Looking back at the two-year NFDC presidency of David Darsey.
Later today, the National Federation of Demolition Contractors will welcome a new president as Gary Bishop takes over the hot seat from current president David Darsey.
Of course, the media focus will be on Gary Bishop – we have already recorded an exclusive audio interview with Bishop to celebrate his incoming presidency – and rightly so. His accession is the culmination of a decade-long journey that has seen him scale the Federation ladder through numerous regional ranks to second vice and vice president.
But we can’t let today pass without a look back at the two-year presidency of David Darsey.
Like his successor, Darsey’s presidency was the culmination of a lifelong ambition. And despite the fact that he took up the reins at precisely the time that the recession caused the industry horse to bolt, his presidency is memorable for its steadfastness.
From the cutting of the ribbon on the Federation’s new head office just a few days after being named president back in March 2009, through insisting that the Federation’s Site Audit Scheme was made a prerequisite of membership, to the backing of several news sets of guidance notes and the “repatriation” of the National Demolition Training Group – The highs of Darsey’s presidency more than outweighed the economic lows that the industry endured while he wore the chains of office.
Darsey’s presidency was further marked by its outgoing and engaging nature. He attended the European Demolition Association conference in Stockholm meeting up with EDA president Giuseppe Panseri and overcoming their language barrier with a shared passion for demolition. Panseri was later Darsey’s guest at the NFDC’s own Demolition Day event in London. And he has been a regular guest at National Demolition Assciation events in the US for the past three years, something he intends to maintain now that his time in office is at an end.
And, of course, Darsey and the team members from his company – Erith Group – conquered last year’s Demolition Awards winning several key trophies including the big one: The World Demolition Contractor of the Year.
The NFDC is the model upon which several other national and international demolition associations were built, and the Federation continues to pride itself on its reputation as the voice of the demolition industry. The fact that the Federation’s top man won the industry’s top award was a fitting and well-earned end to a memorable presidency, and he can take his leave knowing that he is leaving the Federation at unprecedented levels of strength, reputation and influence.
Oh, and he supports the greatest football team in the world,not that this in any way influenced the above!
