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.
Holding History Together: The Art of Lateral Restraint in Masonry Restoration
January 2026

The first thing you notice about an old masonry building isn’t always its beauty. Sometimes it’s the bow in a wall or the way time and the elements have tugged at the mortar joints. Every century-old structure carries its story in cracks, tilts, bows, and

Stone Savvy: Helping Clients Choose Stone with Intent
January 2026

In today’s design environment, clients are surrounded by inspiration, endless images, samples, and styles that make choosing materials feel exciting and overwhelming all at once. Within that sea of options, stone carries weight. It defines first impressio

MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 36 Recap: Kim Spahn, CEO of the Concrete Masonry Checkoff
January 2026

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Justin got to sit down for a conversation with Kim Spahn to talk about the Concrete Masonry Checkoff, how Kim first got involved in this industry, and much more.

From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,