Organizational Structure
The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (CCO) is structured to allow fair representation from all industries that use load handling equipment. This diversity is reflected at all three major levels of the organization including: the Board of Directors, Commissioners, and Committees.
Board of Directors
Board members serve three-year terms. Officers are re-elected annually. The Board establishes policy, sets strategic goals, and assumes fiscal responsibility for the organization.
PRESIDENT: Pete Laux, Kiewit Companies
VICE PRESIDENT: Stephanie Wood, Terex Cranes
SECRETARY/TREASURER: Mike Heacock, Morrow Equipment Co.
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Tim Watters, Hoffman Equipment
CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS: Ellis Vliet, Turner Industries (Ret)
William (Bill) Davis, Zurich Services Corp.
Douglas LaCroix, Cianbro Equipment, Pittsfield, Maine
Beth O’Quinn, Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association
Christopher Treml, International Union of Operating Engineers, Washington, DC
Commissioners
CCO has provision for 30 Commissioners, representing 10 broad industry groups. These groups make policy recommendations and oversee the activities of the main committees that report to the CCO Board of Directors and Commissioners. Commissioners are also entitled to nominate one Alternate. Current Commissioners and Alternates include:
Keith Adolf, IUOE Local 825
Tim Arkilander, Articulating Crane Council of N.A.
Ian Benson, Amentum WTP/WTCC
D. Jason Birdwell, The Crosby Group
Ashley Campbell, Shell
Jeremy Cantrell, Link-Belt Cranes
Bo Collier, Crane Tech
Ethan Collier, Crane Tech
Larry DeMark, Equipment Training Solutions
Daniel Dickey, Cianbro Corp.
David Doherty, Cianbro Corp.
William (Hank) Dutton, Travelers (Vice Chair, CCO Commission)
Dennis Eckstine, Eckstine & Associates, Inc.
Matthew Eckstine, Eckstine & Associates, Inc.
Michael Embry, IUOE Local 181 JATC
Bill Erwin, Erwin Crane
Jason Fancher, Crane Inspection & Certification Bureau (CICB)
Mark Filippelli, The Crosby Group
Jonathan Gann, Space X
Norman Gearhart, Clear Channel Outdoor
Thomas Gordon, IUOE Local 14
Lino Guerra, Phillips 66
Brian Haight, Morrow Equipment Company
Ed Hatcher, Articulating Crane Council of N.A.
Brian Hill, Manitowoc Crane Care
Jim Jacobs, IUOE Local 3
James Jatho, Liebherr USA Co.
David Judy, IUOE Local 18
Michael Knott, Phoenix Crane Service
Troy Krumm, Link-Belt Cranes
Todd Liebelt, Operating Engineers Local 139
Thomas McNamara, IUOE
JR Moran, Brasfield and Gorrie, LP
John O’Connor, CICB
Ruben Olivas Saunders, Tadano America Corporation
Patrick Peterson, IUOE Local 15
Beau Pocock, Liebherr USA
Rusty Redman, IUOE Local 520
Scott Richert, Travelers
Justin Rouse, WEMCO INC
J. Chris Ryan
Derek Sather, Sims Crane & Equipment Company
Brandon Savage, Philips 66
TJ Shinn, Custom Crane Consulting
Sidney Shreiner, Manitowoc Crane CARE
Fred Simmons, Foley Material Handling Co., Inc.
Travis Simmons, IUOE Local 673
Bill Smith, NBIS
Chris Smith, Morrow Equipment Company
Jeffery Smith, ExxonMobil
Bryan Stevens, Shell
Dan Sullivan, IUOE Local 542
Patrick Vallejos, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS)
Gary Via, TNT Crane & Rigging
Jorge Vial-Undurrage, Vial Equipment Sales & Service
Ellis Vliet (Chair, CCO Commission)
Charles Wigger, Lamar Advertising
David Wright, Space X
Committees
CCO develops and maintains its certification programs through committees that report to the Board of Directors. A total of 14 Exam Management Committees are responsible for monitoring certification examinations for mobile (written exams and practical exams), tower, overhead, and articulating crane operators, digger derrick operators, dedicated pile driver operators, drill rig operators, concrete pump operators, telehandler operators, crane inspectors, and lift directors, as well as signalpersons and riggers. Committee members suggest revisions to CCO’s testing procedures; work with and monitor the administration of the exams; oversee the work of item writers; monitor and oversee testing companies that may be contracted with for exam development and/or administration; and collect data necessary for psychometrically sound examinations.
Additional committees that play an important role in the review, discipline, and appeals processes include: the Ethics and Discipline Committee responsible for establishing standards of conduct—such as ethical standards, policies, and procedures for disciplinary action—and for implementing those standards, policies, and procedures; the Appeals Committee responsible for establishing policies and procedures for hearing appeals of decisions and for hearing such appeals; and the Practical Exam Audit Committee (PEAC) responsible for establishing and maintaining CCO’s rigorous audit program.