MDC 2002 Speaker Biographical Information

David is founder and president of the Monolithic Dome Institute and the recipient of two dome-related US Patents: the Monolithic Dome 1979; the Crenosphere, 1999. He is vice chairman of the American Concrete Institute Committee on Thin Shell Design and Construction and a member of the International Conference of Building Officials, an international body that tests materials, specifies and administers codes. Under his direction, Monolithic Domes have been built in most states and in many foreign countries. He continues to research ? seeking to improve versatility, uses and economics of Monolithic Domes and Crenospheres ? and to share his findings. David will welcome attendees to the conference Friday morning, teach a seminar on Monolithic Dome rentals, and present the keynote address during Friday evening's dinner.

James L. (Larry) Byrne
Vice President, Monolithic

Larry's work with Monolithic as a designer and design consultant began in 1984. His completed projects range from low-cost housing to prestigious residences, churches, schools and industrial projects. They include New Life Christian Church, California Cold Storage, Simplot Fertilizer Storage and of significant personal satisfaction to Larry ? his own Monolithic Dome home in Italy, Texas.

Gary L. Clark
Vice President of Operations, Monolithic

In the past, Gary has been involved in the polyurethane foam business and built custom homes. Now, a 16 year Monolithic employee, Gary serves as Vice President of Operations. He orders supplies and materials for projects and oversees construction of many local and distant projects in addition to the upkeep and operations of Monolithic's headquarters. He is also the principal instructor during Monolithic's five-day, hands-on workshops. To past attendees at Monolithic's workshops and conferences, Gary is known as the guy with lots of answers and is effective in sharing his knowledge through his sense of humor. Gary will lead one class on Equipment Manufacturing, present the Thursday morning general address and be the master of ceremonies during Friday night's dinner.

David South, Jr.
Vice President, Information and Technology, Monolithic

David (DJ) graduated from Utah State University in 1996 with a BS in Business Information Systems. DJ gained practical experience with Monolithic Domes by managing an Airform manufacturing plant in Des Moines, Iowa. He wrote the software program for patterning Airforms and pioneered the development of augments and complex Airform patterns. DJ oversees and organizes network technology at Monolithic, oversees web publishing as well as various other company publications and videos.

Jim Kaslik
Owner, Cloud Hidden

Jim received his bachelors degree from Commerce Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. Worked for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc for 11 years as an Operations Research analyst. Jim has done lots of work in Construction Management and Project Management. Founded Chena Software, Inc. Won 1991 Mac User magazine's Editor's Choice Award for Best Organizational Tool. Software translated into French and Japanese. Sold company to West Publishing Company, Eagan, MN in 1995. Started building Cloud Hidden in 1998 in Asheville, North Carolina. Cloud Hiddent was featured on HGTV - "Extreme Homes." in January. Jim is an active participant on the domebuilders bulletin board.

Ward S. Huffman
U.S. Department of Energy

Ward has been with the U.S. Department of Energy for approximately seven years. He is currently with the Community Services Team as a Senior Financial Specialist and consults with communities throughout the continental US on matters of energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable development. In 1998 he became special liaison to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.) to assist them in developing a program of Sustainable Disaster Recovery and Mitigation. Ward teaches finance and financial analysis for graduates and undergraduates at the University of Phoenix. He is a doctoral candidate at Nova Southeastern University and expects to be finished by December 2002. Click here to see Dr. Huffman's Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Dr. Arnold Wilson
Senior Consulting Engineer, Monolithic

Dr. Wilson's professional affiliations include Fellow, American Concrete Institute, International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures, Sigma XI, Research Society and is a registered professional engineer in 12 states and Alberta, Canada. His research projects include: Hyperbolic Paraboloid and Dome Thin Shell Concrete Structures, Prestressed Concrete Floating Roof, Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures, Space Station Construction Utilizing Composite Thin Shell Structures and Spherical Thin Shell Concrete Water Tanks Built Using Air Supported Forms. He is listed in Who's Who in the West and Who's Who in Engineering.

