DOYLESTOWN, PA, APRIL 22, 2009 - Raymond Passeno, CIH, Vice President of Bierlein Companies, Inc., Midland, MI, has been elected president of the National Demolition Association, the leading trade organization for the global demolition industry.

During his tenure with the association, Passeno has been active in nearly every committee and has served as vice president, secretary, and treasurer. As president, he expressed his determination to make the newly redesigned and revitalized National Demolition Association website www.demolitionassociation.com the major global source of demolition information.

"Our website will provide the training and tools necessary for members to run safe and environmentally responsible businesses," he said. "It will help us communicate to other industries, the government, and the public at large that implosions are only a small part of what we do. It will become a major portal for information on the demolition process, its means and methods, practitioners, safety requirements, environmental issues, benefits to society, and the engineering acumen it requires. As an industry - through the many services we provide - we're 'making way' for the progress that accompanies the demolition process."

Passeno also noted that he is looking forward to further pursuing the Association's Strategic Plan to aid its members to be leaders in environmental stewardship, safety, education, government advocacy, and professional competency. On the education front, the Association is assisting Purdue University with the development a demolition-specific textbook to be used in its demolition specialization program, the first in the country.

Other changes to the National Demolition Association Executive Committee are the election of Don Rachel of Rachel Contracting, Maple Grove, MN, as vice president; Jeff Kroeker of Kroeker Inc./Demolition & Recycling Contractors, Fresno, CA, as secretary; and Peter Banks of CEI Boston LLC, Norfolk, MA, as treasurer. Drew Lammers of Cohen Brothers Inc., Springfield, OH, is past president.