“We’re pleased to have such an accomplished group of women on our board this year that have made so many contributions to our industry,” said Tom Hardiman, Executive Director of MBI. “They bring a diverse mix of abilities and accomplishments to MBI, and we know our association will be stronger and better with their help."
 

Here’s the list of women on the 2011 MBI Board of Directors:

Laurie Robert is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at NRB, Inc. and a LEED AP. She began her career with NRB during its infancy in 1982. Her achievements with the company include building an in-house sales and marketing department, developing and implementing several important organizational policies and procedures, and organizing an international network of sales agents and dealers for NRB’s product line.

Before joining NRB, Robert was a Branch Sales Manager for a large U.S.-based company that designed, sold, and leased modular buildings throughout Canada and the U.S.

Robert was the first woman and first Canadian member to serve as president of MBI in 2001. She also won MBI’s Outstanding Achievement award in 2005. She’s currently also serving on the MBI Canadian Foundation Board of Directors to help facilitate and deliver research and educational opportunities for the commercial modular construction industry.

Kathy Wilmot is the owner and Vice President of Wilmot Modular Structures, Inc.  She also owns and operates Allender Self Storage in White Marsh, MD and is the founder and Chair of the Maggie’s Light Foundation which supports families caring for special needs children. She has served on the Board of Directors for Associated Builders and Contractors and has been involved in many programs promoting the construction industry as a career choice for women and young ladies entering the workforce. 

Her accomplishments and commitments have included: Member, Johns Hopkins Corporate Advisory Board; Member, Maryland Women’s Heritage Center Board; Chair, Associated Builders and Contractors of Baltimore; Member, Associated Builders and Contractors Diversity Committee; Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005 by the Baltimore Business Journal; and Maryland’s Top 100 Women by the Daily Record, 2010.
 

Kendra Cox, Blazer Industries

Kendra Cox is the Production Manager at Blazer Industries. She has worked at Blazer Industries since 2000. She served as Project Manager for the specialty (concrete block) structures. From 2007 to 2010, she served as Assistant Production Manager and worked directly Production Managers and Supervisory staff to improve safety, maximize productivity and resolve employee issues.
 

In 2010, Cox was involved in starting up the satellite facility Blazer runs in order to serve the residential market. Currently she continues to develop the residential division of the company focusing on sales and project development and is also taking on project management and dealer relations for the commercial division.
 

Cox has been a member of the MBI Board of Directors since 2009 and has served on the Green Building Task Force, Marketing, Events and Education and International Green Construction Code Committees. Locally she is an active member of two manufacturing consortia, Mid-Willamette High Performance and Secondary Woods, working to improve profitability and performance through Lean Manufacturing and workforce development for Oregon’s manufacturing industry.
 

Nora McGrath is the Director of Marketing at M Space Holdings LLC.
 

McGrath joined M Space as the Administrative Manager. In 2007, she moved into the role of Director of Secondary Markets, charged with establishing comprehensive programs to support the sales teams in their efforts to identify customers for our off-rent buildings. This series of roles with increased responsibility has allowed McGrath to be involved in all aspects of the business including, operations, sales, administration, and manufacturing. This diverse background and experience enable her to see the business as a unified whole and devise and implement marketing strategies that broaden and deepen the markets we serve, while looking for new market niches to enter.
 

McGrath has been a member of MBI for six years. She has served on the Public Relations committee and the Events & Education committee and is looking forward to serving on the Board of Directors for a two year term ending in 2013.  
 

Kathleen Tell is Vice President of Tell Manufacturing Inc. She plays a critical role in the growth and profitability of Tell as a member of the executive team. She serves as the Director of Sales and Marketing where she leads a team of professionals located in Pennsylvania, Texas, Indiana and California. Her passion for exceptional customer service and in ‘doing the right thing’ for the customer is a key driver in the company’s success. Over the past ten years, she has developed extensive relationships in the modular industry with both dealers and manufacturers alike.
 

In the recent past Tell has been a contributing member of the Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster, PA. In this volunteer role, she has supported adults in restarting their life through completing their education, supporting them in finding a job and a place to live.
 

The rest of the members on the 2011 MBI Board include Mike Ridley of Britco Structures as President, John Lieffrig of ModSpace as Vice President, Brent Morgan of ATCO Structures & Logistics Ltd. As Vice President Elect, Michael Bollero as Secretary, Gary Bockrath of Acton Mobile Industries as Treasurer and Joseph Lopardo of Williams Scotsman as immediate Past President. Other board members include Rick Bartolotti of Universal Modular Building Solutions, Inc.; Wesley Carter of Warrior Group; Williams Duffield of McDonald Modular Solutions, Inc.; Walter Griffin of Mule-Hide Products Co., Inc.; Garth Haakenson of Pacific Mobile Structures, Inc.; Harry Klukas of Black Diamond Group; Christopher Peterson of Satellite Shelters, Inc.; Jody Werner of Vanguard Modular Building Systems, LLC; and Tom Hardiman, Executive Director of MBI. 
 

For more information, visit www.modular.org.

About MBI
The Modular Building Institute (MBI) is the international non-profit trade association serving non-residential modular construction. Members include providers of code compliant relocatable buildings, as well as permanent modular construction contractors and suppliers. It is MBI’s mission to expand the use of offsite construction through innovative construction practices, outreach and education to the construction community and customers, and recognition of high quality modular designs and facilities.

MBI also administers an educational foundation established specifically to facilitate and deliver research and educational opportunities in the form of design competitions, scholarships and partnerships with leading research entities with an interest in advancing commercial modular construction. 

For more information about MBI, visit www.modular.org.