Frederick (Rick) Crandall
Consulting Architect, Monolithic

As consulting architect with Monolithic and the head of his own architectural firm in Mesa, Arizona, Rick has designed Monolithic Domes schools; gymnasiums; churches; residences; offices, shopping and entertainment complexes. He also developed Monolithic's concept of a feasibility study. Rick is licensed in many states and is applying for licenses in many more states as well as internationally.

Alden Porter
Director of Construction Management, Monolithic

Alden has served in this position for the last 2 1/2 years. He attended Arizona State University working towards an accounting degree and in 1975 he started a construction company in Austin, Texas. His experience over the last 25 years in construction and accounting has allowed him to facilitate this exciting new division of Monolithic.

Randy South
General Manager and Corporate Secretary, Dome Technology, Inc.

Over the past twenty-two years, Randy has supervised and/or worked on the construction of more than 200 Monolithic Domes in just about every state, as well as Russia, Latvia, Germany, Jordan, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. He has invented and pioneered methods, systems and tools specifically for dome building. His managerial responsibilities include supervising all of Dome Technology's project superintendents, as well as assuring quality control and customer satisfaction.

Melinda South
Sales Coordinator, Monolithic

Melinda spends the majority of her day answering questions, responding to letters and helping educate others about the Monolithic Dome. She has served as Assistant to the President for four years. Melinda studied Spanish and Russian at Brigham Young University. She began giving tours of Monolithic Domes at ten years old and has spent half of her life living in a Monolithic Dome.

Jean Hirst
Co-author of Dome Sweet Home

Jean has a long-time interest in designing homes, including dome homes. She got an early start as a teenage helper to her uncle in the real estate resale market. Later she and her husband built a log cabin, log by log in Canada. Her interest in domes became a reality in 1995 as her own dome home was built in Northeast Georgia. In 2000, she co-authored, Dome Sweet Home, a book describing the dome-building process from a woman's perspective.

Mark Henrickson
Builder of Yuma Dome, Yuma, Arizona

Mark Henrikson is one of the favorites on the domebuilder's bulletin board (www.domebuilders.com) where he frequently posts questions, answers and updates. Mark earned an associates degree in mathematics and electronics and studied electrical engineering at the University of Illinois. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps for six years. Mark and his extended family have spent the last two years planning and building their 84' x 40' dome home in Yuma, Arizona.

Mike Clifton
Superintendent of Schools, Italy Independent School District

Mike Clifton has 27 years in the education field. He has been a middle school math teacher, middle and high school principal, assistant superintendent and currently serves as Superintendent for Italy Independent School District. He holds a doctorate of Educational Administration from Texas A & M and is a professional associate for Texas Association of Community Schools, Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas Association of Rural Schools. He and his wife, Julie have two children who presently attend Texas A & M.

Rick Kibbe
Superintendent, Texhoma School District

Rick is in his sixth year as superintendent of the Texhoma School. Texhoma is a community located on the Oklahoma Texas line in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Rick graduated with a BA from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Later he received his Masters in education and principals certificate from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma and also received his Superintendent's certificate from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 1996, Rick joined the Texhoma School District as superintendent.

Gordon A. Cuthbertson
Mechanical Engineer

Gordon is a professional registered engineer in Arizona and in the Province of Ontario with 30 years of experience in office administration, project management, consulting, design, construction supervision and contract administration. Gordon specializes in mechanical designs of commercial plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, septic systems and industrial ventilation. Current mechanical design projects for Monolithic Domes include Sagkeeng School District, Living Word Bible Church, Texhoma School District, Italy School multipurpose building and many more.

Mike Anderson
President, Skylight Construction

Skylight Construction was established in 1984. Mike did undergraduate study at Abiliene Christian University and gained field experience in residential roofing, remedial and new construction on residential and commercial property. Mike is a certified applicator of polyurethane foam and coating systems from SPI/PFCD. Mike specializes in all facets of dome exteriors as well as foam application in the initial construction phase of Monolithic Domes. His service area includes the entire US and international regions. Mike and wife, Kristi have three children and reside in Ulysses, Kansas.

177 Dome Park Place - Italy, TX 76651
Tel (972)483-7423 - Fax (972)483-6662
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