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.
Chemicals In Masonry
September 2026

Mason contractors must deal with chemicals on the job site. One of the main ones comes in the form of dust. Another is acid. From high-rise commercial structures to residential facades, masonry work involves handling raw materials that require careful man

Brick Staining Dos and Don'ts: Managing Modern and Historic Masonry Construction
September 2026

Every mason contractor has encountered it, or will. A replacement brick arrives from a different production run. A cast stone repair patch or perhaps a darker panel stands out against the surrounding installation. Mortar color varies unexpectedly. A clea

Gables Republic Square & Hotel ZaZa
September 2026

Gables Republic Square / Hotel ZaZa is a 24-story mixed-use boutique hotel and urban residential tower with street-level retail located on a 0.75-acre site in downtown Austin. Camarata Masonry Systems, Ltd. (CMS) was responsible for the supply and instal

The Utah Masonry Council's Masonry Education Day
September 2026

The 2026 Masonry Education Day at Interstate Brick in West Jordan is bringing together members of Utah’s architecture, engineering, and construction community for a day focused on education, technical understanding, and workforce development. The event r