CFSEI EXECUTIVE BALLOT

2026 CFSEI EXECUTIVE BALLOT

The ballot for the 2026 election of the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute Executive Committee is now available. In accordance with the Operating Procedures, candidates who receive the most votes will be elected to the Executive Committee.

Currently there are five open seats. Please vote for one candidate per vacant seat for a total of five candidates. Write-in candidates are permitted.

Note that you can either:

Vote online
Email Ballot to: [email protected]

Ballots must be received by midnight (EST) on March 2, 2026 to be counted.

Thank you for participating!

If you have additional questions, feel free to call 1-800-79-STEEL or email or Email: [email protected].

NOMINATED CANDIDATES

Dana Hennis, P.E., S.E.

Dana Hennis

Dana Hennis is a Vice President and Structural Lead for the Properties and Building Division of  WSP in Meridian, Idaho. He has 32 years of experience in all areas of structural engineering, with over 26 years specializing in cold-formed steel framing design. His expertise includes exterior and interior building facades; educational, industrial, retail and commercial projects; preliminary design and layout; panelized design; themed facades; and forensic engineering and seismic evaluation of various structures. He is a member of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying and a volunteer for the Idaho Department of Homeland Security Disaster Evaluation ATC-20 Training. He holds professional/structural engineering licenses in 12 states and is a contributing author for several cold-formed steel publications.

Dana is an active member of the CFSEI Executive Committee. In addition, he contributes to several other CFSEI initiatives, including the Technical Resource Committee and the Stipend Program Committee. Dana previously held the role of Chair of the CFSEI Executive Committee for the 2024-2025 term.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from California Polytechnic State University.

Patrick Hainault, P.E.

Patrick Hainault Patrick Hainault is the Co-Director of Structural Services at raSmith in Brookfield, Wisconsin. His experience includes engineering design and staff management with raSmith and Matsen Ford Design Associates, Inc., where he was a principal and senior engineer for 21 years. His expertise includes application of the latest technologies and design concepts to a wide variety of primary and secondary structures, including prefabricated systems. His engineering systems design experience includes structural steel, reinforced concrete, engineered masonry and wood. He was a structural designer for a concrete reinforcement supplier and a technician for a national material-testing firm.

Pat is an active member of the CFSEI Executive Committee, currently serving as the Chair of the Marketing Committee. In addition, he contributes to several other CFSEI initiatives, including the Technical Resource Committee, Expo Planning Committee, and Student Competition Task Group. Pat previously held the role of Chair of the CFSEI Executive Committee for the 2022-2023 term.

He is a member of the SFIA Technical Committee and the AWCI Construction Technology Committee. Pat is a registered Professional Engineer in Wisconsin and several other states. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Marquette University.

Karl Schroeder, P.E.

Karl Schroeder, P.E.Karl is a Senior Engineer and Director with Devco Engineering, Inc and has been with the company since 2006. He has designed the cold-formed steel scope on a wide variety of projects including colleges/universities, military and government facilities, hospitals, schools, airports, museums, stadiums, and various other commercial buildings. Some of his specialized experience includes blast design, Risk Category V seismic design, California HCAI and DSA projects, Alaskan arctic facilities, and sound isolation design. He typically works directly with the contractor, which requires extra attention to constructability and economic solutions for the framing systems.

Soon after graduating from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Karl was given an opportunity with Devco Engineering to specialize in cold-formed steel framing. Karl earned his California PE licensure in 2009 with various other states following. From 2009-2016, Karl represented Devco Engineering as a member of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Committee on Specifications. In 2015, Karl opened a branch office of Devco Engineering in Bozeman, Montana where they continue to serve cold-formed steel focused projects.

Karl is an active member of the CFSEI Executive Committee, currently serving as the Chair of the Technical Resource Committee. In addition, he contributes to several other CFSEI initiatives, including the Expo Planning Committee and Student Competition.

Clifton Melcher, P.E., S.E.

Clifton Melcher, P.E., S.E.Clifton Melcher, P.E., S.E. is a Group Product Manager for Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc., where he is responsible for managing the development and promotion of connectors and software. Prior to joining Simpson Strong-Tie, Clifton was the engineering branch manager for a large cold-formed steel manufacturer. He is a registered civil and structural engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the cold-formed steel industry. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Iowa State University. 

Clifton is an active member of the CFSEI Executive Committee currently serving on the Education Committee and Emerging Technology Committee. He is currently completing Madeleine Grimmer's term which ends in May 2026, and is running for his first full term on the committee.

Riley Mahaffey, P.E.

Riley Mahaffey, P.E.Riley Mahaffey is a Principal at Lochsa Engineering in Boise, Idaho where he is responsible for the design of commercial, institutional, and industrial projects with a focus on seismic retrofit, seismic investigation, specialty theming, and infrastructure/wastewater development. His more than  34 years of engineering experience spans from assessing structural damage and designing repairs/ retrofits after the Northridge earthquake in Southern California, to seeing the completion of the Las Vegas City Center urban design project, the largest privately funded construction project in U.S. history. Riley brings years of nationwide CFS design experience and, together with Lochsa Engineering, acts as the technical representative to the Steel Stud Manufacturers Association (SSMA), providing guidance on standards, compliance, and technical best practices.

He is also very involved in the community and served as the Past Idaho State Chairman for Ducks Unlimited.