Anyone that is a member, or has attended CISCA’s Annual Event (now titled CISCA Summit) for the last couple of decades, knows Shirley Wodynski. She has been a massive force for the Association and is well known and respected throughout the industry.

This summer, she retires from her position as executive director, leaving the reins to her successor Jim Moody.

W&C has always strived to support and cultivate relationships with associations in our industry. CISCA is no different, and the magazine would be remiss not to speak with Wodynski on her tenure with the association and reflect on her time spent with this important trade association.

W&C wishes Shirley the best in her next career and thanks her for her important and hard work in the industry.

Tell us about your background?

I started working at Lions Clubs International in 1982 in the Legal Department. The attorneys tried hard to get me to go to law school as I could write and review contracts, and write their material very well. After almost 25 years there, I decided it was time to do something different. I loved working at Lions and had the opportunity to meet and get to know many wonderful people, but I was tired of the travel and my mother had an accident and needed around-the-clock care. (I am today still in touch with many of the Lions volunteers and staff.)

From Lions, I went to the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association. Great state association. I realized early that this was not a long-term job. I now call it my rebound job. I was there 18 months and then came to CISCA. At ILCA I was hired as the assistant executive director and was interim executive director for most of my time there.

While I was working full-time at Lions, I went to school full-time and got my bachelor’s degree and then my master’s degree in finance.

How did you get involved with CISCA?

The simple answer is that ILCA showed me that I was ready to be an executive director, so I started looking for the next step job. Those on the search committee were very passionate about CISCA and I knew this is where I wanted to work. Early in my tenure, I visited a manufacturer in the Chicago area. I was so excited about what I learned, that I was with friends that night and was telling them about what I learned. Some people at the next table told us our conversation was boring and to change the subject. I told them it was definitely not boring and since they are listening they will learn how important acoustics are, including in the restaurant we were eating in.

Images courtesy of Shirley Wodnyski/CISCA.

How has the Association changed from when you began to now?

It is such a different group today than it was 16 years ago.

Consistent with CISCA’s “Vision and Mission,” a few notable accomplishments during my tenure:

Created, revised and/or developed Tools and Resources for our members including:

• The CISCA Ceiling System Handbook, widely used in the industry
• Publications relevant to the industry, such as Challenging Applications Guide
• Industry studies including Acoustics in Open Office Situations
• Technical guides such a Metal Ceilings Technical Guide
• Testing procedures including Recommended Test Procedures for Access Floors

Video Libraries including:

• Installation videos on mineral fiber, metal and wood ceilings plus many more

Virtual Manufacturer Lunch and Learns

• In an intimate networking setting with manufacturers, learning about cutting edge products

Acoustical Interior Construction quarterly magazine

• Addressing hot industry topics such as safety and contracts along with member news

Two annual educational and networking in-person events

• Providing education, industry awards, membership networking and product showcases

Emerging Leaders Program

• A four-year program for those new to the industry proving industry information and networking

Women Enhancing Business

• CISCA women networking to share information, exchange ideas and learn from each other

Grew the association while ensuring a consistent financially strong base.

Created a relationship with, and welcomed WACA and the Acoustical Association of Ontario Contractors as members of CISCA.

What are you most proud of serving as Executive Director over the years?

The Association is financially stable today because of the efforts I made early in my tenure. I have a reputation of being frugal but that is my job—be a good steward of the members’ monies.

What challenges do you see facing the industry the most in the future?

Consolidation is definitely one of the biggest challenges. The other is engagement. There are a lot of options today for members to connect with others and get information they need. To stay relevant, CISCA needs to incorporate more technology and make it much easier for members to engage.

Why is it important to be a member of CISCA?

We are the only association dedicated to the ceiling and interior finishes industry. We put all our efforts into doing this right. If a company installs ceilings, they need to be involved with CISCA to make the right connections for the success of their business.

Looking back, what are some pivotal moments during your tenure that shaped CISCA’s trajectory?

The first was the implementation of technology in its early stages—registering online as opposed to sending in a paper registration form was huge.

And COVID: The pandemic changed the way people think about networking, meetings, and overall engagement. COVID changed the way things will be in the future.

Tell us about the Women Enhancing Business initiative.

This group was formed for the women in CISCA to have a place to network and discuss their shared challenges. CISCA, and the industry, is still predominantly male so the women need a place to discuss the challenges with others who have the same challenges.

What initiatives or programs introduced during your leadership do you feel had the most significant impact?

The Emerging Leaders Group. This group has grown and changed over the years and many of the graduates have become leaders of the Association.

Can you share a memorable experience or highlight that encapsulates your time with CISCA?

I knew I made an impact on CISCA and the membership when people would say Shirley and everyone knew they were talking about me.

What advice would you give to the next Executive Director stepping into your role?

Listen to the members. I talk to a lot of members daily. Many ideas for education sessions, webinars and publications have come from listening to the membership. Don’t think that the person you are talking to is the only one with that idea or opinion—he/she is the only one expressing it. Think about the membership as a whole and not just those that are in front of you every day. The silent ones have good ideas.

What’s next for you?

For the past three years I have been working evenings and weekends as a pharmacy technician at Osco Drug (Albertson’s). During COVID, I took a class at our community college to see if this is something I wanted to do and when I finished the class, I took the certification test and got my certification and license. When I first started college after high school, I wanted to be a pharmacist, but a teacher turned me off of chemistry and I quickly changed my major. It took me more than a year to get a job as a pharmacy technician as I don’t have the typical tech resume and it was hard to get people to think I wanted to work for that salary.

I am working on getting a substitute teaching license to be a sub next year. I can teach K-12 but would prefer K-5.

I have been offered a part-time executive director position with a very small group. We have agreed on all the details, but I’m waiting on the contract so I don’t want to name it just yet.

I am also talking to a couple of our vendors about working for them part-time.

My goal is to have very flexible part-time jobs, so I am not bound to PTO time or working hours. I want to play golf in the middle of the day; have lunch with my cousin and friends, and stay in my pajamas all day if I want to.