Craig Walloch will join CMHA as Director of Materials Science on July 1, 2023.
Walloch’s experience has spanned all aspects of the concrete masonry and hardscape industry. After graduating with a Chemistry degree from MIT, he has led R&D and Technical Services groups in the masonry admixture industry since 1992, most recently as Vice President of Technical Support and Education for ACM Chemistries. He has extensive experience in materials, dry-cast concrete production, the ASTM standards process, and technical education.
Walloch is a past Chair of the Technical Committee of the Interlocking Concrete Paving Institute (ICPI) and the NCMA/ICPI Joint Committee on Plant Quality Assurance Certification. He is currently the Chair of the ASTM Subcommittee C15.04 on Research, which he has led since 1999. He has spearheaded many projects for both ICPI and NCMA over the years, most recently chairing the task group developing specifications and test methods for pedestal-set paving slabs and chairing the task group evaluating carbon sequestration in concrete masonry products as well as authoring a recent ASTM symposium paper on measuring carbon sequestration of CMU.
Shoaib Yosoufzai recently joined CMHA as the Structural Engineering Projects Manager, Masonry.
Yosoufzai’s background includes working as a Chief Engineer for Hyperion Inc. and working with the government of Afghanistan and Ministry of Defense as Director, Portfolio Manager, Project Manager and Engineering Specialist on Joint US / NATO defense and civil sector projects focusing on design of various structures, structural design training, capacity building, research, innovation and stakeholder management. He also worked as a research analyst with the University of Nebraska, as an engineering intern with HDR, Inc. and as an engineering intern with the US Air Force Academy.
Yosoufzai immigrated to the US from Afghanistan in August of 2021 after the collapse of the government in Afghanistan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the US Military Academy at West Point and was the first Afghan national who was admitted to West Point. He completed a Master’s Degree in Civil engineering with specialization in structural engineering from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He also completed a second master’s degree from Durham University in the United Kingdom in Defense, Development and Diplomacy focusing on postwar reconstruction and program management.
“Technical expertise is incredibly important for the staff of CMHA,” said Bob Thomas, President and CEO. “It is included as one of the six overarching goals of our strategic plan. Craig’s 30 years of experience in the concrete masonry and hardscapes industry is extremely valuable to our organization moving forward. With a background in civil/structural engineering and experience in project management, Shoaib will be able to contribute immediately to the association and meeting our strategic goals.”
Walloch and Yosoufzai will be primarily engaged in the masonry side of the engineering department, reporting to Nick Lang, Vice President of Engineering & Advocacy, Masonry. They will also support efforts on the hardscapes side as appropriate and needed.