in Colorado.
Five Truths About Final Brick Cleandown
May 2026

Not all truths are self-evident. Sometimes they’re easy to forget or clouded with misunderstanding. The good news is these truths of final cleandown are not hard to implement on your next project to ensure successfully cleaned and beautiful new brick.

Shelf Angles and Their Impact on Wall Performance
May 2026

Shelf angles have long been a standard component in masonry construction. Installed at the slab edge, they provide support for brick veneer and are often treated as a routine detail. However, as building performance requirements evolve, particularly aroun

The Mason’s Mark: Defining the Craft Through the Trowel
May 2026

Walk onto any job site, from a custom residential chimney to a sprawling commercial block wall, and you will hear it before you see it: the distinctive ring of high-carbon steel striking masonry. The trowel is more than just a mortar scoop; it is the cond

Registration Now Open for the 2026 MCAA Midyear Meeting in San Antonio, Texas
May 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2026 MCAA Midyear Meeting, set to take place in San Antonio, Texas. This exciting event is scheduled from September 13th-1