There’s hardly a need to introduce Michael Gardner, who as of the date of this issue, has formally exited the Gypsum Association to leave for a position with the International Code Council. For more than 15 years, Gardner bounced around North America representing the GA as well as the industry. In 2003, when his predecessor Jerry Walker left the association, Gardner filled the big, leathery boots of the executive director role.
It would be accurate to say that Gardner’s tenure was an exciting period. The 11 year span saw a massive growth for wallboard in North America, a boom that continued strong for approximately four to five years during the mid-2000s. Then a double-decker of bad luck - the Chinese Drywall epidemic followed by the Great Recession. Gardner explains this period (and much more) in this interview.