The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), the leading voice in promoting quality and excellence in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry, today announced Guy Gast, president of The Waldinger Corporation, Iowa Division, as the recipient of this year’s Contractor of the Year Award which was presented during SMACNA’s Annual Business Meeting. For 40 years, the esteemed annual award has been given to professionals who exceed all expectations of serving and promoting the industry.

Guy’s admirable career is marked by his constant determination to help others succeed in the industry. His deep industry knowledge and positive attitude have helped many contractors throughout the years – and particularly now through this pandemic – making him a highly qualified recipient of the 2020 Contractor of the Year Award,” said Vince Sandusky, SMACNA’s Chief Executive Officer. “Guy’s continued commitment to volunteerism, even after serving as SMACNA’s president in 2015/2016, underscores his commitment to the industry and the 110% effort he puts into everything he does. I congratulate him on this distinguished, well-deserved honor.”

Gast has 40 years of industry experience in project management, labor management, operations management and risk management. He was hired at The Waldinger Corporation, a complete mechanical, sheet metal and service contractor based in Des Moines, Iowa, as a project manager and estimator. Since that time, he has held the titles of risk manager, sheet metal department manager and branch manager before becoming president of the company more than 20 years ago.

Gast has taken on industry leadership roles for decades. Nationally, Gast served as president of SMACNA’s Board of Directors from 2015 to 2016, focusing on labor relations and workforce development initiatives. Prior to his role as president, he held all the national office chair positions and served on SMACNA’s Board of Directors from 2007 to 2011. Currently, he is chair of the New Horizons Foundation, SMACNA’s member foundation and premier research entity, where he leads fundraising efforts to develop important research initiatives and educational programs for the sheet metal industry.

Gast has been involved in numerous committees and task forces throughout his career, including the High Performing Contractor Task Force, HVAC Contractors Council Steering Committee, Bidding Green Task Force, Products & Programs Coordinating Committee and Investment Committee. In 2016, he was inducted into the SMACNA College of Fellows for making significant contributions to the advancement of the sheet metal industry and for his years of committed service and dedication, eagerly taking on industry leadership roles for more than three decades. Locally, Gast was a former chair of the Sheet Metal Contractors of Iowa-Central Iowa as well as president and board member of the Sheet Metal Contractors of Iowa.

Gast has a Bachelor of Science in construction engineering from Iowa State University. He resides in Des Moines, Iowa with his wife, Deana, and children, Jason, Giavanna and Zayne.

About SMACNA

SMACNA is an international trade association representing 3,500 contributing contractor firms and is a leader in promoting quality and excellence in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry. SMACNA members are responsible for effectively delivering the clean air Americans breathe in offices, homes, and hospitals; for many of the attractive facades you see on today’s stadiums and office buildings; and for the comfortable, healthy, and safe living environments in which our citizens live out their daily lives. SMACNA has national offices in Chantilly, Va., outside of Washington, D.C., and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.SMACNA.org.